OMG DID HE SAY WHITE N!GG

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[@daveborder7751]

He is writing about the Irish troubles-he wrote it after being in Belfast & being shocked at seeing young British soldiers carrying machine guns around. There were checkpoints people had to go through there & Checkpoint Charlie was the crossing point between East & West Berlin after WW2 up until 1991. The white n was a slur in Ireland used by Protestants to Catholics, hence the itchy trigger on the Northern Irish soldier or loyalist paramilitaries gun means one less Catholic man & leaves his wife a widow. The Murder Mile was a notorious part of Belfast where protestants would ambush Catholics to abduct, torture & murder them. Olivier's Army is a reference to Oliver Cromwell's army. I believe it likely the Johannesburg reference is to those kicked out of the army for excess violence or PTSD & unable to find work becoming mercenaries for hire in Apartheid South Africa. He is no joke, he is one of the best songwriters ever & his songs often had a political or pacifist view. This song itself is also railing against what he saw & young people that weren't academically minded leaving school & being pretty much pushed into the armed forces.

[@normandavidtidiman9918]

Nice of course that you forget to mention all the Protestants and British Soldiers/Civilians murdered by the Irish (Catholic) Republican Army & other terrorist organization's.

[@daveborder7751]

@@normandavidtidiman9918 Why would I? Elvis was putting his version across based on what he had seen in the North. It is well known it was hardly one way traffic-we lived through the IRA Bombings for decades in England.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

all bout context

[@1thommyberlin]

Dave, nicely said. Correct and (dare I?) even eloquent.

[@daveborder7751]

@@Ffinity Sure, but it does still damage the psyche seeing pubs being blown up, horse parades, Docklands, shopping centres etc.

[@galinor7]

We should remember that the song is also a criticism of racism. The white N descriptor is a reference to the way Catholics were treated in Northern Ireland.

[@markrothwell-eq7sg]

Or rather the way Roman Catholics presented themselves as being treated.Remember Rosa Parkes didn’t plant a bomb on that bus.

[@cescrules4472]

The lyric which says “one more widow, one less white N-word” should be placed into context. That saying (wrongly or otherwise), was used to describe the Catholic minority in NI. My pops told me that term was quite common during WWII amongst the Brits. Historical context is important in this case.?

[@scottbuckley823]

Oh yeah because there was no lead up like Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.@@markrothwell-eq7sg

[@MHQ9X]

Neither did the Birmingham six​@@markrothwell-eq7sg

[@thecrye6798]

@@markrothwell-eq7sgDifferent country, man. The violence between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland (and throughout Europe) was / is no joke. They were not pretending to be discriminated against.

[@crosseyedone7960]

You've got to be British to understand. Good on you for realising there is something deeper to this song. So many people just go crazy as soon as they hear the "white n" without thinking deeper. Music is art and art is challenging.

[@waytoobiased]

There is the question of whether he should have said it, even given the context, but that’s more complicated

[@nickr9620]

@@waytoobiased Yes he should have said it. White Catholics were treated appallingly. It is this group that white n******r refers to.

[@no1985ap]

This song is incredibly historical

[@reboot_2.00]

​@@waytoobiased 🤣🤣🤣

[@davidscott129]

It's not that you've got to be British. To understand, you've got to be Irish during The Troubles. You have to have lived under the threat of an occupying army made up of unemployable louts with automatic weapons.

[@erickent3557]

I always assumed "Oliver" is a reference to Cromwell, whose military campaign brutalized Ireland in the 1600s. Keep in mind that legacy, and "The Troubles", and the military presence, armed patrols and armored cars, were still ongoing when that song was written. The inflammatory lyric is a pointed, sarcastic reference how easy it is to justify killing when you degrade people.

[@MrMalort]

It is. It’s the reason the British army is not a royal thing like RAF or Royal Navy.

[@pipmaple]

@@MrMalort The armed services pledge allegiance to the Queen first and the country second !

[@ziggysawdust5407]

Oliver is referencing Oswald Mosley, he founded the British Union of Fascists. 👍

[@PjRjHj]

@@ziggysawdust5407 sorry, but it's as the OP said. Oliver Cromwell

[@lewaz101101]

@@ziggysawdust5407 I think you are confusing this with Less than Zero by Costello

[@AnthonyGriffinPhotography]

The 'White N'' reference was a pejorative for Catholics in Northern Ireland, another flashpoint for the British military and a particular target of this song’s satirical derision. The song is a critique of a professional Army, especially one that preys upon the poor and disenfranchised. In the UK, the working-class soldiers were often, like Elvis Costello, of Irish extract and the song’s title and lyrics refer to Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army, how it was used to colonise Ireland and then many places around the world and the actions of the UK’s army at the time the song was written.

