118 :: A Masquerade of Dignity :: A Slow Drag with "The Man You Love to Hate"

Today’s slow drag is with “The Man You Love to Hate,” from “The Boy Named If,” released in 2022. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello.

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Show Notes:

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

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

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References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “The Man You Love to Hate” https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=The_Man_You_Love_To_Hate

“The Man You Love to Hate” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZU9b4NOQBQ

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

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

 

"The Man You Love to Hate" Lyrics 

I went to a theatre on Silhouette Street

It had a taste of decay, and a scent of defeat

All of the patrons in the pews were people that I'd killed or used

The actors on the stage were equally skilled

The players took turns in lighting the fuse

One of them said "Now you must choose"

 

A man of infamy or ill-repute

And that's the one that we will execute

 

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate”

So, start the show, 'cos we can't wait for

The Man You Love to Hate

 

All of the patrons sitting on pews

Were the shades of the ghosts of the once accused

There was music that dragged in line and word

Not a penny was spent, or a conscience was spared

The hero's motives were never in doubt

We laughed at the speeches that he would spout

Suddenly there arose a shout

 

Confessions simply tumbled out

And marriage vows, that someone mumbled about

 

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate”

So, start the show, 'cos we can't wait for

The Man You Love to Hate

 

The closing act

The first one billed

Into the limelight thrilled

 

The tale of a ship lured onto the rocks under

The cover of darkness, the hold was plundered

My mouth was parched my eyes red-rimmed

My false light shone 

And my ghost light dimmed

 

I went to a house on Silhouette Street

Where I lived once and died once more

Awoke a woman I once adored

Her husband came to the door

In a masquerade of dignity

He said, "I'm pleased to meet you but you don't know me"

She took my money and handed me the key

 

The number on the fob was "999" 

She whispered that's your room and this is mine

But that's a chamber that you can't afford

It's one door down, next to the Emergency Ward

 

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate”

So, start the show, 'cos we can't wait for

The Man You Love to Hate

The Man You Love to Hate

 

I'm a one party state

The Man You Love to Hate 

The girl you used to care for

Without a why or wherefore

The country that I loved

Is just a problem to solve

Until we all disintegrate before

The Man You Love to Hate