All This Useless Beauty de Elvis Costello

Listado de Canciones

Disco 1

1. The Other End Of The Telescope
2. Little Atoms3:58

   Letra

   I arose and Marigold lay down with Curious Iris Cherry gave to Victor her prudence and her virus FOr the sake of purity I can recall the time and place Between wisdom and murder she gave up her Immaculate face My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games With false and lovely modesty I can recall the names I'll miss In the particle of me that cares for this I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss Patience has her virtue still but every grace must have its price I through some felicity may spin a tale of constant vice I took my better nature out, drowned it in the babbling stream Took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games With false and lovely modesty I can recall the names I'll miss In the particle of me that cares for this I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss And if you still don't like my song Then you can just go to hell I don't care if I'm right or wrong or if my typewriter can spell But I cannot promise you I've said "goodbye" to childish things There's still some pretty insults left and such sport in threatening My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games With false and lovely modesty I can recall the names I'll miss In the particle of me that cares for this I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss And for the sake of clarity They are "faith", "hope", and "charity" In the particle of me that cares for this I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss
3. All This Useless Beauty4:39

   Letra

   It's at times such as this she'd be tempted to spit If she wasn't so ladylike She imagines how she might have lived Back when legends and history collide So she looks to her prince finding he's so charmingly Slumped at her side Those days are recalled on the gallery wall And she's waiting for passion or humour to strike What shall we do, what shall we do with all this useless beauty? All this useless beauty Good friday arrived, the sky darkened on time 'til he almost began to negotiate She held his head like a baby and said "it's okay if you cry" Now he wants her to dress as if you couldn't guess He desires to impress his associates But he's part ugly beast and hellenic deceased So she finds that the mixture is hard to deny Chorus She won't practice the looks from the great tragic books That were later disgraced to face celluloid It won't even make sense but you can bet If she isn't a sweetheart or plaything or pet The film turns her into an unveiled threat Nonsense prevails, modesty fails Grace and virtue turn into stupidity While the calendar fades almost all barricades to a pale compromise And our leaders have feasts on the backsides of beasts They still think they're the gods of antiquity If something you missed didn't even exist It was just an ideal -- is it such a surprise? Chorus (2x)
4. Complicated Shadows4:43

   Letra

   Well you know your time has come and you're sorry for what you've done You should've never have been playing with a gun In those complicated shadows Well there's a line that you must toe And it'll soon be time to go But it's darker than you know in those complicated shadows All you gangsters and rude clowns Who were shooting up the town When you should have found someone to put the blame on Though the fury's hot and hard I still see that cold graveyard There's a solitary stone that's got your name on You don't have to take it from me But i know what i spake You think you're like iron and steel But iron and steel will bend and break In those complicated shadows Go! Sometimes justice you will find Is just dumb not colour-blind And your poor shattered mind can't take it all in All those phantoms and those shades Should jump up on judgement day And say to the almighty "i'm still stinking of sin" But the jury was dismissed Took his neck and they give it a twist So you see you won't be missed in those complicated shadows You can say just what you like in a voice like a john ford film Take the law into your hands You will soon get tired of killing In those complicated shadows Complicated shadows Complicated shadows Complicated shadows Go!
5. Why Can't A Man Stand Alone?3:14
6. Distorted Angel4:31

   Letra

   Strange things seem to occur, somewhere behind the nursery door Though I was just a bit of a kid, it was the bit that she was looking for Now I don't know where to begin confessing The way she's making me feel it can't be a sin I was taught to believe you were looking down on everyone And your benevolent face is beautiful to gaze upon Now I just don't know who to tell to go to hell Who put the old devil in the distorted angel? Distorted Angel Pure illuminated sweetness Frightening small children is just about your only weakness I thought that you would tell me what I'm living for But I can't see you anymore I don't know what we did but I'm sorry if it made you cry And if there's any justice at all I'd be punished for it I'd surmise It will mark the spot very well where I fell Under the shadow of the distorted angel Beneath the shadow of the distorted angel Below the shadow of the distorted angel Angel Beneath the shadow of the distorted angel Below the shadow of the distorted angel Angel
7. Shallow Grave2:07
8. Poor Fractured Atlas4:02

