126 :: How Wrong Can I Be :: A Slow Drag with "Tears Before Bedtime‪"‬ Slow Drag with Remedy :: An Elvis Costello Appreciation

Today’s slow drag is with “Tears before Bedtime,” from “Imperial Bedroom,” released in 1982. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello.
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Show Notes:
Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA
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Email: slowdragwithremedy@gmail.com  
“Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, Podcasts” https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=Podcasts
Transcription: https://slowdragwithremedy.weebly.com
Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com
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Slow Drag with Remedy on Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/1f521a34-2ed9-4bd4-a936-1ad107969046/slow-drag-with-remedy-an-elvis-costello-appreciation
 
References:
Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “Tears before Bedtime” https://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php?title=Imperial_Bedroom
“Tears before Bedtime” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v_inbXiPLQ  
“Tears before Bedtime” Alternative version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA8uLxyBF9I
“Give up The Ghost” meaning https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/to-give-up-the-ghost#:~:text=Definition%20of%20'to%20give%20up%20the%20ghost'&text=If%20someone%20gives%20up%20the,what%20they%20are%20looking%20for.
A chorus versus and hook: https://emastered.com/blog/hook-vs-chorus#:~:text=A%20chorus%20is%20usually%20preceded,make%20for%20a%20catchier%20tune.
Purchase “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday”
Listen to the audiobook of “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday” for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq7n1pN8D1Y
"Tears before Bedtime" Lyrics
I know the name on the tip of your tongue
And I know that accusing look
Everybody knows I've been so wrong
That's the problem and here's the hook
 
Chorus:
Tears before bedtime
There'll be trouble tonight
I don't want to talk about it anymore
I don't want to have another fight
I don't want to talk I don't want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right
 
For the tears that you boo hoo hoo
There can be no defense
You say you'll forgive and forget
But it's only a pretense
 
(Chorus)
 
Either you can leave the past behind
Or give me something to disconnect my mind
I sleep with my fists clenched tight
When I don't lie awake all night
I guess time gave up the ghost too late
And the balance of our love
Very soon turns to hate
 
Darling your suspiciousness
Tortures me at night
But I can't excuse the cruel words
That I use whenever we fight
 
(Chorus)
 
How wrong can I be before I am right
 
Alternate Version Lyrics
I see that strange look in your eyes once again
And the name on the tip of your tongue is of a woman and not a man
There’ll be tears before bedtime, they’ll be trouble tonight
I don’t want to talk about it anymore, oh I don’t want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right?
 
The pain that I’ve given you there is no defense
You say you’ll forgive and forget but it’s only a pretense
There’ll be tears before bedtime, they’ll be trouble tonight
I don’t want to talk about it anymore, oh I don’t want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right?
 
Either you can leave the past behind or give me something to discount mind
I sleep with my fists clenched tights when I don’t lie awake all night
I guess time gave up the ghost too late
And the balance of our love
Very soon turns to hate
 
Suspicion and silence still torture my night
And the cruel words of anger that run through all our fights
They’ll be tears before bedtime, I’ll be trouble tonight
I don’t want to talk about it anymore, I don’t want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right?