Quote

Why can't a man stand alone? Must he be burdened by all that he's taught to consider his own? His skin and his station, his kin and his crown, his flag and his nation They just weigh him down

Elvis Costello

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Elvis Costello
Age: 69
Born: 1955
Born: August 25
Composer
Guitarist
Record Producer
Singer-Songwriter
London
England
Declan Patrick MacManus
Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus
Declan MacManus
Nation
Station
Taught
Flag
Stand
Crowns
Alone
Flags
Nations
Stations
Must
Skin
Burdened
Men
Skins
Weigh
Consider
Crown

More quotes by Elvis Costello

Image
When they finally put you in the ground, I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down.
Elvis Costello
Image
I'm a working travelling musician, but just on a bigger scale...
Elvis Costello
Image
I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss.
Elvis Costello
Image
Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.
Elvis Costello
Image
As I walk through This wicked world Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity, I ask myself Is all hope lost? Is there only pain and hatred, and misery? And each time I feel like this inside, There's one thing I wanna know: What's so funny 'bout Peace, Love, & Understanding?
Elvis Costello
Image
It's what's on the record not what labels on it. You know, that's like getting a box of cornflakes and eating the cardboard.
Elvis Costello
Image
I've been lucky to listen to lots of different types of music.
Elvis Costello
Image
I find it to be the ultimate backhanded compliment when you are compared against yourself.
Elvis Costello
Image
Days of Dutch courage, just three French letters, and a German sense of humour.
Elvis Costello
Image
It's not crazy to want to have certain songs be developed harmonically and still want to make noise with the guitar. And you can have both.
Elvis Costello
Image
I'm drawing from two generations back how to think about music, how to think about why you travel to make music, what the possible pitfalls of that are for the way your life is structured. The good and bad of all of it get into the mix of what's created, what you're creating.
Elvis Costello
Image
There are five things to write songs about: I'm leaving you. You're leaving me. I want you. You don't want me. I believe in something. Five subjects, and 12 notes. For all that, we musicians do pretty well.
Elvis Costello
Image
And over the last ten years, after my work with the Brodsky Quartet, I had the opportunity to write arrangements for chamber group, chamber orchestra, jazz orchestra, symphony orchestra even.
Elvis Costello
Image
Songs are more powerful than books.
Elvis Costello
Image
It's the stupid details that my heart is breaking for.
Elvis Costello
Image
The people with the most resources are the federal government. If you can invade a country halfway across the world in a matter of days, you can surely come to the aid of your own citizens in a shorter order of time.
Elvis Costello
Image
I can't say anymore than I love you. Anything else would be a waste of breath.
Elvis Costello
Image
I mistrust these people in music industry who can be everybody. This is where technology dictates to them. I mistrust that, that in somehow the chips capture the soul of a player, that's patent nonsense.
Elvis Costello
Image
The radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel.
Elvis Costello
Image
Certain songs have been written years apart, but they have a natural continuity to my mind.
Elvis Costello