I think when I was younger I was not very good at writing love songs that didn't have a twist. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Certain songs have been written years apart, but they have a natural continuity to my mind. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
These are the sort of things that push you on in music - the curiosity, a passion for new ideas. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Morrissey writes wonderful song titles, but sadly he often forgets to write the song. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's really a stupid thing to want to do. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Music is more like water than a rhinoceros. It doesn't charge madly down one path. It runs away in every direction. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
My grandfather and my father disagreed about music, not least of all because my dad wanted to improvise. It wasn't just that… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Obviously I got known for some other songs early on, and some of those were rock'n'roll songs. Some of them were melodic… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
It's what's on the record not what labels on it. You know, that's like getting a box of cornflakes and eating the… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
I've always felt writing a song was a bit like going on location. That's true in an almost literal sense. Where you… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
There was not a lot of rock n roll in the house. Our parents didnt think it was very groovy, and I… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
It's what I do. I don't deserve any awards for this, it's just music. It's just writing songs. You sit down, you… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Very similar experience happened last year when we released this album, North. It was on Deutsche Grammophon, it was very, very honest.… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Mention Hubert Sumlin, as well, because Hubert's a great man, and again, you know, I don't play the guitar very good, but… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
I'd be very suspicious of anybody that seems to have to move to the next level of expression. I distrust that: now… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music.… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
You must hold on to the sort of finger-painting aspect of music. That's something I learned, particularly from listening to Neil Young.… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
I mistrust these people in music industry who can be everybody. This is where technology dictates to them. I mistrust that, that… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
It's not crazy to want to have certain songs be developed harmonically and still want to make noise with the guitar. And… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
There are five things to write songs about: I'm leaving you. You're leaving me. I want you. You don't want me. I… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love. — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
We're all just animals. That's all we are, and everything else is just an elaborate justification of our instincts. That's where music… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
My dad had a steady job with a really major dance band from '54 till '68, and then quit because he wanted… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
When you're working with the same band you kind of know their style inside out, and even when you've been working for… — Elvis Costello Copy Share Image
People think it is all about country music, and I know a lot of country music has come out of there, but like Blonde… — Elvis Costello Copy Share
I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing… — Elvis Costello Copy Share
Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal. I'd still own the film rights and be working on the sequel. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
Somebody should clip Sting around the head and tell him to stop using that ridiculous Jamaican accent. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
There is something wrong with you if you don't get angry about something. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?" A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?” — Elvis Costello Copy Share
Though the passion still flutters and flickers, it never got into our knickers. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
My dad's father was a White Star Line trumpet player in the '20s. It shaped the way that I think about music. My grandfather… — Elvis Costello Copy Share
Maybe I just never learned my harmony part, because what everybody says sounds odd to them sounds perfectly natural to me. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
There are a lot of things that you can like at a distance without spending a huge amount of time pondering. It's not so… — Elvis Costello Copy Share
I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness. I crave the silhouette of your kiss. — Elvis Costello Copy Share
