George Jones (with Elvis Costello) – There’s a Stranger in the House
In 1980, Elvis Costello was THE angry young man. I saw him live around that time, and he sang half the time with his back to the audience.
After his first three albums — My Aim is True, This Year’s Model, and Armed Forces — were released in 1977, 1978, and 1979. And then, in 1980, his U.S. label, Columbia, released a collection of EP tracks, B-sides, and other oddities that had been released in Europe, but not in America.
That album is called Taking Liberties and it’s one of my favorites — not just one of my favorite’s by Elvis Costello. One of my favorite albums, period.
It opens with a snarling punk number called “Clean Money” and it continues with several tracks oozed that angry young man vibe.
But then, you get to the ninth track, near the end of the first side, and you hear it: Elvis does country.
For those who know a lot of his catalog, for those who know Elvis as much for his lounge singing as his punk snarling, this genre detour might not seem so strange.
But in 1980 it was mind blowing.
George Jones inspired the song. In fact, Elvis wrote it to record with George (in 1979). Elvis actually recorded his version before he and George recorded there. But George’s version was released in the US first.
You still hear Elvis’ version from time to time on country and Americana radio stations. But it’s George’s version (with Elvis along for the ride) that I share with you today.
Today’s Song
Title: There’s a Stranger in the House
Artist: George Jones (with Elvis Costello)
Album: My Very Special Guests (1979)
YouTube Link:
Lyrics
This never was one of the great romances
But I thought you’d always have those young girl’s eyes
For now they look in tired and bitter glances
At the ghost of a man walkin’ round in my disguise
He gets the feeling that he should belong here
But there’s no welcome in the window anyway
And he looks down for a number on his key-chain
‘Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday
There’s a stranger in the house, nobody’s seen his face
Everybody says he’s takin’ my place
There’s a stranger in the house no one will ever see
Everybody says he looks like me
And now you say you’ve got no expectations
But I know you also miss those carefree days
And for all the angry words that passed between them
She still can’t understand him when he says
There’s a stranger in the house, nobody’s seen his face
But everybody says he’s takin’ my place
There’s a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
He looks like me…
Here are the Playlists:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3xYKtYparrdJRYAjBj9kjx?si=eb6c3ebc30484204
Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/ware-house-concerts-song-of-the-day/pl.u-Ggz26cZlAVLj
