Today’s slow drag is with “Motel Matches,” from “Get Happy!!,” released in 1980. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello.

Show Notes:

Appreciation written, produced, and narrated by Remedy Robinson, MA/MFA

Twitter: https://twitter.com/slowdragremedy

Email: slowdragwithremedy@gmail.com

Podcast music by https://www.fesliyanstudios.com

Rate this Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/slowdrag

References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “Motel Matches”: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/Motel_Matches

“Motel Matches”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLh-5onrgfQ

“Who Shot Sam” (1959) George Jones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItJp3mJSoKE

“Who Shot Sam” lyrics: https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/8152751/George+Jones

“Another Saturday Night,” Sam Cooke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O8m0mMDpHw

“Sam Cooke dies under suspicious circumstances in LA”: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sam-cooke-dies-under-suspicious-circumstances-in-la

“Why Mystery Still Shrouds Singer Sam Cooke’s Shooting Death 60 Years Later”: https://people.com/movies/why-mystery-still-shrouds-singer-sam-cookes-shooting-death-nearly-60-years-later/

Urban Dictionary entry for Motel Matches: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Motel%20Matches

Purchase “The Most Terrible Time in My Life…Ends Thursday” https://www.amazon.com/Most-Terrible-Time-Life-Thursday-ebook/dp/B07XLXS5PL/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Y4SGCT62WPEK&dchild=1&keywords=the+most+terrible+time+in+my+life+ends+thursday&qid=1608873405&sprefix=The+Most+Terrible+Time+in+%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-1

 

"Motel Matches" Lyrics (Final and Alternative)

Somewhere in the distance I can hear "Who Shot Sam?"

This is my conviction, that I am an innocent man

Though you say I'm unkind

I'm being as nice as I can

 

Boys everywhere, fumbling with the catches

I struck a lucky with motel matches

Falling for you without a second look

Falling out of your open pocketbook

Giving you away like motel matches

 

I wake with the siren in an emergency

Though your mind is full of love

In your eyes there is a vacancy

And you know what I'll do

When the light outside changes from red to blue

 

Boys everywhere, fumbling with the catches

I struck a lucky with motel matches

Falling for you without a second look

Falling out of your open pocketbook

Giving you away like motel matches

Alternate lyrics

Live at the Palomino, North Hollywood, CA, February 16, 1979: 

Somewhere in the distance I can hear "Who Shot Sam?"

Someone's crawling 'round your door

I suspect it is the insect man

Though you say I'm unkind

You'll find

I'm being as nice as I can

 

Boys everywhere, fumbling with the catches

I struck lucky with motel matches

Falling for you without a second look

Falling out of your open pocketbook

Giving you away like motel matches

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

 

I remember thinking as I was crawling to the door

That I will make my move if I can only jump this chequered floor

And I know that quite soon

You'll see more of me than just a cartoon

 

Boys everywhere, fumbling with the catches

I struck lucky with motel matches

Falling for you without a second look

Falling out of your open pocketbook

Giving you away like motel matches

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

 

Boys everywhere, fumbling with the catches

I struck lucky with motel matches

Falling for you without a second look

Falling out of your open pocketbook

Giving you away like motel matches

Giving you away like motel matches

Giving you away like motel matches

Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh