Love For Tender
Elvis Costello · Elvis Costello Limited Edition Collector's Box Set - Amazon.Com E [2007]
You can put your money where your mouth is
But you're so unsure
I could be a miser or a big spender
But you might get much more than you bargained for
Check in on a checkmate
Grassing on a classmate
So beautiful and fortunate
You're the one who hates to love
But he's the one who loves to hate
He can fix you all for good
Because he is the neighbourhood
You can get money for blood
Blood money for doing no good
Better tell me now, have you made your selection?
Are you ready for correction?
Cause the wages of sin are an expensive infection
It'll make you bankrupt
Better pay up now, don't interrupt
So in love, I'm so sincere
Just like a well-known financier
You know I've never been corrupt
I'll pay you a compliment
And you'll think I am innocent
You can total up the balance sheet
And never know if I'm a counterfeit
You won't take my love for tender...
Love For Tender
Elvis Costello's "Love For Tender" stands as a poignant example of his late-career return to his signature blend of melancholic pop and sharp lyricism. Recorded for the 2007 compilation album, the track exemplifies his mastery of the piano-driven ballad, a format he revitalized throughout the 1970s and maintained with renewed intensity in later years. The song reflects Costello's enduring ability to distill complex emotional states into concise, memorable melodies that resonate across generations. As part of his extensive discography, the recording showcases his continued relevance as a vocalist and songwriter who consistently delivers emotionally resonant work that balances personal vulnerability with universal appeal.