Sunday's Best
Elvis Costello · Elvis Costello Limited Edition Collector's Box Set - Amazon.Com E [2007]
Send the army and the navy
Beat up strangers who talk funny
Take their greasy foreign money
Skin shop, red leather, hot line
Be prepared for the engaged sign
Bridal books, engagement rings
And other wicked little things
Chorus:
Standing in your socks and vest
Better get it off your chest
Every day is just like the rest
But Sunday's best
Stylish slacks to suit your pocket
Back supports and picture lockets
Sleepy towns and sleeper trains
To the dogs and down the drains
Major roads and ladies smalls
Hearts of oak and long trunk calls
Continental interference
At death's door with life insurance
Chorus
Sunday's best, Sunday's finest
When your money's in the minus
And you suffer from your shyness
You can listen to us whiners
Don't look now under the bed
An arm, a leg and a severed head
Read about the private lives
The songs of praise, the readers' wives
Listen to the decent people
Though you treat them just like sheep
Put them all in boots and khaki
Blame it all upon the darkies
Chorus
Sunday's best
Sunday's Best
Sunday's Best stands as a defining track from Elvis Costello's early punk-influenced period, showcasing his signature blend of sharp wit and melodic complexity. Recorded during a prolific era that produced classics like Alison and Watch Your Step, the song captures the tension between domestic routine and underlying emotional turbulence. Costello's delivery balances cynicism with a surprising warmth, a hallmark of his songwriting that resonated with critics and fans alike. The recording features tight, energetic instrumentation typical of his work with the Attractions, driving the narrative forward with rhythmic urgency. As part of a broader discography that spans new wave, rock, and folk, this piece remains a testament to Costello's ability to craft intimate portraits of everyday life within a compelling musical framework.