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Elvis Costello — Walking On Thin Ice
Album: Out Of Our Idiot
Avg rating:
5.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 698









Released: 1987
Length: 3:37
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Walking on thin ice, I'm paying the price.
I'm throwing the dice in the air.
Why must we learn it the hard way
And play the game of life with our hearts?

I gave you my life, you gave me your life.
Like a gush of wind in my hair.
Why do we forget what's been said
And play the game of life with our hearts?

I may cry someday. A kiss will dry whichever way.
And when my heart returns to ashes, it will be just a story.
It will be just a story.

And you go and try to walk across the lake
Crossed it with winter and all of this is ice
A terrible thing to do. They say the lake is as thick as the ocean.
I wonder if she knew?
Comments (71)add comment
I am a big EC fan but I had never heard this or even this album, weird...I looked up the Yoko version first and was very surprised that it's actually a viable song ie: no screaming.  Thanks RP for opening my ears once again.
Posted 4 weeks ago by rrowdies    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT!!!    I love the keyboard sounds!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
I never gave Elvis a second thought, until I saw him for Jackson Browne. I never thought I could be so won over with a performance. Get yourself some good speakers, turn the horns up and imagine you're seeing this live. And even if you still don't like the piece, it's worthy exercise any listening.
Posted 4 years ago by Michael_Dean    [ Reply ]
I never gave Elvis a second thought, until I saw him when he opened for Jackson Browne.  I never thought I could be so won over with a performance .  Get yourself some good speakers, turn the horns up and imagine  you're seeing this live.  And even if you still don't like the piece, it's worthy exercise for any listening .
Posted 4 years ago by Michael_Dean    [ Reply ]
I like songs like this just because they make me stop working, look at the RP site and say, "What the hell is this?!!" But, only for that.
Posted 5 years ago by dmcanany    [ Reply ]
I like it!
Posted 6 years ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Channeling Bob Marley on a Casio is not the answer.
Posted 6 years ago by Broken_Ear    [ Reply ]
 Word.

copymonkey wrote:
I love how the tiresome Elvis bashing has never had even one iota of influence over Bill's desire to continue to play Elvis songs. The only true arbiter of musical taste here is the guy who plays the records. Y'all can bark all you want. Bill likes what he likes, and I certainly don't agree with him all the time, but I respect his musical integrity. I think that's why we all listen, innit?

 


Posted 8 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
the orchestration reminds one of NAMCO. Dig Dug anyone?!
 
Posted 8 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:


I googled the phrase "I prefer the original Yoko version"... according to the internet, this is the first time phrase has ever been used.

 
{#Clap}
Posted 8 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
I am an aboriginal and
I am with idiot savant.
Posted 8 years ago by twoplain2sea    [ Reply ]

Posted 9 years ago by ekin    [ Reply ]
Originally from a great album of covers of Yoko tunes.

If her voice/style isn't your cup of tea, try her songs interpreted by Elvis, husband John, son Sean and many other luminaries and non-luminaries on the album Every Man Loves a Woman

"Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" – 3:32 - John Lennon"Silver Horse" – 3:07 - Harry Nilsson"I'm Moving On" – 2:47 - Eddie Money"Nobody Sees Me Like You Do" – 3:23 - Rosanne Cash"Dogtown" – 3:26 - Alternating Boxes"Goodbye Sadness" – 3:22 - Roberta Flack"Walking on Thin Ice" – 3:46 - Elvis Costello and The Attractions (with The TKO Horns)"Wake Up" – 2:22 - Trio"Dream Love" – 3:46 - Harry Nilsson"Now or Never" – 3:44 - Spirit Choir"Loneliness" – 3:42 - Harry Nilsson"It's Alright" – 2:27 - Sean Lennon 
Posted 9 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
I love how the tiresome Elvis bashing has never had even one iota of influence over Bill's desire to continue to play Elvis songs. The only true arbiter of musical taste here is the guy who plays the records. Y'all can bark all you want. Bill likes what he likes, and I certainly don't agree with him all the time, but I respect his musical integrity. I think that's why we all listen, innit?
Posted 9 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:


I googled the phrase "I prefer the original Yoko version"... according to the internet, this is the first time phrase has ever been used.

 
{#Roflol} {#Notworthy} {#Lol}

One of the best RP song comments ever. I'm surprised Google HQ didn't blow up when you submitted that search request. 

Did Yoko have compromising photos of Elvis? He should wear a toilet seat around his neck for a week just for letting this reach the public. 
Posted 9 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 atrocity wrote:
This first appeared on an "other people doing Yoko songs" album called "Every Man Has a Woman", which was one of the first ten or so CDs I ever bought.  While I prefer the original Yoko version, I like the Elvis Costello one just because it's so different while still recognizably being the same song.

