Elvis Costello - Shipbuilding

Artist: Elvis Costello

Song: Shipbuilding

Album: Punch The Clock (1983)

Brano intenso e drammatico, Shipbuilding, è un amaro intervento sul tema caldo della guerra delle Falklands. Langer e Costello scrissero la canzone per Robert Wyatt e nell'agosto 1982 produssero il suo 45 giri. Elvis volle però recuperare il brano su Punch The Clock, ufficialmente «per farlo ascoltare a un pubblico più grande» ma forse per il semplice fatto che era una gran bella canzone e sarebbe stato un peccato non metterci il cappello sopra. Aveva ragione, e in più ebbe la grande idea di coinvolgere Chet Baker alla tromba per un emozionante assolo dei suoi. Shipbuilding fece epoca, e molti oggi ricordano Punch The Clock proprio per quello; per quella voce dolente, quella tromba degli angeli e le amare riflessioni sul lavoro e la guerra di un uomo qualunque nella triste Gran Bretagna di Margaret Thatcher. (Riccardo Bertoncelli)

The plangent "Shipbuilding," a surprise hit for Robert Wyatt in England, carefully delineates a town where war is about to cure the unemployment problem. "Within weeks they'll be reopening the shipyards/And notifying the next of kin/Once again," Elvis sings with unusual care, high in his register. A stirring trumpet solo by the legendary Chet Baker beautifully enhances the track's wistful lament. "It's all we're skilled in/We will be shipbuilding." It's a beautifully simple, almost terse, rumination, clear as water. (Rolling Stones)

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Is it worth it?
A new winter coat and shoes for the wife
And a bicycle on the boy's birthday.

It's just a rumour that was spread around town
By the women and children, soon we'll be shipbuilding

Well I ask you
The boy said 'Dad, they're going to take me to task
But I'll be home by Christmas.

It's just a rumour that was spread around town
Somebody said that someone got filled in
For saying that people get killed in
The results of their shipbuilding.

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls.

It's just a rumour that was spread around town
A telegram for a picture postcard
Within weeks they'll be reopening the shipyard
And notifying the next of kin
Once again.

It's all we're skilled in
We will be shipbuilding.

With all the will in the world
Diving for dear life
When we could be diving for pearls.