First, I'm sure some of the lyrics above (10/3/2005) are mistaken.
But: What does this mean to me?
I have a sort of joke I drop when I'm talking with fundamentalist Christians and they're talking about their favorite "christian" artists. I say that my favorite Christian musical artist is Elvis Costello. But I think that's worthwhile first pass to apply to any of his lyrics; how do they reflect moral traditions from christendom?
Don't forget that the Judeochristian tradition has its roots in the Jewish tradition, in which rabbis haggle over nitty little moral issues as a tool for coming to grips with the existential question. And Elvis has certainly been an amazing voice in rock'n'roll; a profound morallist, constantly wrangling, wrestling with the big question of what it means to be human, and often (often!) taking the moral tack.
Which brings us to this song. it's a stunner; attempting (and I think succeeding) in piercing the post-sexual revolution lexan sheild that seeks to deflect any and all bullets of judgement and analysis. It's a tough job, but Elvis is up to it. He successfully anticiplates and skirts the kneejerk defence that would characterize him as a prude, and addresses what he sees as the core issue, and it's a love issue.
I like how, by songs end, the hapless sexually active schlubb looks like he's about to be blindsided by love! That's so sweet, and shows that Elvis doesn't just want to be a flagilating presence; his motives are loving and honorable; he just wants you to see what's really going on.
First, I'm sure some of the lyrics above (10/3/2005) are mistaken.
But: What does this mean to me?
I have a sort of joke I drop when I'm talking with fundamentalist Christians and they're talking about their favorite "christian" artists. I say that my favorite Christian musical artist is Elvis Costello. But I think that's worthwhile first pass to apply to any of his lyrics; how do they reflect moral traditions from christendom?
Don't forget that the Judeochristian tradition has its roots in the Jewish tradition, in which rabbis haggle over nitty little moral issues as a tool for coming to grips with the existential question. And Elvis has certainly been an amazing voice in rock'n'roll; a profound morallist, constantly wrangling, wrestling with the big question of what it means to be human, and often (often!) taking the moral tack.
Which brings us to this song. it's a stunner; attempting (and I think succeeding) in piercing the post-sexual revolution lexan sheild that seeks to deflect any and all bullets of judgement and analysis. It's a tough job, but Elvis is up to it. He successfully anticiplates and skirts the kneejerk defence that would characterize him as a prude, and addresses what he sees as the core issue, and it's a love issue.
I like how, by songs end, the hapless sexually active schlubb looks like he's about to be blindsided by love! That's so sweet, and shows that Elvis doesn't just want to be a flagilating presence; his motives are loving and honorable; he just wants you to see what's really going on.