126 :: How Wrong Can I Be :: A Slow Drag with "Tears Before Bedtime"

Today’s slow drag is with “Tears before Bedtime,” from “Imperial Bedroom,” released in 1982. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello.

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Show Notes:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slow_drag_remedy/

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

Email: [email protected]  

“Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, Podcasts” https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=Podcasts

Transcription: https://slowdragwithremedy.weebly.com

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

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Slow Drag with Remedy on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f521a34-2ed9-4bd4-a936-1ad107969046/slow-drag-with-remedy-an-elvis-costello-appreciation

 

References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “Tears before Bedtime” https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=Imperial_Bedroom

“Tears before Bedtime” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_inbXiPLQ  

“Tears before Bedtime” Alternative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8uLxyBF9I

“Give up The Ghost” meaning https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/to-give-up-the-ghost#:~:text=Definition%20of%20'to%20give%20up%20the%20ghost'&text=If%20someone%20gives%20up%20the,what%20they%20are%20looking%20for.

A chorus versus and hook: https://emastered.com/blog/hook-vs-chorus#:~:text=A%20chorus%20is%20usually%20preceded,make%20for%20a%20catchier%20tune.

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

Listen to the audiobook of “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday” for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq7n1pN8D1Y

"Tears before Bedtime" Lyrics

I know the name on the tip of your tongue

And I know that accusing look

Everybody knows I've been so wrong

That's the problem and here's the hook

 

Chorus:

Tears before bedtime

There'll be trouble tonight

I don't want to talk about it anymore

I don't want to have another fight

I don't want to talk I don't want to fight

How wrong can I be before I am right

 

For the tears that you boo hoo hoo

There can be no defense

You say you'll forgive and forget

But it's only a pretense

 

(Chorus)

 

Either you can leave the past behind

Or give me something to disconnect my mind

I sleep with my fists clenched tight

When I don't lie awake all night

I guess time gave up the ghost too late

And the balance of our love

Very soon turns to hate

 

Darling your suspiciousness

Tortures me at night

But I can't excuse the cruel words

That I use whenever we fight

 

(Chorus)

 

How wrong can I be before I am right

 

Alternate Version Lyrics

I see that strange look in your eyes once again

And the name on the tip of your tongue is of a woman and not a man

There’ll be tears before bedtime, they’ll be trouble tonight

I don’t want to talk about it anymore, oh I don’t want to fight

How wrong can I be before I am right?

 

The pain that I’ve given you there is no defense

You say you’ll forgive and forget but it’s only a pretense

There’ll be tears before bedtime, they’ll be trouble tonight

I don’t want to talk about it anymore, oh I don’t want to fight

How wrong can I be before I am right?

 

Either you can leave the past behind or give me something to discount mind

I sleep with my fists clenched tights when I don’t lie awake all night

I guess time gave up the ghost too late

And the balance of our love

Very soon turns to hate

 

Suspicion and silence still torture my night

And the cruel words of anger that run through all our fights

They’ll be tears before bedtime, I’ll be trouble tonight

I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I don’t want to fight

How wrong can I be before I am right?