105 :: The Force of Habit :: A Slow Drag with "Suit of Lights"

Today’s slow drag is with “Suit of Lights” from “King of America,” released in February, 1986. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello’s birth name.

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Show Notes:

Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA

Bluesky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/slowdragwithremedy.com

Email: [email protected]

Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Rate this Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/slowdrag

 

References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “Suit of Lights” http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Suit_Of_Lights

 

“Suit of Lights” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8Ke3f6yfI8

 

“Welcome to the Club” Nat “King” Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=todFZrhmMc4

“Welcome to My World” Jim Reeves, 1963: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOCCvN8YDuc

“Workin’ Man Blues” Merle Haggard” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EwK0NsKdDY

“Everyday I Write the Book” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1d4r9awjKE

“It’s a Dog’s Life” Idiom: https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/its-a-dogs-life

1987 Lasse Hallstrom Film, “My Life as a Dog” Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxzO8Qx96O4

Purchase “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday”

 

"Suit of Lights" Lyrics:

While Nat King Cole sings "Welcome to My World"

You request some song you hate, you sentimental fool

And it's the force of habit

If it moves then you fuck it

If it doesn't move you stab it

And I thought I heard "The Working Man's Blues"

He went to work that night and wasted his breath

Outside there was a public execution

Inside he died a thousand deaths

 

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they put him in a suit of lights

 

In the perforated first editions

Where they advocate the hangman's noose

Then tell the sorry tale of the spent Princess

Her uncouth escort looking down her dress

 

Anyway, they say that she wears the trousers

And learnt everything that she does

And doesn't know if she should tell him yes

Or let him go

 

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they put him in a suit of lights

 

But, it's a dog's life in a rope leash or a diamond collar

It's enough to make you think right now

But you don't bother

For goodness sake as you cry and shake

Let's keep your face down in the dirt where you belong

And think of all the pleasure that it brings

Though you know that it's wrong

 

And there's still life in your body

But most of it's leaving

Can't you give us all a break

Can't you stop breathing

 

And I thought I heard "The Working Man's Blues"

I went to work that night and wasted my breath

Outside they're painting tar on somebody

It's the closest to a work of art that they will ever be

 

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they pulled him out of the cold cold ground

And they put him in a suit of lights

And they put him in a suit of lights