Today’s slow drag is with “This Sad Burlesque,” from “The Juliet Letters,” released in 1993. The songwriting is credited to Elvis Costello’s birth name.

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

Twitter: @slowdragremedy

Email: [email protected]

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

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

References:

Elvis Costello Wiki Resource, “This Sad Burlesque”: http://www.elviscostello.info/wiki/index.php/This_Sad_Burlesque

“This Sad Burlesque”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7erFv3Z0SI

Letters of Heartbreak Find Some Love in Verona, Italy: https://www.npr.org/2013/04/16/177027206/letters-of-heartbreak-find-some-love-in-verona-italy?t=1593189184122

From “Comedy Writing,” The K sound is just funnier:

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=giFjDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT75&lpg=PT75&dq=k+sound+is+a+funnier+sound+mel+brooks&source=bl&ots=b6Ot6lAJfA&sig=ACfU3U1VwErAvAuGgOJ9np-8b-njMCJdmg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi5uK6n95_qAhWQVRUIHU5NDVAQ6AEwBHoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=k%20sound%20is%20a%20funnier%20sound%20mel%20brooks&f=false

Victorian Burlesque Dancers, musical theater of the exotic: https://mashable.com/2014/11/11/victorian-burlesque-dancers/

Burlesque Timeline: https://alibi.com/feature/18609/Burlesque-Timeline.html

The History of Burlesque Dancing: https://burlexe.com/burlesque/burlesque-history/the-history-of-burlesque-dancing/

"This Sad Burlesque" Lyrics

I write in hope by the time you get this letter
We may live to see a change for the better
Or are we so devoted to these wretched selfish motives?
When the cold facts and figures all add up
They cannot contradict this sad burlesque

This sad burlesque
With miserable failures making entertainment of our fate
Laughter cannot dignify or elevate this sad burlesque

Now can they recall being young and idealistic
Before wading knee-deep in hogwash and arithmetic?
The pitying smirk
The argument that runs like clockwork
Will run down eventually and splutter to a stop

P.S. Well, by now you know the worst of it
And we've heard all the alibis that they've rehearsed
The smug predictions
If it's not a contradiction
Please have faith in human nature
And have mercy on the creatures in this sad burlesque 

This sad burlesque
With miserable failures making entertainment of our fate
Laughter cannot dignify or elevate this sad burlesque