   Letra

   He's out in the woods with his squirrel gun To try to recapture his anger He's screaming some words at the top of his lungs Until he begins to feel younger But back at his desk in the city we find Our trembling punch-drunken fighter Who can't find the strength now to punish the length Of the ribbon in his little typewriter Poor fractured Atlas Threw himself across the mattress Waving his withering pencil as if it were a pirate's cutlass I'm almost certain he's trying to increase his burden He said "That's how the child in me planned it A woman wouldn't understand it" I believe there was something that I wanted to say Before I conclude this epistle But you would forgive me for holding my tongue 'Cause man made the blade and the pistol Yes man made the waterfall and the dam To temper his tantrum with magic Now you can't be sure of that ten of azure Since he punched a hole in the fabric Poor fractured Atlas Threw himself across the mattress Waving his withering pencil as if it were a pirate's cutlass I'm almost certain he's trying to increase his burden He said "That's how the child in me planned it A woman wouldn't understand it"
9. Starting To Come To Me2:43

   Letra

   It's started to come to me Your new career would probably end like this All that professional lipstick pressed into an amateur kiss Farewell to the studied lines and carefully broken hearts The overpowering perfume and the glimpse of her garter Mingling with the sweet smoldering scent of the martyr Well it's starting to come to me (come to me, come to me) Starting to come to me So you began to recognize the well-dressed man that everybody loves It started when you chopped off all the fingers of those pony skin gloves Then you cut a hole out where the lovelight used to shine Your tears of pleasure equal measure crocodile and brine You try to laugh it off saying "I knew all the time... But it's starting to come to me" (come to me, come to me) Starting to come to me Sometimes you bring me down to play reluctant confidant You say you may reward him if he gives you what you want But these are days to treasure and to hold They are much too precious to be sold You'd probably play the pirate if you weren't so busy digging up the gold Now you could tell he wanted you 'cause you almost taste it on his breath But you always cheated life just like the bold dare-devil cheated death Incidentally, late last night your understudy finally got what you deserve In private she's seductive but in public she's prim, porcelain and nervous Afraid someone will recognize the shame in her eyes You've still got your dignity or the next best disguise You never know when to say no and when to compromise But it's starting to come to me (come to me, come to me) Starting to come to me (come to me, come to me) Starting to come to me
10. You Bowed Down4:55

    Letra

    I expect you're entitled to know why I'm making contact With acquaintances scattered all over the land I'd promise you now and again that I'd honour the contract If it hadn't crumbled away in my hand So we broke that vow independently now But I don't know why you absolutely deny You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness Well you're getting plenty of both of them now And so you parade where appointments are made And never meant to be kept Unless you accept You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You value the burnt amber of falling leaves And you long to delay As you feel their breath as they whisper "It won't hurt you now to betray If you just bow down" And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria You're helping them sell off some new party line I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior Now you say "Will you please meet this good friend of mine?" So you're in demand as long as you kiss their hand But all the applause is for their name not yours You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down
11. It's Time6:00
12. I Want To Vanish3:16

    Letra

    I want to vanish This is my fondest wish To go where I cannot be captured Laid on a decorated dish Even in splendor this curious fate Is more than I care to surrender Now it's too late Whether in wonder or indecent haste You arrange the mirrors and the spools To snare the rare and precious jewels That were only made of paste If you should stumble upon my last remark I'm crying in the wilderness I'm trying my best to make it dark How can I tell you I'm rarer than most I'm certain as a lost dog Pondering a sign post Refrão I want to vanish This is my last request I've given you the awful truth Now give me my rest

