Elvis Costello and The Attractions - I Stand Accused (from Alright Now 1980)

Elvis and the boys allegedly not too sober.
Some great dancing in the studio though.
Girl, I stand accused, people say I love you
Yeah, I stand accused, oh, but what can I do
You belong to some other guy
Hope I never have to testify
If loving you is a big crime
I've been guilty a long time
Girl, I stand accused with no more than a chance
Girl, I stand accused and I got no defense
All I need is a touch from your hand
To find myself on a witness stand
I'd be unable to lie, girl
I got a love that won't die, girl
Tell the world that I was guilty
I wouldn't stand a chance
Tell the world that I was a victim
A victim of circumstance
They might show some mercy if I could explain
Girl, I love you so much that I'm almost insane
You disturbed my balance of mind
I couldn't help what I did at the time
I stand accused and I'm guilty
Baby, I always will be
I need a witness, baby
You disturbed my balance of mind
I couldn't help what I did at the time
I stand accused and I'm guilty
Baby, I always will be
I need a witness, baby
I stand accused of loving you
So guilty baby
Oh yeah
I stand accused
I S-T-A-N-D A-C-C-U-S-E-D
I stand accused, loving you
So guilty, baby
Oh yeah

[@doasyouwouldbedunto]

Ha! Amazing to see this - I was the 19 year old, in the black and gold striped dress, dancing on the podium behind the band LOL - I do remember that the keyboard player kept passing us plastic cups of warm vodka ...

[@Straker1923]

You looked damn sexy dancing up there, if I can say that in this day and age? haha. I saw 'The Mersey Beats' doing this same song in Millom's Cumbria Club in '72. I was dancing with this gorgeous blonde girl too and took her home. Oh the memories caught by a song!

[@trevorheadrick2185]

Agreed. Wish I was there swaying with yo

[@buenastardes1687]

My favourite bassist

[@user-tr3lq3dc8z]

Used to live 30 min walk from me.

[@maroonlectroid]

actually nothing cooler has come along in pop music since this specific moment

[@SylentEcho]

Singing a rubbish cover of The Merseybeats, 'I Stand Accused' was a cool moment for you?

[@semi-aquaticfishembryo8975]

SylentEcho I think that was what he was implying

[@andyjay7337]

Great track and hats off to some of the audience for their dancing, I especially liked the girl near the front in the blue dress. At another time she would have been a great “ mod” girl.

[@lerkison]

A legal perspective on I stand accused: Girl, I stand accused, people say I love you (inadmissible hearsay, nothing to worry about) Yeah, I stand accused, oh, but what can I do (do not make any statements to the police) You belong to some other guy (if true, violates 13th amendment right against slavery) Hope I never have to testify (you won’t-you have the 5th amendment right against self-incrimination) If loving you is a big crime (generally speaking, heterosexual love is not outlawed in the world) I've been guilty a long time (well, you did it now, made an incriminating statement; if you said it only to me, however, then it’s protected by the attorney-client privilege) Girl, I stand accused with no more than a chance (actually, the prosecution carries the heavy burden of proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt) Girl, I stand accused and I got no defense (your acceptance of responsibility may help achieve a favorable plea bargain or sentence) All I need is a touch from your hand (entrapment?) To find myself on a witness stand (if you’re being sued civilly, as opposed to prosecuted criminally, you may indeed have to testify) I'd be unable to lie, girl (good, the last thing you want is a perjury charge) I got a love that won't die, girl (better not to interact with the alleged victim while this case is pending) Tell the world that I was guilty (encouraging her to post it on social media? This could prejudice the potential jury pool) I wouldn't stand a chance (California recently passed cyberbullying laws that could aid you if she harasses you online) Tell the world that I was a victim (a sympathetic approach if it goes to trial, particularly to the male members of the jury) A victim of circumstance (not a legal defense) They might show some mercy if I could explain (testifying in your defense is something that you and your attorney will have to determine after the prosecution presents its evidence) Girl, I love you so much that I'm almost insane (aha, perhaps an insanity defense!) You disturbed my balance of mind (if she’s really hot, it will help your case) I couldn't help what I did at the time (if because of voluntary intoxication, not a defense) I stand accused and I'm guilty (again, not guilty unless you enter a guilty plea or else get convicted at trial) Baby, I always will be (be careful: stalking would be a separate offense) I need a witness, baby (it is a good idea to start thinking about character witnesses if this goes to trial. And don’t call me baby.) You disturbed my balance of mind (blaming her for attracting you makes you sound like an abuser) I couldn't help what I did at the time (we may suggest alternative sentences to the judge such as anger management classes) I stand accused and I'm guilty Baby, I always will be I need a witness, baby I stand accused of loving you So guilty baby Oh yeah I stand accused I S-T-A-N-D A-C-C-U-S-E-D

[@ColeSmithey]

Brilliant! Superstar!

[@steveundertoned9456]

I think the band's into it.

[@hirepimike]

Kills it.

[@fredfat1606]

have you got the performance of possession from the same broadcast where they "prove" that it is live

[@lesgreenwood999]

Ellis Costello radio radio

[@luiskern8910]

Ellis costello radio radio

[@patriciofernandez2711]

Great upload! So weird to see Elvis with a Strat. Do you by any chance have the video of them playing "Possession"? I think it's from the same TV show

[@dekkiesmom]

Elvis still uses this same guitar (among many others)... just saw him play it in Wilmington, NC two nights ago!

[@publichousebrandmusic2762]

prefer the original but this aint bad!

[@woodywood7228]

Like Elvis but he murders the original here

[@duffbaker9554]

It's live and faster than the album version-check that one out instead.

[@jasongray4517]

​@duffbaker9554 True. Album version has the addition of a harmonica. Not quite as 'beat up' as this live version.