Elvis Costello
Lyric guide

The Beat

Read The Beat lyrics by Elvis Costello on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

Elvis Costello visibility0 visits Video on page
person Curated by Ethan Walker LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot

The page facts to cite before the commentary

Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.

Page type: lyric reference Artist: Elvis Costello Canonical path: /elvis-costello/the-beat Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

The Beat

The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.

We're all going on a summer holiday

Vigilante's coming out to follow me.

Heard somebody say they're out to collar me.

Anybody wanna swallow me?

It takes two to tumble. It takes two to tango.

Speak up; don't mumble if you're in the combo.

On the beat, on the beat.

Till a man comes along and he says,

'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ.'

See your friends in the state their in.

See your friends getting under their skin.

See your friends getting taken in.

Well, if you only knew the things you do to me.

I'd do anything to confuse the enemy.

There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me.

Take it easy. I think you're bending me.

I've been a bad boy with the standard leader.

My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva.

On the beat, on the upbeat.

Till a man comes along and he says,

'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ.'

See your friends walking down the street.

See your friends never quite complete.

See your friends getting under their feet.

Oh, I don't want to disease you,

but I'm no good with machinery.

Oh, I don't wanna freeze you.

Stop looking at the scen'ry.

I keep thinking about your mother.

Oh, I don't wanna lick them.

I don't wanna be a lover.

I just wanna be your victim.

I don't go out much at night.

I don't go out much at all.

Did you think you were the only one

who was waiting for a call

On the beat, on the upbeat.

Till a man comes along and he says,

'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ.'

See your friends treat me like a stranger.

See your friends despite all the arrangements.

See your friends Nothing here has changed.

Just the beat.

Quick answers

What this page can answer fast

Who performs "The Beat"?

Elvis Costello performs "The Beat", and this lyric page sits inside the Elvis Costello catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "The Beat"?

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.

Song Room

Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song

Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.

Open Song Room
0 followers Selected insights only surface after moderation
Listener comments

What people are saying

0 comments
Add a short interpretation or memory

A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.

Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.

No listener comments on The Beat yet.