1721 – Elvis Costello – (The Angels wanna wear my) Red Shoes (1977)

 

Escrita por Elvis Costello, foi gravada entre 1976 e 1977, no Pathway Studios, em Londres e lançada em 22 de julho de 1977 no disco de estréia de Elvis Costello, My aim is true. Sairia uma semana depois em compacto, com Mystery dance no Lado B. Foi produzida por Nick Lowe. Foi escrita em um trem pra de Londres pra Liverpool, em 1976 e fala de uma desilusão amorosa. Musicalmente foi inspirada nos Byrds e teve a introdução feita por John MCFee, da banda Clover. Os anjos queriam trocar a imortalidade pelos tênis do cantor.

A letra:

Oh, I used to be disgusted
And now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that angels wanna wear my red shoes

Oh, oh, I was watching while you're dancing away
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it

Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh, why's that?)
Because she's feeling so abused (oh, that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust (oh, I'm so sad)
But it's so hard to refuse
Can you say that I'm too old
When the angels have stolen my red shoes?

Oh, oh I said, "I'm so happy I could die"
She said, "Drop dead, " then left with another guy
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance
Ever since you got me punctured, this has been my sentence

Oh, I used to be disgusted
But now I try to be amused
But since their wings have got rusted
You know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain
That's when I knew that I could not refuse
And I won't get any older, now that the angels wanna wear my red shoes

Oh, I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes

A versão de Elvis Costello:

A versão de Dackycat:

A versão de Susannah: