Don't tell me you don't know what love is
When you're old enough to know better
When you find strange hands in your sweater
When your dreamboat turns out to be a footnote
I'm a man with a mission on two or three editions
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
Chapter One: We didn't really get along
Chapter Two: I think I fell in love with you
You said you'd stand by me in the middle of Chapter Three
But you were up to your old tricks in Chapters Four
Five and Six.
And I'm giving you a longing look
The way you walk
The way you talk and try to kiss me
And laugh in four or five paragraphs.
All your compliments and your cutting remarks
Are captured here in my quotation marks.
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday I write the book
Don't tell me you don't know the difference
Between a lover and a fighter
With my pen and my electric typewriter
Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal
I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
When you're old enough to know better
When you find strange hands in your sweater
When your dreamboat turns out to be a footnote
I'm a man with a mission on two or three editions
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
Chapter One: We didn't really get along
Chapter Two: I think I fell in love with you
You said you'd stand by me in the middle of Chapter Three
But you were up to your old tricks in Chapters Four
Five and Six.
And I'm giving you a longing look
The way you walk
The way you talk and try to kiss me
And laugh in four or five paragraphs.
All your compliments and your cutting remarks
Are captured here in my quotation marks.
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday I write the book
Don't tell me you don't know the difference
Between a lover and a fighter
With my pen and my electric typewriter
Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal
I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.
And I'm giving you a longing look
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday
Everyday I write the book
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"Every Day I Write The Book" is kind of a hack pop song. It doesn't have any feeling behind it. It's just an exercise in writing that sort of bad Smokey Robinson song with all the tricks of the trade...To balance [the album], we had a thing like "Everyday I Write The Book," that anybody could whistle, and that was written in 10 minutes, as a spoof. Originally I tried to do it as a lovers' rock song, and then we grafted on this kind of modern rhythmic treatment. It always begged to be done in some kind of pop style."
This song is genius in its treatment of a guy that is in love for the long haul. In a time when people are ready to give up on true love, here's a guy who is merely saying that his love does not have the impermanence of a newpaper article (meant to be read and thrown out the next day). His love for her is written in volumes, multiple editions, and destined for movie sequels.
In a time when people are so quick to disgard what is good and beautiful for the most trivial of reasons - this sort of sentiment of a undying devotion is sweet... and while it may be idealistic, in some ways it's like a kiss... "A kiss may not be the truth, but it's what we wish were true." (L.A. Story)
To me this song really isn't about specifics of the relationship (like who is dogging who). This song is about the ins and outs and ups and downs of any relationship. They;re going through it together and no matter what, he still wants her, still love her, etc. The book is their life together.
One of my favourite Costello lyrics.
This is one of my favorites by him though. His lyrics are sharp, well thought out and witty. His music is always a refreshing step away from the trendy norm of the pop/rock/rap that is so prevelant on the airwaves these days...but then again, "You had better do as you are told. You better listen to the radio." hee hee =)