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Dr. Luther's Assistant Lyrics
Everything seems so tranquil
Home movies with no subtitles
Don't you wish you knew what they were sayin'
When the film keeps playin', playin' ?
Oh, he's Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll close in when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Some say he is just a lackey
Changing words while the ink is still tacky
He's absolutely indispensable
He keeps the other boys in suspense
Oh, he's Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll close in when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Luther is locked in a broken-down cinema
Watches his wife with his video camera
Sees his best boy makin' her grin
Out of the kitchen, she's gone with the wind
Oh, Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll close in, when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Home movies with no subtitles
Don't you wish you knew what they were sayin'
When the film keeps playin', playin' ?
Oh, he's Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll close in when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Changing words while the ink is still tacky
He's absolutely indispensable
He keeps the other boys in suspense
He'll close in when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Watches his wife with his video camera
Sees his best boy makin' her grin
Out of the kitchen, she's gone with the wind
He'll close in, when he seems so distant
Doctor Luther's assistant
He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
The only interview of Costello that I could find about the composition said the following:
"I’d daydreamed about being able to get into the derelict building and run pictures of my own choosing, and kids later made up stories about teenagers breaking in and running amok.
Later still, I wrote a macabre, carnal tale called “Dr. Luther’s Assistant,” which, in my mind, was set at this exact location."
https://www.vulture.com/2015/10/elvis-costello-on-his-inspiration-for-alison.html
That isn't much to go on.
"Home movies with no subtitles"
Home movies were often low-quality 8mm films from the 1970s. Silent with no subtitles.
"When the film keeps playin' playin'"
During that period, a popular way to view pornography was by viewing loops that played continuously.
"Oh, "He's Dr Luther's Assistant / He'll close in when he seems so distant"
The cameraman stays out of the frame ,but comes in for the close-up.
"He'll get on top of you when you lower your resistance"
The cameraman gets sloppy seconds after the male talent has popped his shot.
"Luther is locked in a broken-down cinema"
Peep shows were frequently located in derelict cinemas abandoned by mainstream movie distributors.
"Watches his wife with his video camera" Luther's wife performs sex with others in part to satisfy Luther's voyeur and cuckold fetishes..
"Sees his best boy makin' her grin"
The 'best boy' is a technical assistant on a film crew..Luther watches the loop of his assistant having sex with his wife.
"Out of the kitchen, she's gone with the wind"
A popular saying at the time was that the perfect wife was a lady in the parlour, a cook in the kitchen and a whore in bed. Being out of the kitchen
Gone with the Wind was for many years the biggest box office success from Hollywood. It was a carnal tale considered racy for the time. It could also mean that Luther's wife has run off with his assistant.
@BaxterBotox Being out of the kitchen and in bed made her a whore.
@BaxterBotox Being out of the kitchen and in bed made her a whore.
Good analysis above, a lot of stuff I never thought of. The only thing I\'d question is the "assistant\'s" job. With the medical and lab-tech puns, I took it that he was an assistant in the doctor\'s office.\n\nHe\'s absolutely indispensable\nHe keeps the other boys in suspense
@robertuyt Oh, and I meant to add: I think "He\'ll close in when he seems so distant" and "He\'ll get on top of you when you lower your resistance" are really referring to the assistant\'s seductiveness (a young lothario seeming cold and aloof at times, when he\'s really just playing hard-to-get and biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his move). And the latter line also includes another medical pun (lower resistance).
@robertuyt Oh, and I meant to add: I think "He\'ll close in when he seems so distant" and "He\'ll get on top of you when you lower your resistance" are really referring to the assistant\'s seductiveness (a young lothario seeming cold and aloof at times, when he\'s really just playing hard-to-get and biding his time, waiting for the right moment to make his move). And the latter line also includes another medical pun (lower resistance).