Be warned, if you’re one of the many thousands of RWB readers who are no doubt attending one of the gigs on Bob Dylan’s latest tour: Elvis Costello, in his recent sets opening for Bob, has been making some pointed political observations. As described here, he inserted these lines during his song The Scarlet Tide: “Admit you lied, and bring the boys back home.” As described here, he made some kind of declaration regarding the Dixie Chicks. So, brace yourselves. I don’t want to hear about any riots. After all, Elvis — no less than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — is a guest in our country, and we’d like him to have a nice experience, and go home and tell his friends how much he enjoyed visiting America.

Joking aside: As anyone who has been a fan would know, Elvis Costello is not primarily a politically-oriented songwriter, and never has been, but since the earliest days of his career (Less Than Zero, Night Rally) he’s always liked to keep a certain edge going, and at least appear to be commenting on things from a vaguely leftist perspective. Due to his fondness for being obscure in his lyrics, it can often be hard to decipher just what it is he’s getting at. But that it has always come from the left side of the spectrum is easy enough to see, and his sporadic political comments in interviews remove any doubt that might remain. Indeed, back before I became a blinkered uptight right-winger, one of the reasons I was attracted to the music of Elvis Costello was that edge; Elvis conveyed the sense that he was standing for something, that it wasn’t all just cars and girls for him. My favorite songs were, nonetheless, always the ones of interpersonal politics rather than the other kind. I Hope You’re Happy Now, Accidents Will Happen, I Want You, Indoor Fireworks — those and quite a a few others are really masterful compositions from a very large talent. And, contrary to those who say he’s a good songwriter but just doesn’t have a good voice, I’ve always thought that he’s a fantastic singer, very soulful and affecting. So, I’ll be there this Sunday in Connecticut, hoping to come away re-impressed at his ability to write and sing songs that can stand the test of time, and hoping to be able to cut him some slack for using the stage for his narrow political commentary. We’ll see.

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