Having said that, I never thought I'd hear anyone other than *me* play it!

 

I googled the phrase "I prefer the original Yoko version"... according to the internet, this is the first time that phrase has ever been used.
Posted 10 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Too much Costello this week on Paradise...
Posted 10 years ago by Euskadita    [ Reply ]
Can't get into this Guy....PSD for me
Posted 11 years ago by Scientist79    [ Reply ]
Ha ha!  I thought it was a Nina Simone remix...  
Posted 11 years ago by PLC    [ Reply ]
Out, damn'd spot! Out, I say!
One; two: why, then, ’tis time to do ’t.
Hell is murky! Fie, my lord, fie!

^

Posted 11 years ago by megaadam    [ Reply ]
This first appeared on an "other people doing Yoko songs" album called "Every Man Has a Woman", which was one of the first ten or so CDs I ever bought.  While I prefer the original Yoko version, I like the Elvis Costello one just because it's so different while still recognizably being the same song.

Having said that, I never thought I'd hear anyone other than *me* play it!
Posted 12 years ago by atrocity    [ Reply ]
Cheers to that Mr Lemm, it's a bopping number!
Posted 12 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
My favorite Yoko song performed by my third favorite artist of all time.
Posted 12 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
PSD, take me away...
Posted 12 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
I respect Declan's experimentation and eclecticism but this one's seriously sucky to these ears. The Casio intro sets the tone and it's downhill from there.
Posted 12 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
I like Elvis on Blood and Chocolate.  He stopped the commercial crap on that entire album.  Not sure what he's doing with the rest.
Posted 13 years ago by terrapin52    [ Reply ]
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Shut up, Elvis. Just shut up. Go home and be a good hubby for Diana. Your time has passed.
 
Wow!  Nice!  {#No}
Posted 13 years ago by jkhandy    [ Reply ]
Shut up, Elvis. Just shut up. Go home and be a good hubby for Diana. Your time has passed.
Posted 13 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
 helgigermany wrote:
I like this!
 

90% of the posts are favorable, so how come this only gets a 5.3?
Posted 13 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
I like this!
Posted 14 years ago by helgigermany    [ Reply ]
Fantastic record.  Elvis and Yoko together for the first and only time.
Posted 14 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 Stuart wrote:
Since this was recorded 20 years ago, we probably won't.

And to all you naysayers... Its my upload and I'm proud of it. Gets a 10 from me.

 
You should be proud! Great upload! Gets a 9.

Posted 14 years ago by SweTex    [ Reply ]
Rascal done got schooled there.
Posted 14 years ago by xkolibuul    [ Reply ]
 rascal420 wrote:
Put the Casio away and get out the gee-tar
 

Do you have any clue about Elvis. The Attractions are a keyboard driven band with one of the greatest of all time Mr. Steve Nieve behind a wide range of keys.  EC has written many a song on the piano, and is generally the only guitarist, with his mostly rhthym but occassionally bizarre solos, on his records.  He self-effacingly called himself Little Hands of Concrete.
Posted 16 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 lemmoth wrote:
... one of Yoko's best songs ...
 
 Now there's a phrase I never thought I would see.

Posted 16 years ago by MJMJ    [ Reply ]
Classic rock sequence — loving it.

Elvis Costello - Walking On Thin Ice
U2 - Two Hearts Beat As One
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

Just like I love "alternative" sequences, world music sequences, grunge sequences, jazz sequences, 80"s seq..... well maybe not.

