This song functions exactly like Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece." It's intended to be a sort of haiku history of the world.
Using a train ride as a symbol of inexorably advancing time, it does describe the history of western civ pretty well: You've got the Dark Ages ("...shut down the power all along the line..."). Then we straightaway cut to the 20th century ("...20 minutes later..."). We meet the nascent conscious-raising and childlike innocence of the 1960s (legendary hitchhiker/castinets), then Costello deals with the final demise of the anti-Christ, advising that we can hasten this merciful process by refraining to throw these pricks, with their counterfit claim to spiritual legitimacy, a lifeline. Dylan also deals with this specific thing in "Masterpiece" when he talks about all those years he spent in the Colluseum "dodgin' lions/and wastin' time..."
It's interesting to note that Costello is trying to sound "American/everyman" in his vocals on this tune, which to me smacks of Bob Dylan; another indication that Costello might have actually had Bob's songwriting style in mind here.
@razajac this is a good analysis of early Declan. To me, also, he is clearly influenced by bob Dylan. I tend to cover songs from this Costello era in Dylan style because it seems appropriate.
@razajac this is a good analysis of early Declan. To me, also, he is clearly influenced by bob Dylan. I tend to cover songs from this Costello era in Dylan style because it seems appropriate.
This song functions exactly like Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece." It's intended to be a sort of haiku history of the world. Using a train ride as a symbol of inexorably advancing time, it does describe the history of western civ pretty well: You've got the Dark Ages ("...shut down the power all along the line..."). Then we straightaway cut to the 20th century ("...20 minutes later..."). We meet the nascent conscious-raising and childlike innocence of the 1960s (legendary hitchhiker/castinets), then Costello deals with the final demise of the anti-Christ, advising that we can hasten this merciful process by refraining to throw these pricks, with their counterfit claim to spiritual legitimacy, a lifeline. Dylan also deals with this specific thing in "Masterpiece" when he talks about all those years he spent in the Colluseum "dodgin' lions/and wastin' time..." It's interesting to note that Costello is trying to sound "American/everyman" in his vocals on this tune, which to me smacks of Bob Dylan; another indication that Costello might have actually had Bob's songwriting style in mind here.
@razajac this is a good analysis of early Declan. To me, also, he is clearly influenced by bob Dylan. I tend to cover songs from this Costello era in Dylan style because it seems appropriate.
@razajac this is a good analysis of early Declan. To me, also, he is clearly influenced by bob Dylan. I tend to cover songs from this Costello era in Dylan style because it seems appropriate.