[@thewkovacs316]

the professional army that was used to spread brit colonialism

[@user-dh6yl7lo2s]

This is the most correct explanation.

[@janiceturton7756]

i agree with most of what you say in this piece, but when you say the song is a critique of an army that preys on poor white working class mainly of Irish extract, i would disagree. Lots of working class from a lot of areas of all extracts have been used as cannon fodder in the past. Thats why he says the boys from the Mersea, the Thames and the Tyne

[@jaccilowe3842]

I'm 68 and this is my favourite song of all time. Still gives me goosebumps. Oliver's Army is Cromwell's new army that is still with us today. He refers to all the Imperial wars across the years since. The White N-word is an Irish thing.

[@marcrollins]

I heard this song on a road trip when I was 17 and it affected me greatly. The music and singing hooked me in and upon listening again and again I decided to research the meaning behind the song. This type of song writing has given me so much respect and admiration for the versatility of language.

[@johnwalker6752]

Born and raised in West Belfast n.ireland I'm 64 lived through the troubles never heard anyone use the term white nigger

[@ronaldmilner8932]

You have good taste in music!

[@johndonson1603]

Still maybe my favorite song at 57 years old.

[@_D_E_N_N_I_S_]

Check out the cover by the band “bayside “. They did the song justice:

[@paulconnor9362]

Ex British soldier myself He's talking about rich politicians recruiting from the working class to fight their stupid wars abroad. hence MerseyThames, Tyne. different parts of England

[@thewkovacs316]

working class areas of england

[@dannymaguire879]

There is an old expression, 'The sun never sets on the British Empire', meaning for a time they ruled the world or had their hand in the mix. He mentions the countries by name or the people throughout the song. Oliver's Army is a reference to the brutality of Oliver Cromwell and that even though he has long since passed, the ideals are alive and well. The line where he mentions 'With the boys from the Mersey and the Thames and the Tyne', references, the neighborhoods in England that were notoriously low economic and poorly educated people resided. Mercenary type forces were recruited from or targeted for recruitment from these neighborhoods. 'If you're out of luck or out of work, we can send you to Johannesburg'. Using these people like pawns, colonialism = 'It's a professional career'. The "Murder Mile" refers to actually several places that fell under British rule or were referred too as 'Murder Miles'. One is in Cyprus, Ledra Street in Nicosia was called "Murder Mile" in the late 1950s when it was still under British rule, as the EOKA targeted British soldiers in their fight for Cypriot independence. The other was in Belfast, the streets of south Armagh and Belfast in Northern Ireland were notoriously violent during The Troubles. I think, without a doubt, Costello is referring to Belfast, but throughout the song he refers to patterns of bad behavior. The term "White *igger" is undoubtedly a reference to how the British viewed the Catholics of Northern Ireland, another widow didn't matter an iota. Although born in England, Elvis Costello (Real name Declan Patrick MacManus) is of Irish descent and was also raised Catholic. Just as a point of reference, it was illegal for a Catholic to hold political office in Northern Ireland into the 1970s. Bobby Sands was the first Catholic to hold office, and it was posthumous, as he died of a hunger strike. The last one is Yemen, Main Road in Mualla, a district of Aden, became known as the Murder Mile during the British occupation in the 1960s. It's a song about oppression, and although we tend to think these things are in the past, they truly are not. I always loved how he put this bouncy beat to this song. A catchy, happy, up beat tune in direct opposition to the content of the lyrics, perhaps reminding us, that even though we think we are better than those in the past, we are allowing the same things to repeat over and over.

[@EdDunkle]

Thank you for the reply. I'm an American, but fascinated by "The Troubles" as I missed being blown up by an IRA bombing at the Tower of London in 1974 by a day. But, of course, being American it turns out I am 15% Irish. Go figure.

[@1011moz]

Love this song. Elvis has a stunning voice and a large catalogue of great songs.

[@dpaine6405]

I love reading the comments in these music videos, it typically always leads to education. A lot of these groups put out truth in their lyrics and add catchy or cool music, we have to actually listen to the lyrics we hear. Good one guys!

