Elvis Costello
Lyric guide

Forty-Five

Read Forty-Five lyrics by Elvis Costello on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Elvis Costello visibility1 visits Video on page
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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Elvis Costello Canonical path: /elvis-costello/forty-five Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Forty-Five

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Bells are chiming for victory

There's a page back in history - 45

They came back to the world that they fought for

Didn't turn out just like they thought - 45

Here is a song to sing to do the measuring

What did you lose, what did you gain, what did you win?

Nine years later a child is born

There's a record so you put it on - 45

Nine years more if we're lucky now

Nine year old puts his money down - 45

Every scratch, every click, every heartbeat

Every breath that I held for you - 45

There's a stack of shellac and vinyl

Which is yours now or which is mine? - 45

Here is a song to sing to do the measuring

What did you lose, what did you gain, what did you win?

Bass and treble heal every hurt

There's a rebel in a nylon shirt

But the words are a mystery I've heard

Till you turn it down to thirty-three and a third

'Cause it helps with the elocution

Corporations turn revolutions - 45

I heard something peculiar said

"Perhaps he's got a shot" and "Now he's dead" - 45

So don't you weep and shed(?)

Just change my name instead

But what do you lose when it all goes to your head?

Bells are chiming and tears are falling

It creeps up on you without a warning - 45

Every scratch, every click, every heartbeat

Every breath that I've blessed

I'll be lost I confess - 45 45 45

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Who performs "Forty-Five"?

Elvis Costello performs "Forty-Five", and this lyric page sits inside the Elvis Costello catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Forty-Five"?

Yes. The related section below points to All This Useless Beauty and Beautiful with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Elvis Costello?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Elvis Costello's lyric pages.

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