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Released in 2017

I Don't Want To Confess

Written by Paul McCartneyDeclan MacManus / Elvis Costello

Last updated on April 1, 2017


Album This song officially appears on the Flowers In The Dirt - Archive Collection Official album.

Timeline This song was officially released in 2017

Related session

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other McCartney / Costello songs released on 2017 Flowers In The Dirt

I Don’t Want To Confess” is one of the three songs (the other ones being “Twenty Fine Fingers” and “Tommy’s Coming Home“) written by McCartney and Costello that haven’t been officially released until 2017, and their appearance on the Flower In The Dirt reissue. It’s also the most confidential song of their collaboration, as it hadn’t been bootlegged before its official release; its existence had only been mentioned by Elvis Costello during a November 1994 interview on BBC Radio.


Lyrics

Did you have to confess

Why'd you drag up that old mess

Did you have to be so indiscreet

What happened to keeping them guessing

Why shout our deepest secrets

To the tide comes rolling back again

And cast in the direction of the sky


All I ever see is people who can't wait to say their piece

So they issue their unmerciful release

And you're the latest name to grace that celebrated list

You think they'd make love letters won't be missed

They're worth their weight in gold

You and that small black dress

Won't have to look so old

Now the story is sold


I don't want to confess

Why'd you have to share these things with everyone

I don't want to confess

Everybody knows by now the word is out

But after you've gone

I won't need to

I won't have to

I don't want to confess


I don't want to confess

Why'd you drag up that old mess

Did you have to be so indiscreet

I'm determined to keep them guessing

Officially appears on

Live performances

Paul McCartney has never played this song in concert.

Paul McCartney writing

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