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: 

youtu.be/wCuUh_cTzgw

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 

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