(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

Album: My Aim Is True (1977)
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  • 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 Writer/s: Elvis Costello
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Michael Livingston from Los AngelesI've been listening to this song since it came out, I always pictured the hells angels wearing his red shoes.....look how wrong you can be....
  • Steve from Chino Hills, CaWhen they recently elected a new Pope I couldn't help but think about their red shoes worn at the conclave. Yet another ironic Costello twist? Wasn't Elvis raised Catholic?
  • Andy from Halesowen, West Midlands, United KingdomFred, if you think Elvis would change lyrics for PC reasons, consider his song "Radio Radio" and the comment about the Saturday Night Live performance.
    Does that sound like a man who would back down?
    Additionally, "bitches" was not a word used to refer to anythine that was not canine in 1970's UK!
  • Andy from Halesowen, West Midlands, United KingdomExcellent song from an excellent album.
    I bought this on vinyll when it came out, and it often seemed the songs were written just for me.
    Probably still a lot on there that would seem relevant to a older teen / young adult male even today.
    Always thought the "I'm so happy ... Drop dead" lines were absolutely classic.
  • Fred from Laurel, MdThis is why I love coming to this site--there's always something to learn that I never suspected or realized. I always thought the line after "..I'm so happy I could die / She said 'Drop dead,' then left with another guy" was, "That's what you get if you go chasing after bitches" -- am I the only one who heard it this way? The protagonist of the song sounds like someone angry enough at women to say this, after all. But I could never quite make out the following, rhyming line, so if that's right in this site's version, I'm sure the line in question is right, too. Or ... did EC or someone else change both lines to the way they are here for PC (playable commercially) ;-) purposes?

  • David from Merseyside, Englandthis song is known for sounding much like the proclaimes hit ' i would walk 500 miles'
  • Mark from Virginia Beach, Vagreat song, so simple but so catchy and garage like rawness
  • Brian from Meriden, CtElvis's music always seemed to me so dripping with irony and satire, I never felt I really understood him. I've recently heard him speak about his music and his sources of inspiration and it was quite refreshing to hear such a humble, regular guy. And one so empathetic of regular folks struggle as they do in life's situations. I do enjoy many of his songs and I think it's notable that whatever the motivating factor he carries on the Buddy Holly/Elvis Presley image. Red Shoes was one of many examples that Elvis has a truly funky Irish heart.
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