[@roboi2241]

I'm mixed race from the uk and Oliver's Army was one of the first records I bought when a teen in 1979, it's sad that the use of a word today is taken in isolation and context or artistic relevance is given short shrift by the sensitive collective mindset of our age because even as a 15 year old I heard the lyric and knew instinctively it was used in the context of the hard-hitting subject of the song though I wasn't aware at the time of the full details of the Irish situation or British military oppression he was referencing. Elvis was quite vocal and outspoken when he was young and got into an incident on a US Tour in 1981 where he was talking to a bunch of older liberal hippie american rock types in a bar, while drunk and finding he didn't like their company so much he deliberately set out to upset their sensibilities by making offensive remarks when the subject of Ray Charles and James Brown came up which were construed as racist though he said it in jest to annoy them and this set his career back especially in the US as it caused a stir in the rock industry and beyond. Elvis was quite opinionated and contrarian when young coming out of the original punk/new wave scene in the 70s where causing controversy was good for the image but was never racist and in the uk was one of the first musicians to get involved in the punk inspired rock against racism movement at a time when extreme right-wing politics and racism was on the rise and threatening to unleash dark fascist forces in the uk taking advantage of a volatile time in society. He was also involved with the musicians who were instrumental in the campaign to free Nelson Mandela in the 1980s.

[@trawlerman9544]

Fair play for speaking out ! Credit to you., From Ireland

[@GloryOfBarbelo]

im half english irish. i understand everything in this song. its genius.

[@octoberguy]

Finally, someone reacting to Elvis Costello! My fave since college. Brilliant songwriter. This was a weird song to first discover him. Listen to "Alison"... "Watching the Detectives"... "Everyday I Write the Book"... "Pump It Up"... "Red Shoes" ... "Town Cryer"... "Man Out of Time"... "'Lip Service"... I could go on.... A rabbit hole that will surprise you, I promise.

[@stevenhoward3358]

Green Shirt

[@scottbecom8335]

Elvis’s greatest song off his greatest album ArmedForces. Have you got yourself an occupation is a fantastic double meaning.

[@tonyleach9805]

He is an absolute genius especially his play on words and phrases…

[@tonynash1782]

This is a complicated subject, the phrase as used in the 70s was “white n” , well done to dave border who provides an excellent thorough commentary on the subject. I have no recollection of him ever apologising for the reference, he is quoting acknowledged terminology used by certain individuals in the 70s , you will see the snear on his face in the video. He has said that, yes, 40 years later he sees why people may be offended, perhaps if they don’t understand the history/relevance, but let’s be clear it was written as a commentary and not a personal opinion.

[@jamesdignanmusic2765]

He now refuses to sing the song because of the line, and has apologised for any distress caused - but stands by its use given the original Irish context.

[@tonynash1782]

@@jamesdignanmusic2765 James, absolutely that is the case, what a sad world we live in though that after 40 years we find a songwriter has “refused” to sing a song (or just given up trying to explain it to the generations who have recently found it) that was an attempt to educate the british people on subjects in British history.

[@moonwalk6896]

It refers to the British soldiers term for the Irish. It was meant to be derogatory.

[@MrSinclairn]

@@moonwalk6896 Precisely,the song was sung from the perspective of a cynical British army squaddie,doing a Tour of Duty in NI,after a decade of The Troubles!

[@India51A]

@@moonwalk6896 I was a British Soldier in that time, spending 2 years in Londonderry 1970-72, as well as 3 other tours in Portadown, Belfast and Enniskillen, and not once did I hear that word said by any British Soldier.

[@newtonbowland9966]

The term was used as a derogatory name for Irish Catholics (by some people) during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

[@carlleedham6256]

I always thought it was about being in the army in Northern Ireland, and the term white n**** to do with having to do something you don't want to do or disagree with

[@brooksboyd1959]

Context is everything.

[@Count_Ade]

Like many before me have rightly mentioned, he's referring to the British army in Ireland. I'm a mixed race man of 58 years (half Bajan, half Irish) grown up and old in England and I understood this immediately when it came out and I was still a school boy. I really don't blame you for possibly misunderstanding or finding any mention of the "N" word shocking but once you understand the context he used it in, it's far more understandable. Please bear in mind that he produced the song "Free Nelson Mandela" by The Specials that was instrumental in his release from prison and ultimate presidency 😊👍🏾

[@roevega9902]

Elvis Costello is one of the best around. Such a great catalog of songs. He no longer plays this one.

[@natashab3412]

Just saw him w Nick Lowe couple weeks ago and Debbie Harry last week. Saw them together wJazz Passengers . Both shows were really great.

[@johnnyuppal7878]

And he has the courage to tell people he will no longer sing this song.. I recently went to one of his 6 UK tour dates in Birmingham during which he opened up and talked about how his latest release A Boy Named If was composed during the 2 year Covid Pandemic. I have uploaded the concert on my You Tube Channel johnny uppal if you want to hear him talk about the 50 years of making music... his constant ability to change over the decades and his recovery , one day at a time sobriety from John Barleycorn ( aka Alcoholism)

[@headingley72]

He does play this song now just with that verse changed and an explanation as to why he changed it.

