Elvis Costello — Dust
Album: When I Was CruelAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 988
Length: 3:03
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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If only dust could talk
What would we hear it say?
Before it's brushed aside
Just as it's swept away
It's just the evidence
It's of no consequence
It's only flesh and bone
Why don't we leave it alone?
If only dust could gather into lines of chalk
Around a silhouette detective fiction walks
For it's the only witness that can testify
Can I spit out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Why did they dam the land?
How did they flood the plain?
Did they erase the name?
And wipe away the stain
You kept your mouth well shut
Appeared to turn your coat
Now there's a name for you but it's stuck in my throat
If dust could only mutter
Or in laughter trill
If it could warn and whisper from the windowsill
But it's the only witness that can testify
Can I split out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Here comes the juggernaut
Here come The Poisoners
They choke the life and land
And rob the joy from us
Why do they taste of sugar?
Oh, when they're made of money
Here come the Lamb of God
And the butcher's boy, sonny
If dust could only gather in the needle track
Then it would skip a beat and it would jump right back
If dust could only gather in a needle track
Then it would skip a beat
And all the sense I lack
What would we hear it say?
Before it's brushed aside
Just as it's swept away
It's just the evidence
It's of no consequence
It's only flesh and bone
Why don't we leave it alone?
If only dust could gather into lines of chalk
Around a silhouette detective fiction walks
For it's the only witness that can testify
Can I spit out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Why did they dam the land?
How did they flood the plain?
Did they erase the name?
And wipe away the stain
You kept your mouth well shut
Appeared to turn your coat
Now there's a name for you but it's stuck in my throat
If dust could only mutter
Or in laughter trill
If it could warn and whisper from the windowsill
But it's the only witness that can testify
Can I split out the truth?
Or would you rather just swallow a lie?
Here comes the juggernaut
Here come The Poisoners
They choke the life and land
And rob the joy from us
Why do they taste of sugar?
Oh, when they're made of money
Here come the Lamb of God
And the butcher's boy, sonny
If dust could only gather in the needle track
Then it would skip a beat and it would jump right back
If dust could only gather in a needle track
Then it would skip a beat
And all the sense I lack
Comments (97)add comment
Good tune! I like it! ...maybe not his best, but good!
Bloated Elvis...I prefer the skinny version...
veegez wrote:
Robert Wyatt does a great version. Check it out.
Me too. Shipbuilding is an 11, me thinks.
Robert Wyatt does a great version. Check it out.
kcar wrote:
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
This happened to Robert Fripp when fans began whining about King Crimson changing direction.
His response was " Move on."
I agree.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
His response was " Move on."
I agree.
bluefrog wrote:
I don't get that either.
avg of 6.4 ?!
WTF, RP listeners ?!
WTF ?!
I don't get that either.
avg of 6.4 ?!
WTF, RP listeners ?!
WTF ?!
WTF, RP listeners ?!
WTF ?!
Excellent poetry set to music!
kcar wrote:
It is great, except when he (deliberately?) tries to hit some high notes and falls painfully short.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
I've rolled my eyes at a lot of EC's work after Imperial Bedroom and King of America. But the songs I've heard from this album are great.
I like all his stuff. You never know what you'll get with Elvis. His style changes and he explores and creates. Beck is the same. All good.
It is great, except when he (deliberately?) tries to hit some high notes and falls painfully short.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
I've rolled my eyes at a lot of EC's work after Imperial Bedroom and King of America. But the songs I've heard from this album are great.
I like all his stuff. You never know what you'll get with Elvis. His style changes and he explores and creates. Beck is the same. All good.
CELEBRATE LIFE the dust comes very fast
The backing is reminiscent of earlier Tom Waits music. The nasal voice is inferior to that of gravelly TW, however. IMHO
Definitely an acquired taste.
kcar wrote:
Perhaps that's true for some, but a number of us really dislike his voice.
His sophomoric, out-of-control voice is simply grating to some of us.
I can tolerate a few of his songs, such as Every Day I Write The Book, and on a good day perhaps Pump It Up.
Other than that, to my knowledge, I sense no real difference stylistically between this track (Dust) and perhaps (What So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
Perhaps that's true for some, but a number of us really dislike his voice.
His sophomoric, out-of-control voice is simply grating to some of us.
I can tolerate a few of his songs, such as Every Day I Write The Book, and on a good day perhaps Pump It Up.
