You Tripped at Every Step Lyrics

Lyric discussion by betch252 

Cover art for You Tripped at Every Step lyrics by Elvis Costello

I always this was about a father struggling with his daughter growing up and discovering the “adult” world of drink and drugs.

The first verse is about when she is a kid and try’s on her mother shoes. Then she comes home one night and pretends to be sober but has tell tale staggers.

She wants to be grown up and he wants her to stay a little girl and they have to find a way to meet in the middle.

I knew the song for years before I had my own daughter but then the lyrics pop into my head all time since she was born.

I may be wrong because as far as I know, EC has no daughter. Having said that, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch for him to imagine what it is like as a father of a daughter.

Also, didn’t he spend some time with Liv Tyler’s mother? Perhaps it’s about her teenage behaviour.