2333. “You Tripped At Every Step” by Elvis Costello
Courtesy of Lala
Robert Christgau is positive about more of Costello’s albums than I would have imagined. Indeed, he likes albums from almost all stages of Costello’s career - and strongly dislikes albums from some stages, too. None the less, I found that interesting reading. Of course, I’m also a fanboy.
Here’s another fabulous Costello resource - Bulldog’s Armchair Guide To Elvis Costello. Bulldog’s write-up of this album persuaded me to rip all but one of the tracks from Brutal Youth into my library. Yeesh.
Anyhow, back to Brutal Youth.
“You Tripped At Every Step” picks up the theme of repeating the mistakes of one’s parents that was introduced in “Pony Street.” The song begins with one of Costello’s strongest (in my opinion - though Bulldog agrees with me) lyric:
Take your tiny feet out of your mother’s shoes
Or there is going to be a terrible scene
It’s not just the lipstick drawn on crooked
When they find how wicked we are
How wicked we have been
How I’ve been tempted
The song goes on to suggest that the narrator of the song did his best to help support his alcoholic partner, but finally leaves her. Well, that’s how I read it anyhow. Costello doesn’t come right out and say that he’s leaving her, but it seems pretty apparent to me.
There’s some fine vocal work (both lead and backing) in this song, particularly in the choruses - particularly the glorious final chorus.
Anyhow, I’ve been keeping a running playlist of my favorite tunes from the past 2333 songs (there’s about 350 songs on that one) and this one was just added to it.