Friday, October 30, 2020

Song of the Day: 'Accidents Will Happen' by Elvis Costello and the Attractions


The main Attraction looks back on his mistakes -- and the real meaning behind his 1979 song:

Several songs influenced me during the writing of “Accidents.” The drama and scale of the song was swayed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart.” Though their song doesn’t resemble “Accidents” in any way, I wanted their bell-tolling sensation in the chorus that the Attractions’ Steve Nieve articulated well on keyboards. 

The other inspiration was a lyric line -- “I don’t want to hear it”-- from Randy Newman’s “I Don’t Want to Hear It Anymore.” Dusty Springfield recorded it on her 1969 “Dusty in Memphis” album. I used the line in my chorus: 

“Accidents will happen / We only hit and run / I don’t want to hear it / ’Cause I know what I’ve done.”

Keep reading HERE.

1 comment:

Steve said...

"Armed Forces" along with "My Aim is True' two of the best albums ever. That opinion may be influenced by that fact that I was around 18 when they were released.