Disco 2

1. Almost Ideal Eyes

   Letra

   Here she comes with her almost ideal eyes and her flawless skin and her petulant pout The memory of such a long blond alibi still makes me want to shout out loud You ************ when you clear your head my dear you can't come out here in those stolen clothes Telling me all about some mystery I hope she isn't one, I hope she isn't one of those Almost ideal eyes Viewed through a rosey hue so beautiful, trusting You find liberal is an insult now and care is what you pay for Be sure of what you're wishing for, be careful what you pray for When you look into those almost ideal Love is smiles, he will hypnotize you wild He tries to analyze your dreams Fill you up with all his big ideas while he really wants to make you Scream out loud at the phony innocence and pained pretence and the dismal rage. The vacant lot that thankfully time forgot Where you never have to act, you never have to act your age Almost ideal eyes Viewed through a rosey hue so beautiful, trusting you find stupid is a compliment and thrill is what you play for Be sure of what you're wishing for, be careful what you pray for When you look into those almost ideal eyes In the spirit(?) all your friends look uglier and you find you're wearing an evening gown Weeping over some tiny broken bird while the sky is decorated shocking pink and a dirty shade of brown and you think you need to be tranquilized a feat that may fit to your new career Whatever you invent you'll never be content with Almost ideal eyes Viewed through a rosey hue so beautiful, trusting rebellion is just currency, the moon is what you pay for be sure of what you're looking for, be careful what you pray for when you look into those almost ideal eyes Here she comes, here she comes now.....
2. My Dark Life (Con Brian Eno)
3. That Day Is Done (Con The Fairfield Four)
4. What Do I Do Now?

   Letra

   Quickly she came dressed up for fame Riding her perfume downstairs Make-up like glue, she danced round the room To the sound of her corduroy flares Let's go to town, taxis all round We could stop for a couple of beers He looks at it all stifles a yawn She tries not to look like she cares [Chorus:] What do I do now? Are we going under? What did I do wrong? I thought we had it sorted out the other day Maybe I'm just stupid Can't we try again? No one told me it was raining (raining, raining) Can't face a club, they walk to a nearby pub Watch a couple of bands Draining the glass they walk home at last Reaching for each others hands Nothing is said he goes to bed Dreaming of her on his own She stays up all week, watching him sleep Scared that she'll wake up alone [Chorus] Oh I'll miss you every day of your life Oh you'll feel it too, you're not that strong You know I'm on to you Oh I'll miss you every day of your life Maybe when you're dead I'll get some rest from holding onto you (holding onto you) What do I do now? Are we going under? What did I do wrong? Thought we had it sorted Is there someone else? Am I too familiar? Was it when I said I wanted to have children? Tore up all your photos, didn't feel too clever Spent the whole of Sunday sticking you together Now I'd like to call but I feel too awkward Some things need explaining No one told me it was raining (raining, raining...)
5. The Bridge I Burned

   Letra

   I'm walking down Times Square in the Electric Daylight The sailors on shore leave stand out in their perfect white. I'm up here with my spying glass at the window of the world For better or for worse - it's a perverse universe, my love. Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone. (the sermon) You mutter underneath your breath - IT ECHOES ROUND THE WORLD Everybody comes from nowhere. There is hope, it loops up in the air Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone. You said I used to be handsome if you screwed up your eyes Professors and vampires drank up all the tears I cried. Now there's a bird at my window, he feeds upon the pain and sometimes he sings to me - a mocking bird in the twilight of infamy. Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone. Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned Now I know, they've burned one sinner and the others are set to follow Now I know. Now I know. Now I know.
6. It's Time (demo)
7. Complicated Shadows (demo)
8. You Bowed Down4:55

   Letra

   I expect you're entitled to know why I'm making contact With acquaintances scattered all over the land I'd promise you now and again that I'd honour the contract If it hadn't crumbled away in my hand So we broke that vow independently now But I don't know why you absolutely deny You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness Well you're getting plenty of both of them now And so you parade where appointments are made And never meant to be kept Unless you accept You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You value the burnt amber of falling leaves And you long to delay As you feel their breath as they whisper "It won't hurt you now to betray If you just bow down" And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria You're helping them sell off some new party line I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior Now you say "Will you please meet this good friend of mine?" So you're in demand as long as you kiss their hand But all the applause is for their name not yours You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down
9. Mistress And Maid (demo)
10. Distorted Angel (demo)
11. World's Greatest Optimist (demo)
12. The Only Flame In Town (demo)
13. The Comedians (demo)
14. The Days Take Care Of Everything (demo)
15. Hidden Shame (demo)
16. Why Can't A Man Stand Alone (demo)
17. Distorted Angel (Tricky Remix)