Other than that, to my knowledge, I sense no real difference stylistically between this track (Dust) and perhaps (What So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love And Understanding.
Really Bill?
The best Elvis. Elvis Costello is an artist, the other Elvis was a product.
Ahhh... 
Elvis is by far the most talented reactionary you will hear...
Elvis is by far the most talented reactionary you will hear...
Please make it stop Bill!
kaybee wrote:
It is great, except when he (deliberately?) tries to hit some high notes and falls painfully short.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
I've rolled my eyes at a lot of EC's work after Imperial Bedroom and King of America. But the songs I've heard from this album are great.
This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP.
It is great, except when he (deliberately?) tries to hit some high notes and falls painfully short.
As for the hate...Elvis moved his cheese. He changed his music drastically and a lot of fans didn't like that new direction. It happened to David Byrne once he left Talking Heads and Paul Weller when he abandoned the sound of The Jam for Style Council.
I've rolled my eyes at a lot of EC's work after Imperial Bedroom and King of America. But the songs I've heard from this album are great.
Totally answering joni mitchell, "the priest" & " rainy night house"
Besides the ubiquitous lalala ladies, are those whales singing?
Leonard, why wait—I will marry you ANY time
EDIT— well HELL, this comment was intended for the next song, leonard cohen, waiting for the miracle.I apologize for not knowing how to relocate it. Long day. Now he probably won't marry me either.
Besides the ubiquitous lalala ladies, are those whales singing?
Leonard, why wait—I will marry you ANY time
EDIT— well HELL, this comment was intended for the next song, leonard cohen, waiting for the miracle.I apologize for not knowing how to relocate it. Long day. Now he probably won't marry me either.
rdo wrote:
I think you are speculating there without any foundation at all. You should not do that. It's arrogant.
I'd say that in absence of evidence to the contrary, he's quite right in the assumption - and I've no idea where the charge of arrogance can come from?
I think you are speculating there without any foundation at all. You should not do that. It's arrogant.
I'd say that in absence of evidence to the contrary, he's quite right in the assumption - and I've no idea where the charge of arrogance can come from?
oldsaxon wrote:
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
I think you are speculating there without any foundation at all. You should not do that. It's arrogant.
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
I think you are speculating there without any foundation at all. You should not do that. It's arrogant.
oldsaxon wrote:
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
I'm not sure that the Goldsmiths would be willing to share the recipe to their secret sauce as well. It could cost them most of their profits to competitors and a fair amount of mystique among listeners.
For all we know, there may not be an algorithm behind the curtain. It may just come down to a couple who knows what they like and what will work for a certain type of listener.
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
I'm not sure that the Goldsmiths would be willing to share the recipe to their secret sauce as well. It could cost them most of their profits to competitors and a fair amount of mystique among listeners.
For all we know, there may not be an algorithm behind the curtain. It may just come down to a couple who knows what they like and what will work for a certain type of listener.
sajitjacob wrote:
...my thought right that moment.....
I don't normally like Elvis Costello, perhaps it's 'cause I usually only hear his singles. This, however, is rather funky. I like it. I like it a lot. maybe I should try listening to his other stuff.
...my thought right that moment.....
rdo wrote:
Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting.
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting.
I like Bill's taste in music, mostly. I don't care if there are 1800 and not 4000 (good grief, how hard would that be to programme?) The criteria for programming are quite simple. It goes through a vetting process, Bill or Becca like it...it gets played. It's their station, don't like go listen to SKY.FM.
I don't normally like Elvis Costello, perhaps it's 'cause I usually only hear his singles. This, however, is rather funky. I like it. I like it a lot. maybe I should try listening to his other stuff.
kaybee wrote:
Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting.
This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP.
Radio Paradise has played about 1800 artists, by my informal reckoning, since my joining several years ago. I would be in favor of that number going up to 4000. It easily could. Elvis Costello ranks in the top 20 in terms of how often RP plays an artist. A backlash is inevitable. Also, one (or maybe two?) people are responsible for the programming of this station. Is it really any wonder that the tastes of some listeners might diverge a bit now and then from the programmer's? I truly love this station, but I would pledge to double my annual contribution this year in exchange for RP to publish some sort of programming policy, if not at least some sort of criteria or guiding philosophy, by which the playlist is derived. That would be very, very interesting.
