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- Album This song officially appears on the All This Useless Beauty Official album.
Related sessions
This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions
Demo Sessions with Elvis Costello
September - October 1987
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Song facts
It scarcely seems possible, but it’s already nine – yes, nine – years since two Liverpool lads by the names of Paul McCartney and Declan MacManus (better known to all as Elvis Costello and Paul Ramon) decided to pool their talents and write some songs together.
This happy relationship continues to prosper, and the twelfth exciting fruit of their collaboration has just been unleashed on Elvis’s new album All This Useless Beauty.
Paul does not play on the recording of “Shallow Grave” but it has been co-produced with Costello by long-time Beatles and McCartney associate Geoff Emerick, working with Jon Jacobs who is also well connected with Paul. […]
From Club Sandwich N°78, Summer 1996
lt was mostly his doing. He wrote more of the words than I did. Even the title. lt isn’t very typical for him, supposedly Mr Comfortable. it’s this slightly frightening idea with this pop melody.
Elvis Costello, talking about Paul McCartney, from The Guardian interview, May 17, 1996
Last updated on September 19, 2020
Lyrics
When I fall in endless sleep
I hope that I'll be buried deep
Let me be the one that fortune favours
Even good children got shallow graves
(Chorus:)
Throw another clown to the lions
Throw another Joan on the blaze
Cast me away on the cruel calm ocean
and leave me for days and days and days and days and days
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
I won't lie, I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Bless the poor 'cos like the rich
They all end up in a ditch
In this world of fools and knaves
Even good children got shallow graves
The tinker, the tailor, the fabulous five
Nobody gets out of this alive
(Repeat Chorus)
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down deep where the dead men sleep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Dig me down, dig me down, dig me down deep
I won't lie in this poor shallow grave
Officially appears on
Official album • Released in 1996
2:07 • Studio version • A
- Geoff Emerick :
- Producer
- Elvis Costello :
- Guitars, Producer, Second bass, Vocals
- Bruce Thomas :
- Bass
- Steve Nieve :
- Keyboards
- Pete Thomas :
- Drums
- Recording :
- August-September 1995
- Studio :
- Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin
Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection
Official album • Released in 2017
2:14 • Demo • B • Taken from a cassette demo recorded at Hog Hill Mill, East Sussex
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Elvis Costello
- Session Recording:
- September - October 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Flowers In The Dirt - The cassette demos
Cassette • Released in 2017
2:14 • Demo • B • Taken from a cassette demo recorded at Hog Hill Mill, East Sussex
- Performed by :
- Paul McCartney • Elvis Costello
- Session Recording:
- September - October 1987 ?
- Studio :
- Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK
Bootlegs
Unofficial album • Released in 2004
2:47 • Live • Elvis live '96, "For The First Time In America" CD
Live performances
Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.
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