109 :: The Hinge in His Backbone :: A Slow Drag with "Mischievous Ghost"

Today’s slow drag is with “Mischievous Ghost” from the Rhino reissue of “Mighty Like a Rose,” released in 2002. It was originally released as part of the “Bringing It All Back Home” soundtrack, released in 1991. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello’s birth name. This episode has been requested by a loyal and astute fan who believes “Mischievous Ghost” was the impetus for Mr. Costello’s dalliance with long hair, as he seems to have spent much time “in the blank hillsides” of Ireland himself at the time.

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Show Notes:

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

Bluesky: 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, “Mischievous Ghost” http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Mischievous_Ghost

 

“Mischievous Ghost” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfbsGZvdNbk

 

Unmask Us, Elvis Costello on “Mischievous Ghost” https://unmask.us/songwriters-c-e/elvis-costello-p5/

The Vibrato Debate: https://www.newsounds.org/story/43709-the-vibrato-debate/

 

The Scottish Bagpipes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl9240HWXBU

 

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

 

Listen to the audiobook for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq7n1pN8D1Y

 

"Mischievous Ghost" Lyrics

 

She came dancing right before my eyes

She said she came to warn me

Before it dawned on me

I went walking on the blank hillside

Where the sunset falls

Where the sunset dies

She gave me love / she told me lies

That most mischievous ghost

She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise

 

He started to whistle, they bought him a flute

He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute

He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful

Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full

 

They colored him cricket and laced him up tight

As he drew on their days, resurrected his nights

He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze

"There you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy"

 

With scandal and shame, they slandered his name

They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast

Disappointed that he passed away peacefully

Never dying to be a mischievous ghost

 

They dug him up quick with a polish and lick

They powdered him up till he only looked sick

The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause

But his dancing was not quite as lively of course

 

These are the rewards immortality affords

Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss

Parroting slack sentimental laments

Of going away and not being missed

 

With scandal and shame, they slandered his name

They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast

Disappointed that he passed away peacefully

Never dying to be a mischievous ghost

 

With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos

Singing his songs of the battles we lose

And "Will ye come home again," so we can murder you

What would you do if they took his word

With forty-eight million to join in the toast

Move over my darling mischievous ghost

Mischievous ghost