This song is clearly about prostitution, the title being quite ironic/sardonic. \n\nI have found what I believe to be references to prostitutes and prostitution sprinkled throughout Costello\'s oeuvre, as well as metaphorical use of the concept- "When England was the whore of the world, Margaret was her madam... " Tramp the Dirt Down, from the album Spike. \n\nThis strong expresses empathy for the woman, while the brief first person line "Headlights that startle this embrace of ours," suggests feelings of guilt and/or complicity. \n\nPerhaps the song is about sex workers in general, like the song Satellite. \n\nI\'d be very interested to hear other thoughts on this.
This song is clearly about prostitution, the title being quite ironic/sardonic. \n\nI have found what I believe to be references to prostitutes and prostitution sprinkled throughout Costello\'s oeuvre, as well as metaphorical use of the concept- "When England was the whore of the world, Margaret was her madam... " Tramp the Dirt Down, from the album Spike. \n\nThis strong expresses empathy for the woman, while the brief first person line "Headlights that startle this embrace of ours," suggests feelings of guilt and/or complicity. \n\nPerhaps the song is about sex workers in general, like the song Satellite. \n\nI\'d be very interested to hear other thoughts on this.