Marcuse wrote:
Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company.
Bravo good sir
Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company.
Bravo good sir
My favorite EC song from a very uh different album.
kjf06 wrote:
Smart, hot number!
Mr. MacManus Mr. Rebbenac
Elvis imitating Dr John? Gets on my nerves fast. One of the few songs I feel compelled to turn down after 2 mins.
Do you mean in the way they both enjoy being photographed wearing hats? I think that's just a coincidence. Smart, hot number!
Mr. MacManus Mr. Rebbenac
kaybee wrote:
Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company.
This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP.
Well he commits the crime of having a "different" sounding voice and is creative, so, certain quarters of the RP community must burn him at the stake of the narrow mind. The ashes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Byrne, Michael Stipe, Tom Waits, and Eddie Vedder lie there also. Elvis, being a very creative musician, is in good company.
TimeWaster wrote:
well, how good is your Dutch?
heh heh... "geniouses"
well, how good is your Dutch?
Me too, I'm perplexed why anyone who likes RP wouldn't like this track, it totally fits the repertoire and it's a great tune.
Me either Kaybee, it's a great track from an awesome artist.
This is such an excellent piece...can't understand the hate-on for Elvis Costello on RP.
Yikes! I had to mute this one—first time for RP.
Makes me do Bert's pigeon dance.
Albert1967 wrote:
https://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php
Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop.
heh heh... "geniouses"
https://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php
Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop.
heh heh... "geniouses"
megaadam wrote:
Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding.
https://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php
Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop.
Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding.
https://www.spectacleelviscostello.com/index.php
Love that show. Great guy and IMO one of the geniouses of pop.
Bill, Bill, Bill, pleezzze...........have some coffee and put on some decent tunes.
Elvis just don't cut it this morning.
Elvis just don't cut it this morning.
UltraNurd wrote:
Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding.
I like him as a songwriter, usually, but his voice...
Agree 100%. His voice is completely unbearable. I would prefer waterboarding.
pvcnote wrote:
pvcnote is just another old hippy who never recaptured after the - brilliant - punk clash in the late 70's...
elvis was one of the kings by then,
throwing oldies like pinkfloyd a.o. basterds out the saddle....
COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
pvcnote is just another old hippy who never recaptured after the - brilliant - punk clash in the late 70's...
elvis was one of the kings by then,
throwing oldies like pinkfloyd a.o. basterds out the saddle....
Geecheeboy wrote:
unusual for Elvis Costello! love it
This is not very offensive and does not suck so bad.
unusual for Elvis Costello! love it
This is not very offensive and does not suck so bad.
pvcnote wrote:
YOU IS CAN'T WRITE
COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
YOU IS CAN'T WRITE
This man is a genius! Huh. He changed something about his voice for this one that makes it less annoying to me. I like him as a songwriter, usually, but his voice...
physicsgenius wrote:
The music is boring the real story here is the bad singing. If you can't hit the notes, why write it that high?
By this reasoning, Beethoven should have just drummed his fingers.
Elvis imitating Dr John? Gets on my nerves fast. One of the few songs I feel compelled to turn down after 2 mins.
Love it!
Watching the Detectives Part II? Pretty good - love the wailing guitars and maracas. Nice mÚlange of sounds - 7 from the Nottingham jury.
jah_blessed wrote:
brandog wrote:
What a great segue from Augustus Pablo!
I agree!
brandog wrote:I've always been an Elvis fan- but this song is an exception.
I agree!
What a great segue from Augustus Pablo!
The music is boring the real story here is the bad singing. If you can't hit the notes, why write it that high?
great song, great artist
pvcnote wrote:
COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
Huh?
This sounds like teeth grinding. 
COSTELLO IS SUCKS!
Blah...
MrCostello wrote: 
Elvis is one of the most amazing artists of our time. He is truly second to none and doesn't have a single bad song - including this one. He is my favorite by far - LOOK AT MY RP NAME FOR GOD'S SAKE!!
Elvis Costello is the ONLY Elvis, as far as I'm concerned!
Elvis is one of the most amazing artists of our time. He is truly second to none and doesn't have a single bad song - including this one. He is my favorite by far - LOOK AT MY RP NAME FOR GOD'S SAKE!!black321 wrote:
did this guy give up writing music, for the sake of his lyrics? This is completely drab.