Thats why I love RP.
Posted 16 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
No where else but on RP - or at my house - would you get to hear Elvis and the TKO horns raising up one of Yoko's best songs to another level.
Posted 16 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
I don't know, I don't think of Yoko when I hear this. I think of walking on thin ice, it evokes that feeling pretty well when Elvis does it. When Yoko does it, it evokes more umm... Yoko and shrieking. But when Elvis does it, I am transported into walking, not skating away, on the thin ice of a brand new day, with a cool Farfisa organ sound with nifty guitars.
Posted 16 years ago by andrewimft    [ Reply ]
It's been years since I've heard the Yoko Ono version. On this version Elvis sings "I, I, I, I..." about 10 times. On the Ono version she SHRIEKS what sounds like "Ike, Ike, Ike, Ike..." for what seems like a minute or more. I'd like to hear the original version again, once, and RP is probably the only place where you could hope to hear it.
Posted 16 years ago by Bat    [ Reply ]
Meh. Not awful, not great. Just meh. I like the vocal a lot, but the keyboard sucks horribly. It sounds like a $9.99 toy from Wal-Mart.
Posted 16 years ago by rtrudeau    [ Reply ]
thelionsduck wrote:
not a fan of elvis
me either
Posted 19 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
this can't be 14 years old... Great song in a great sequence Nice one Bill
Posted 19 years ago by Malc    [ Reply ]
Just needed to debrief from my experience of horror: I fled from RP to the RP Listener Review Channel, only to hear, through some diabolical computer glitch...THE SAME ELVIS COSTELLO SONG. Aaaaiiigh! This is gonna take YEARS of therapy to recover from. A resounding 1. :verysorry:
Posted 20 years ago by publiceric    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard this one before... I like it because it's a little different.
Posted 20 years ago by bc    [ Reply ]
Mr_Entropy wrote:
I think Bill's trying to see how bad the Elvis Costello tracks have to get on RP before he loses his snob appeal rating bonus. Looks like we found the line!
Bill has Elvis Costello high on his eclectic list, this month Guster is number 1
Posted 20 years ago by JokesandJokesandJokes    [ Reply ]
Mr_Entropy wrote:
I think Bill's trying to see how bad the Elvis Costello tracks have to get on RP before he loses his snob appeal rating bonus. Looks like we found the line!
Posted 20 years ago by DownHomeGirl    [ Reply ]
I think Bill's trying to see how bad the Elvis Costello tracks have to get on RP before he loses his snob appeal rating bonus. Looks like we found the line!
Posted 20 years ago by Mr_Entropy    [ Reply ]
Put the Casio away and get out the gee-tar
Posted 20 years ago by rascal420    [ Reply ]
Funny, when this song started I thought it was Grace Jones.
Posted 20 years ago by SiniLMan    [ Reply ]
ChicoCyclist wrote:
I like this song because it doesn't sound like the usual "music" offered up by Mr. Costello. Hopefully we'll get more of this sound from him in the future...
Since this was recorded 20 years ago, we probably won't. And to all you naysayers... Its my upload and I'm proud of it. Gets a 10 from me.
Posted 20 years ago by Stuart    [ Reply ]
qbee wrote:
Who is this and what have they done with Elvis Costello?? arg, make it stop!
Ouch. Sometimes my hero really has a bad hair day. Come on Elvis, get out off the sofa and start rockin'!
Posted 20 years ago by rulebritannia    [ Reply ]
not a fan of elvis
Posted 20 years ago by thelionsduck    [ Reply ]
I like this song because it doesn't sound like the usual "music" offered up by Mr. Costello. Hopefully we'll get more of this sound from him in the future...
Posted 20 years ago by ChicoCyclist    [ Reply ]
I think I could do without ever hearing this again (and I do like EC)
Posted 20 years ago by billowhead    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a demo that should have been left off of a box set retrospective.
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Yeah, I know, a genius like DM has to stretch and try different things - but why do we have to listen to them? BTW, it's okay to hate Yoko. The Pope hates Yoko.
Posted 21 years ago by Businessgypsy    [ Reply ]
Who is this and what have they done with Elvis Costello?? arg, make it stop!
Posted 21 years ago by qbee    [ Reply ]
I normally adore elvis costello, but this song doesn't really appeal to me.
Posted 21 years ago by christy    [ Reply ]
I consider myself a big fan of Mr. Declan MacManus, but this song is, quite simply, horrible :( What about hearing \'Tramp The Dirt Down\', \'I Want To Vanish\' or \'All This Useless Beauty\'?
Posted 21 years ago by shevek    [ Reply ]
Elvis is an eclectic, contently experimenting, hit & miss writer/musician. But...
Posted 21 years ago by dawiese    [ Reply ]
Originally Posted by beelzebubba: This song sucks.
Usually I try to refrain from posting negative comments about songs. In this case, though, I'm with beelzebubba.
Posted 21 years ago by indigo_xia    [ Reply ]
This song sucks.
Posted 21 years ago by beelzebubba    [ Reply ]
Elvis a John Lennon wannabe? I think not.
Posted 22 years ago by laprincessa    [ Reply ]
After cooperating with Paul McCartney, as a sort of Lennon stand in, now this song by Yoko Ono? Costello; a John Lennon wanna-be?
Posted 22 years ago by Johray63    [ Reply ]
Leave it to Elvis to make an offering by Yoko into a presentable and potent performance. EC is the epitome of eclecticism.
Posted 22 years ago by BC_Night_Heron    [ Reply ]