I saw a newspaper picture from the political campaign
A woman was kissing a child, who was obviously in pain
She spills with compassion, as that young child's face
In her hands she grips
Can you imagine all that greed and avarice
Coming down on that child's lips
Well I hope I don't die too soon
I pray the Lord my soul to save
Yes I'll be a good boy, I'm trying so hard to behave
Because there's one thing I know, I'd like to live
Long enough to savor
That's when they finally put you in the ground
I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down
When England was the whore of the world
Margaret was her madam
And the future looked as bright and as clear
As the black tarmacadam
Well I hope that she sleeps well at night,
Isn't haunted by every tiny detail
When she held that lovely face in her hands
All she thought of was betrayal
And now the cynical ones
Say that it all ends the same in the long run
Try telling that to the desperate father
Who just squeezed the life from his only son
And how it's only voices in your head
And dreams you've never dreamt
Try telling him the subtle difference
Between justice and contempt
Try telling me she isn't angry
With this pitiful discontent
When they flaunt it in your face
As you line up for punishment
And then expect you to say thank you
Straighten up, look proud and pleased
Because you've only got the symptoms,
You haven't got the whole disease
Just like a schoolboy,
Whose head's like a tin-can
Filled up with dreams then poured down the drain
Try telling that to the boys on both sides,
Being blown to bits or beaten and maimed
Who takes all the glory and none of the shame
Well I hope you live long now,
I pray the Lord your soul to keep
I think I'll be going before
We fold our arms and start to weep
I never thought for a moment
That human life could be so cheap
But when they finally put you in the ground
They'll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down
A woman was kissing a child, who was obviously in pain
She spills with compassion, as that young child's face
In her hands she grips
Can you imagine all that greed and avarice
Coming down on that child's lips
Well I hope I don't die too soon
I pray the Lord my soul to save
Yes I'll be a good boy, I'm trying so hard to behave
Because there's one thing I know, I'd like to live
Long enough to savor
That's when they finally put you in the ground
I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down
When England was the whore of the world
Margaret was her madam
And the future looked as bright and as clear
As the black tarmacadam
Well I hope that she sleeps well at night,
Isn't haunted by every tiny detail
When she held that lovely face in her hands
All she thought of was betrayal
And now the cynical ones
Say that it all ends the same in the long run
Try telling that to the desperate father
Who just squeezed the life from his only son
And how it's only voices in your head
And dreams you've never dreamt
Try telling him the subtle difference
Between justice and contempt
Try telling me she isn't angry
With this pitiful discontent
When they flaunt it in your face
As you line up for punishment
And then expect you to say thank you
Straighten up, look proud and pleased
Because you've only got the symptoms,
You haven't got the whole disease
Just like a schoolboy,
Whose head's like a tin-can
Filled up with dreams then poured down the drain
Try telling that to the boys on both sides,
Being blown to bits or beaten and maimed
Who takes all the glory and none of the shame
Well I hope you live long now,
I pray the Lord your soul to keep
I think I'll be going before
We fold our arms and start to weep
I never thought for a moment
That human life could be so cheap
But when they finally put you in the ground
They'll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down
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"Macadam" is a type of road construction/pavement, invented by a man with the last name Macadam.
"Tar Macadam" is a tar-based Macadam, used on roads where high-speed travel would erode regular Macadam, and is where we get the word "Tarmac". (the pavement on most airport runways).
"Macadam" became a sort of generic word for road pavement in the UK, so Elvis Costello is using "black tar Macadam" here to simply mean something very dark, not "clear and bright" in the least.
1) Was there actually such a picture published of Margaret Thatcher kissing a grimacing child?
2) Was this song not considered libel because he only says "Margaret" and never reveals her last name, despite the heavy insinuations?
3) What is the "The black tarmacadam"?
4) Does "this pitiful discontent" refer to this song? Or something broader?
1. Not as far as I am aware. I think the lyrics are referring to the cliche of the politician kissing a baby.
2. I wouldn't consider it libellous. Thatcher wrecked the British manufacturing industry and devastated whole communities, creating mass unemployment. She crushed the power of the trade unions and introduced draconian anti-strike legislation in an attempt to stop people from effectively fighting back. That said, yes I think you may well be right.
3. The "black tarmacadam" is a road surface - could Costello be referring to the M25 (opened by Thatcher in 1986), as emblematic of false hope for the future?
4. The "pitiful discontent" to me refers to the attempts of the miners and the Militant-controlled Liverpool council to fight back in the face of Thatcher's onslaught. "She isn't angry with this pitiful discontent", i.e. she is going to smash all opposition.
There is a discussion socialistunity.com/ here about the song and an interview with Costello himself.
For a more in-depth history look at socialistparty.org.uk/militant/…