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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:42:47 GMT--><rss xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0"><channel><title>Declan MacManus</title><link>http://www.billburnettsongmine.com/declan-macmanus/</link><description></description><lastBuildDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:43:28 +0000</lastBuildDate><copyright></copyright><language>en-US</language><generator>Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)</generator><item><title>Declan MacManus, The Comedians and Candy</title><category>Declan MacManus</category><category>Elvis Costello</category><category>New Wave</category><category>Paul McCartney</category><category>Punk</category><category>Roy Orbison</category><dc:creator>Bill Burnett</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:18:25 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.billburnettsongmine.com/declan-macmanus/2009/2/17/declan-macmanus-the-comedians-and-candy.html</link><guid isPermaLink="false">299139:3306705:3045903</guid><description><![CDATA[<p><span class="full-image-float-left ssNonEditable"><span><img src="http://www.billburnettsongmine.com/storage/267px-Elvis_Costello_15_June_2005.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1234852236788" alt="" /></span></span>Okay, look, I KNOW Elvis Costello made that rotten remark about Ray Charles. But that was 30 years go, he apologized for it almost immediately, Ray Charles forgave him, and he has devoted tons of time to Rock Against Racism. &nbsp;Plus, he's a darn good songwriter, one of our best and most adventurous. &nbsp;He's been a snarling New Waver and written classical musicals. (Check out the Juliet Letters if you've never heard them.) He's collaborated with Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney and brought out the lion in both of them. &nbsp;And he wrote this amazing song that turned out to be weirdly perfect for Roy Orbison. &nbsp;I heard it again last night after a long absence and realized I had to share it with you.</p>
<p>Enjoy, and then we'll talk some more...</p>
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<p><em>I sat there alone upon the ferris wheel<br />A pastel colored carriage in the air<br />I thought youd leave me dangling for a little while<br />A silly twist upon a childish dare<br /><br />Below I saw you whispering to another man<br />Who held the lever that could bring me down<br />Hed stop the world from turning at your command<br />Its always something cruel that laughter drowns<br /><br />And Im up while the dawn is breaking<br />Even though my heart is aching<br />I should be drinking a toast<br />To absent friends<br />Instead of these comedians<br /><br />I can hardly hear the music from the carousel<br />The wind picks up, the carriage starts sway<br />As one by one the lights go out<br />Its closing time<br />I see you take his hand and walk away walk away<br /><br />They say that you will always be the last to know<br />They say that all that glitters is not gold<br />Its not just that youre never coming back to me<br />Its the bitter way that I was told<br /><br />And Im up while the dawn is breaking<br />Even though my heart is aching<br />I should be drinking a toast<br />To absent friends<br />Instead of these comedians</em></p>
<p>What a nightmare, huh? &nbsp;The idea of being left by your girlfriend at the top of a Ferris Wheel as all the lights go off and she walks away with this carney guy. &nbsp;And why "Comedians"? &nbsp;It's tremendously evocative, but seems like a very strange choice to describe what is happening to this character. &nbsp;And it's the name of the song! &nbsp;</p>
<p>We should also give big Kudos to Roy Orbison for covering this song so late in his career. He was alive, he found a piece of new material and he dug into it. &nbsp;And what a voice.</p>
<p>Here's one of the songs Elvis wrote with Paul McCartney. &nbsp;It's one of my all time favorites and seeing him perform it here he reminds me a lot of John Lennon. &nbsp;I wonder if McCartney saw any similarity?</p>
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<p>So Like Candy by Elvis Costello and Paul McCartney</p>
<p><em>Here lies the powder and perfume<br />The pretty clothes are scattered 'round the room<br />And it's so like Candy<br /><br />Here lies the lipstick and the face<br />The coloured tablets keep it all in place<br />And it's so like Candy<br />So like Candy<br /><br />CHORUS<br />What did I do to make her go<br />Why must she be the one<br />That I have to love<br />So like Candy<br /><br />Here lies a picture of a girl<br />Her arms are tight around that lucky guy<br />And it's so like Candy<br /><br />And in her eyes a certain look<br />I thought I'd seen the last of long ago<br />And it's so like Candy<br />So like Candy<br /><br />CHORUS<br /><br />I remember the day that picture was taken<br />We were so happy then<br />But that's so like Candy<br />She seemed so sweet to me I was mistaken<br />Oh no not that again<br />But that's so like Candy<br />She just can't face the day<br />So she turns and melts away<br /><br />Here lie the records that she scratched<br />And on the sleeve I find a note attached<br />And it's so like Candy<br />"My Darling Dear it's such a waste"<br />She couldn't say "goodbye", but "I admire your taste"<br />And it's so like Candy<br />So like Candy</em></p>
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