aka The Vinyl Villain incorporating Sexy Loser
#026– Elvis Costello & The Attractions – ‚Oliver’s Army’ (Radar Records ’79)
Hello friends,
yes, yes: “he’s heading for the safe side with the bloody hit single, the old coward”, you’re all thinking now. Ah, you couldn’t be more wrong!!
The thing is, you see, ‘Oliver’s Army’ is more than a new wave song with a glossy and radio-friendly arrangement, fuelled by a cheered up Elvis – at least he’s not as dour as he usually is – plus the inclusion of a piano part shamelessly stolen from ABBA’s ‘Dancing Queen’. I mean, even if there was nothing more to it, I would still love the tune …. sometimes a song is just a song, and sometimes a song is just a good song.
But here we also have the lyrics, and ‘Oliver’s Army’ only works perfectly well when you listen closely to the lyrics. Or, in other words, it only makes full sense in its musical/lyrical combination. And that’s where today’s history lesson begins:
The title is a reference to Oliver Cromwell, leader of the Parliamentary army in the English Civil War against the Royalist army of Charles 1. He established what was called the New Model Army (no, not the band, kids), which basically was the first professional, properly trained and drilled fighting force England had.
Now, Elvis took this historical fact and transferred it to various places in the world, where, back in 1978, when the song was written, things weren’t looking all too bright. Especially Belfast. So all in all the song is a general anti-military statement, but I suppose Elvis’ main target was to point out that back then the unemployed British youth’s only real option was to join the army.
Still, Elvis later said “I don’t think the song’s success was because of the lyrics. I always liked the idea of a bright pop tune that you could be singing along to for ages before you realize what it is you’re actually singing. Of course, the downside of that is some people only hear the tune and never listen to the words. After a while, I got frustrated at that”.
The tune fell foul of cancel culture in the 2020’s because of its use of the n-word. It came under fire despite its anti-racist and anti-war theme. In the song, ‘n—-r’ is a derogatory term used by British privates for Irish Catholics. Elvis stated: “that’s what my grandfather was called in the British army – it’s historically a fact – but people hear that word and go off like a bell and accuse me of something I didn’t intend.”
Perhaps Janet Maslin of Rolling Stone summarized the song’s multiple dimensions in the best possible way when she wrote, “you can hear it one way, or the other way, or both. Elvis Costello doesn’t seem to give a damn what you do, and that’s no small part of his charm”.
mp3: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Oliver’s Army
Enjoy,
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Outstanding.
I’m not the biggest Elvis Costello fan but… I knew someone that was and that eventually gave way to me buying Armed Forces (the fold-out, annoying cover art version). Other than that I own one single Everyday I Write The Book.
The earlier LPs I like to think I know well because my pal played them to death – including Oliver’s Army. Here’s the thing… I never knew what the lyrics referenced or that they included a now cancelled word. How could I miss all of that? Easily it seems – too caught up in the pop.
My favourite Elvis song
And the b-side was a cracker too!
Superb
SC
Love the song and especially love all of the background info you provided. Thank you!
Absolutely one of the greatest singles of all time. That agitation in the lyrics smoothed over with catchy pop gloss is pretty much how the U.K. has handled news and current affairs (as they were at the time of release) ever since.
Never mind the atrocities, feel the beat!
I love this song and the album it comes from (and a lot of Costello’s output from this era). He’s one of our very best pop stars.
As for the use of the N word. I strongly believe I don’t get to tell the offended that the cause of their offence is misunderstood by them on this topic. The Rolling Stones, Patti Smith & John Lennon join Costello in the adjustment of acceptable for the modern era with their output too. That’s one of the risks of playing in the margins. It was still great art then and interesting pop culture history now. But times move on. They must.
Patti Smith’s Easter is still a top ten vital album for me and my musical journey but I recognise how problematic it’s barnstorming opening 1/2 is in the modern age so along with Brown Sugar it has to be retired.
Jesus, the fucking Cancel Culture again. Achtung! Irony ist verboten!
Great post about a great single by the greatest living songwriter. The debate on the n-word is interesting and one I wrestle with. Last week my blog included a piece about Living For The City by Stevie Wonder. I discussed the full 7 minute version from Innervisions and the central narrative section has a line spoken by a presumably white police officer shouting “get in the cell, n-!” I can’t see how in the context of a socially aware song like this that inclusion of this line should mean it be cancelled. But it’s a really tricky space.