2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea Lyrics
Photographs of fancy tricks to get your kicks at sixty-six
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh, no, it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Everybody's got new orders
Be a nice girl and kiss the warders
Now the teacher is away
All the kids begin to play
Men come screaming, dressed in white coats
Shake you very gently by the throat
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh, no, it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Photographs of fancy tricks to get your kicks at sixty-six
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh, no, it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Be a nice girl and kiss the warders
Now the teacher is away
All the kids begin to play
Shake you very gently by the throat
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Song Info
Submitted by
songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012
More Elvis Costello & the Attractions
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding
Shabby Doll [*]
Clean Money
Shot With His Own Gun
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Chelsea is a district in London full of trendy boutiques that has been a mecca for arty Bohemians. In the swinging 60's, it was the epicenter for mod fashion. In keeping with the general themes throughout the album "This Year's Model," the song could be an expression of distaste and repulsion for the fashion world.
In the 70's, Chelsea (in particular a boutique called "SEX" on King's Road) started to cater to the growing Punk/New Wave trend. Since EC was writing the song about this time, it could be interpreted as a resistance to being lumped in with the Punk/New Wave movement. He resisted those labels throughout his career, so the song could be an expression of independence from that.
Chelsea could also refer to a retirement home for military veterans. Given the recurring themes of anti-military and anti-fascism throughout EC's work, the song could be interpreted as a resistance to being drafted and sent off to war.
@Atman In his biography, EC says it is about his father, who was living in Chelsea at the time and going through a hippie phase of his life, so Elvis didn't want to see him.
@Atman In his biography, EC says it is about his father, who was living in Chelsea at the time and going through a hippie phase of his life, so Elvis didn't want to see him.
They patched it up over the years and had a pretty good relationship.
They patched it up over the years and had a pretty good relationship.
Love the sound of this one. Electrified sped-up Rock-Steady. Sort of Jamaican undertone, musically.
Makes me think of Warhol's "Factory" and the Chelsea Hotel where all those celebrities died ... but I think that is a subjective NYC reading of it. Isn't Chelsea a big mental hospital in England or something like that?