Internationally, the band is perhaps best known for popular rock hits such as "Oliver's Army" and "Pump It Up", both featuring expressive yet sardonic vocals from Costello. He reconvened the band for one-off albums and tours over the following decade, particularly from 1994 through 1996. He has also enlisted Nieve, and to a lesser extent Pete Thomas, for other recordings and performances, and this continues to the present day. Costello and Bruce Thomas have had a notoriously stormy relationship, documented in Thomas' 1990 autobiographical novel 'The Big Wheel'. The original Attractions reunited for the 'Brutal Youth & All This Useless Beauty' sessions despite Costello and Thomas' differences. Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve, along with Bruce Thomas' replacement Davey Faragher, have been a part of Costello's other most well known backing band, The Imposters.
Together, Costello and the Attractions, based out of London, England, recorded ten albums. Most of which are critically regarded as among Costello's finest. They are: 'This Year's Model' (1978); 'Armed Forces' (1979); 'Get Happy' (1980); 'Trust' (1981); 'Almost Blue' (1981); 'Imperial Bedroom' (1982); 'Punch The Clock' (1983); 'Goodbye Cruel World' (1984); 'Blood and Chocolate' (1986), and 'All This Useless Beauty' (1996). The full band plays on some, but not all, tracks on the 1994 release 'Brutal Youth', which is credited to Costello alone. In addition, The Attractions also recorded an album without Costello, titled 'Mad About the Wrong Boy', which they released in 1980.
Elvis Costello & The Attractions most recently appeared together, although they didn't play, when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. The band's work has continued to receive much airplay and sell quite well over the years. 'Mad About the Wrong Boy', while obscure, has been a collectors item for many new wave and power pop fans.
Honey Are You Straight or Are You Blind
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who do you see when I'm not seeing you?
The news is out all over town and all these girls
Are taking turns at being you
[Chorus:]
Well, well, well
You'd better make up your mind
She's coming in between us you know that she is
I'm not holding on to her but one of us is
My hands are in my pocket, my face is in a book
She could walk 'round naked and I wouldn't sneak a look
[Chorus]
Honey are you straight or are you blind?
She walked in and your eyes flew out the door
You squeezed my hand 'til the circulation ceases
She's just a doll like so many more
She's the kind of doll that you'd like to pull to pieces
[Chorus]
Well, well, well
You'd better make up your mind
Honey are you straight or are you blind?
The song "Honey Are You Straight or Are You Blind?" by Elvis Costello & The Attractions is a song about infidelity and the confusion and jealousy it can bring about in a relationship. The lyrics suggest that the singer's partner is cheating on him with multiple other women, and he is unsure whether she is aware of it or not. He describes feeling like someone is coming between them and confesses that he would not even look at the other women, even if they were naked.
The chorus of the song urges the partner to make a decision about whether she is committed to their relationship or not, asking if she is "straight" (faithful) or "blind" (unaware). The final verse describes the other woman as a "doll" that the singer's partner might like to "pull to pieces," highlighting the jealousy and anger he feels towards her. Overall, the lyrics explore the complex emotions that come with infidelity and the struggle to trust in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Who do you see when you turn your eyes down?
Do you think of me when we're apart?
Who do you see when I'm not seeing you?
Do you think of someone else when we're apart?
The news is out all over town and all these girls
Are taking turns at being you
There are rumors that you're seeing other people
[Chorus:]
Well, well, well
You'd better make up your mind
Honey, are you straight or are you blind?
You need to decide if you want to be with me or not
She's coming in between us you know that she is
I'm not holding on to her but one of us is
There is someone else in our relationship and it's causing problems
My hands are in my pocket, my face is in a book
She could walk 'round naked and I wouldn't sneak a look
I'm trying to avoid looking at her because I know it's wrong
[Chorus]
Reiterating the need for a decision about our relationship
She walked in and your eyes flew out the door
You squeezed my hand 'til the circulation ceases
You paid more attention to her than me when she walked in
She's just a doll like so many more
She's the kind of doll that you'd like to pull to pieces
She's not special, and you like to criticize her
[Chorus]
Final plea for a choice to be made about our relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind