Motel Matches Lyrics

Lyric discussion by scottme 

Cover art for Motel Matches lyrics by Elvis Costello

What I like about this song is the denseness of the double meanings that Costello packs into the lyrics.

"This is my conviction, that I'm an innocent man" - it's what he believes, but he juxtaposes "conviction" with "innocent" so you might think he's been convicted of some felony.

"I struck lucky with motel matches" - to strike lucky, Lucky Strike cigarettes, you strike a match, motel matches like those little cardboard books of matches that such places (used to?) give away, .. it just goes on and on.

"Falling for you…" "Falling out…"

Top stuff. Sheer poetry from Elvis Costello. I wish he still did stuff this good.

Thanks for the "who shot Sam" meaning; I thought that he was hearing a TV down the hall playing some typical movie that might be available through HBO at the motel...dude: I woke with a siren in an emergence; is a double meaning between the beautiful "siren" of a girl; and the fact that she is in some trouble and the cops are outside with their cartop lights flashing red and blue; AND she is to be taken away and the motel light will change from red NO VACANCY to blue VACANCY after she is gone "Though your mind is...

@scottme I love the lyrics of this one. And like you said, stellar wordplay and imagery. "Get Happy!" is one of my all time favorites, pure genius