Jack of All Parades Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Cortez_08 

Cover art for Jack of All Parades lyrics by Elvis Costello

This song is about being with many women or just one, give or take lol

But what really intersts me are the lines that seem to be referring to Jack the Ripper:

"It's just a part of the Murdering Game 'Cos down in the fleshpots"

and

"the Crimes of Paris"

any thoughts??

Costello has another song called "Crimes of Paris" on Blood & Chocolate. I've always taken both references to be about the mythological Paris, who fell in love with Helen of Troy, which led to the start of the Trojan war. Seems to fit since it's about betrayal and love, but the Jack the Ripper angle is interesting, too, especially with the reference to fleshpots.