The World and His Wife
Elvis Costello · Elvis Costello Limited Edition Collector's Box Set - Amazon.Com E [2007]
The family circle gather round from very far and near
To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year
The little girl you dangle on your knee without mishap
stirs something in your memory
and something in your lap
But it's a living
This is the life
For the world and his wife
The world and his wife
The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess
She says sweet nothing at all it's much more of a mess
The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws
As the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers
To tell the truth our Mum ran off with someone else's father
went for two weeks holiday in taramasalata
Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking
Between Mum and the walls
God only knows who does the talking
But later on in the evening through the tears and fol de rol
Come the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol
Longing thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas
with a blindfold and a national anthem
sung in different keys
To pass around the same remarks they passed away last year
The little girl you dangle on your knee without mishap
stirs something in your memory
and something in your lap
But it's a living
This is the life
For the world and his wife
The world and his wife
The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess
She says sweet nothing at all it's much more of a mess
The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws
As the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers
To tell the truth our Mum ran off with someone else's father
went for two weeks holiday in taramasalata
Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking
Between Mum and the walls
God only knows who does the talking
But later on in the evening through the tears and fol de rol
Come the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol
Longing thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas
with a blindfold and a national anthem
sung in different keys
The World and His Wife
Elvis Costello's 'The World and His Wife' stands as a defining track from his 1976 album, The Breakdown. Released during the height of his career, the song exemplifies his signature blend of jazz-inflected pop and sharp lyrical wit. With its driving rhythm and Costello's distinctive vocal delivery, the recording captures the restless energy of the mid-1970s British Invasion while establishing his unique voice in the rock landscape. The piece remains a staple of his discography, celebrated for its intricate composition and enduring appeal across generations of listeners who appreciate his complex songwriting and melodic sensibilities.