Elvis, Elvis.......where have you gone to, Elvis?
lbrc wrote:
he's aweful!! 
Full of awe? Agreed! Nice dirty track.
did this guy give up writing music, for the sake of his lyrics? This is completely drab.
:propeller.gif: Elvis is one of the most amazing artists of our time. He is truly second to none and doesn't have a single bad song - including this one. He is my favorite by far - LOOK AT MY RP NAME FOR GOD'S SAKE!!
As usual, RP does a great job of picking songs I like by people I usually don\'t care for...
Awesome track, fantastic album..I\'m in Elvis bliss...
Love Elvis Costello... he has the midas touch. I have a tape of his World Cafe interview for \"All This Useless Beauty\"; listen all the time.
Love this song, love this album
has the feel of some of his older stuff, that bite the hand thing.
thanks 8)
Originally Posted by stubbsz:
It's a good track... while I agree with you tastes completely; this is a great track but SO different.. so I get why he might rate it higher.
But man, I'd love to hear shipbuilding. I LOVE that song.
Me too. Shipbuilding is an 11, me thinks.
Originally Posted by skymunky:
surely not!
how much stuff of his have you heard? try holding this track up against Shipbuilding or Man out of Time
It's a good track... while I agree with you tastes completely; this is a great track but SO different.. so I get why he might rate it higher.
But man, I'd love to hear shipbuilding. I LOVE that song.
Originally Posted by loveslave:
This is probably the best Elvis Costello song I've ever heard. I don't usually like his music vry much, but this was great.
surely not!
how much stuff of his have you heard? try holding this track up against Shipbuilding or Man out of Time
To me this song demonstrates just how repetitive and melody deficient this man's music is.
love the phrasing on this song and the guitar wails are just right.
i dont even like Elvis Costello - but this track hits the spot. much cooler than his usual.
I like Elvis Costello, but the over driven guitar is too much on this cut.
Originally Posted by Not_Dark_Yet:
I normally don't like his stuff, but I like this
I know, nobody really cares, but there you go...
N_D_Y
I care. Well, not really, but I'm curious about your name -- is it from Leonard Cohen's song? Just curious.
I know, nobody really cares, but there you go...
N_D_YGlad to hear he\'s back to doin\' what he does best - moody and sharp-edged music. Thought the Burt Bachrach thing was interesting, but didn\'t hold my attention. I like this.
Doop de doo.... doop de doo
EC is not one of my faves... actually I normally hate his stuff... but this song is growing on me
definitely didn\'t have to hear this song twice today.
Originally Posted by jbmckee:
You know, I had heard of Elvis Costello but, until RP came along, I never really heard his music. I have now grown to really like it. Yet another case in favor of Internet radio. If not for RP, I probably would have never heard EC.
man, jb, you're makin' me feel ancient. such is life. the fact is, elvis injected a juice into music that had been missing for years. He (along with a few others - T. Heads, Roxy Music, Steely Dan, Little Feat etc.) rescued the 70's from mediocrity.
Great innovative tune. Will have to listen to this more often. Definitely much better then Elvis\'s \"ballad\" years.
I used to hear a lot of Elvis Costello - through the 80\'s and 90\'s. In the past week since discovering RP I have heard more Elvis Costello than in those 2 decades combined. Stop it. There are other artists.
You know, I had heard of Elvis Costello but, until RP came along, I never really heard his music. I have now grown to really like it. Yet another case in favor of Internet radio. If not for RP, I probably would have never heard EC.
Awesome tune - love the brass section. Elvis is back to his roots, and this track is one of the best on this disc.
& he also plays the wicked guitar!
Originally Posted by GF:
jeez. elvis costello *again*!
I'm going to start an EC count complete with a pie chart of his music compared to the rest of Radio Paradise. He's usurping the waves!
Yeah, isn't it great!!
Elvis rules...
Jacques (Which, incidentally means "the usurper")I\'m a diehard EC fan and this new album ROCKS!
This is probably the best Elvis Costello song I\'ve ever heard. I don\'t usually like his music vry much, but this was great.
I know the die-hard Costello fans have mixed feelngs about this new one, but i really like the ones i\'ve heard here...really reminds me of early Elvis (y\'know, the cool stamp)
First thing I\'ve heard from this new album. Fantastic arrangement, and solid performance (as per usual for Costello). Love it.