Elvis Costello - Man Out of Time

Well, the incident or not - I get that somebody that had something somehow lost it and is lamenting it.

Lots of talk about finer things and then alot of references to the street and one man struggling in the middle to sort it out.

That's what I always thought - I could be completely wrong, haven't really researched it.

Reading these comments, just want to weigh in and say I think IB has little to do with the ridiculous "incident" and instead is a very personal album about his divorce from his first wife.

I'd substitute Graham Parker for Springsteen and Lewis Carroll for Sting, but I can see where you were coming from.

Actually it was the 'Get Happy' album that was his first album since the 'incident'. Listen to the song 'Riot Act' from the album, for something personal and apologetic.

Yes, in fact right after posting my message I took a few minutes to Google the whole things, as I mentioned below, and I saw the discography of the period. Thanks for the correction. However, I still think his definitive statement of humility and penance was "Imperial Bedroom".

Excuse my ignorance, but I am a little puzzled by your opinion as I cannot find a statement of humility and penance on 'Imperial Bedroom' when the 'Get Happy' album is basically made up of mostly soul music which alone could be seen as Elvis saying he was sorry AND including 'Riot Act' at the end of the album as a kind of summing up. Where is the comparison on 'Imperial Bedroom? In the 'Get Happy' liner notes clear indication as to the songs' meaning is given .

I have no wish to debate something that's so subjective; how a song or a whole album resonates emotionally with someone is a very personal thing. Many songs on "Imperial Bedroom" strike me as relentlessly self-critical (Beyond Belief, Boy with a Problem, Man Out of Time, Town Crier, etc.), and the other songs contain many oblique and subtle bits of same. To me, that is; in my opinion, as you rightly put it. (continued)

continued) If you don't perceive the same things, fine. The album carries a different meaning for you. I can tell you this whole album seared its way deep into my soul back in 1982 when I was going through my own period of fierce self-recrimination. Maybe that colored my perceptions. Let's let it rest there.

Subjectivity is, of course, for the birds, however, I tried to base my point on fact and not feelings because many of those songs you describe typify a lot of Elvis' work in the early days anyway. "Guilt and revenge" was like a 'call to arms' quote from Mr Costello back then. Oh well, there you go.

I don't often comment on youtube clips but this is just so fantastic. Who writes lyrics like these? He's a fcking genius.