In Chocolate Town all the trains are painted brown
On the silver paper of the wrapper
There's a dapper little man
And he wears a wax moustache
That he twists with nicotine fingers
As he drops his cigarette ash
And someone comes and sweeps it up
And then he doffs his cap
And there's a rat in someone's bedroom
And they're shutting someone's trap
And they'll soon be pulling down the little palaces
And the doors swing back and forward, from the past into the present
And the bedside crucifixion turns from wood to phosphorescent.
And they're moving problem families from the South up to the North,
Mother's crying over some soft soap opera divorce,
And you say you didn't do it, but you know you did of course,
And they'll soon be pulling down the little palaces.
It's like shouting in a matchbox, filled with plasterboard and hope,
Like a picture of Prince William in the arms of John the Pope.
There's a world of good intentions, and pity in their eyes,
The sedated homes of England, are theirs to vandalize.
So you knock the kids about a bit, because they've got your name,
And you knock the kids about a bit, until they feel the same.
And they feel like knocking down the little palaces.
You're the twinkle in your daddy's eye, a name you spray and scribble,
You made the girls all turn their heads, and in turn they made you miserable.
To be the heir apparent, to the kingdom of the invisible.
So you knock the kids about a bit, because they've got your name,
And you knock the kids about a bit, until they feel the same.
And they feel like knocking down the little palaces.
Elvis Costello - Little Palaces - The Session - LIVE - 1987 (04:15)
Elvis sings about the Cadbury's factory in Moreton, Merseyside and life in Birkenhead
I lived and grew up only a mile or two from the Cadbury's factory in Moreton before we moved away. This song really sums up what the place was like in the 70's-80s. Very Irish and quite run down but being flooded with scum. A real shame...
E.C. moved there from Southport, I think. There were nice bits of it too, like his area! It's changed now and I think Cadbury's has either gone or on a very limited staff. Fantastic song by Mr Costello, and a treat to hear it live. Thanks for posting it!
Autor: skahoovey - 2 years, 2 months ago
2
Elvis is king!
Autor: skipjackBONITO - 1 year, 3 months ago
3
i lived right by the factory and worked there for a bit
Autor: liamjh81 - 5 months, 2 weeks ago
4
Ditto (:
Autor: JungleRasmus - 1 year, 4 months ago
5
I work at Cadbury's in Moreton.
It's called "Burtons' Foods" now !
Autor: karatefella - 8 months, 3 weeks ago
6
This has always been one of my favorite song by Costello. I love this arrangement of the song with the traditional Irish musicians. He sounds great with uillean pipes.
Autor: Tshea13 - 1 year, 4 months ago
7
This is my favorite song from King of America.
Autor: jzenman - 2 years, 1 month ago
8
Great song, never heard it live before, cheers.
Love the pipes as well, really fits.