[@neilchristopher3734]

How delightfully blinkered of you all.

[@captaincorky237]

It is a song about the mercenary recruitment agencies which were operating in London in the 1980's. A lot of ex army guys out of work were offered large sums to fight in no hope wars in africa and the middle east. I met a number of them.l

[@andrewbowman4611]

The use of the n-word was deemed controversial at the time, and as others have stated Costello no longer performs the song, nor particularly wants it played on radio. The term "white n****r" refers to the Irish Troubles during the 1970s, when the Irish/Northern Irish were treated as badly as black people specifically. In context, it's a very powerful line but in today's political landscape, it is possibly more controversial than it was then. If you're interested, there's another song which uses the same slur, by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. It's actually a song about feminism called Woman is the N****r of the World, which references the fact that women were looked down upon even by those in forced servitude. If you can stomach it, it's worth a listen, but it's not regarded as one of Lennon's best songs.

[@BlindingSun_]

Wasn’t deemed as controversial where I lived in the 80’s in England, racial slurs were flying like no one’s business. I didn’t even know it was a racist term until I was an adult in the late 90’s when someone explained. I used to hear it all the time growing up along with a lot of other racial slurs, people still use slurs for Chinese restaurants in the Uk. I’m not condoning it but just expressing how i experienced it

[@meistertynemouth]

This track was on the album "Armed Forces" which is marvellous. It was released as a single and from memory went to number one in the U K

[@daveborder7751]

Number 2 sadly-his biggest hit here. Kept off the top spot by The Bee Gees & then Gloria Gaynor.

[@Bassman2353]

Hid first two albums were marvelous; "Armed Forces" is an absolute masterpiece - the apotheosis of the punk-rock era.

[@jonathanhernandez4304]

Wow, I've been called the N word abusively since I was the only kid of color in my High School. Costello is one of my favorite artists. I studied world history and even at age 15 when I heard this song, I understood he was rallying against Oliver C and racist types. Glad you looked past his color (white) and glasses and didn't just decide he was singing in first person, or advocating such gross social movements.

[@jml-rj5re]

This song is a deeply sarcastic, ironic critique about imperialism, mercenaries, Brit. Empire, and proxy wars across the globe from Ireland to Africa, to SE Asia. white N-bomb = Catholics in Ireland.

[@cmc8375]

Wouldn't describe him as a comedian, but definitely a people's poet✊

[@johnnyuppal7878]

Gods Comic (sorry for the punn)

[@sirslice7531]

He was a rebel.... even SNL doesn't tell him what to play.

[@izzonj]

@@johnnyuppal7878 beat me to it!

[@happymethehappyone8300]

Elvis Costello "Everyday I Write The Book" (Official Music Video)...Nuff Said.

[@medmon3476]

A Good Year for the Roses is a slow country song by Elvis off his album Almost Blue that reached the UK top 10 in the early 80's - shows off his smooth voice - almost like a crooner's voice but more breathy and intimate.PS they played Oliver's Army for years in Australia and nobody drew attention to the lyrics because it's almost like blink and you'll miss them so this reaction just goes to show if you're sensitive to certain words they will leap out at you (always thought the song was about mercenaries so learnt for the first time about it's NI context today).

[@wpollock1]

Yes.....love Almost Blue!

[@thornbird6768]

This is the best reaction I have ever seen to this song 😂 you two’s faces were worth a million bucks 👍🏻 I’m British and remember this song well 😊

[@gastrickbunsen1957]

He's of Irish descent and *Oliver* Cromwell decimated the populace of our island. After the partition, we in the North born Catholic, were still second class citizens on our own island.

[@nomisnestral6956]

Hard to fully grasp outside of its historical background but still meaningful and just such a cool tune.

[@lordcharfield4529]

I’m 57. This always gives me goosebumps and tears in my eyes!

[@MearasRex]

You guys hit the nail on the head. The explanations given are dead on and it's much deeper. It was a term for the Irish. It's a worthwhile rabbit hole. ❤

[@Alexandertg1955]

Oliver's Army refers to Oliver Cromwell. British general who assumed power over the Commonwealth for 20 years in the 1600's. The term in the song refers to the British Army. The song is about the civil unrest in Northern Ireland at the time. North Ireland is Protestant and part of the UK. The rest of Ireland is Catholic and independent. At the time of the song Northern Ireland was under Marshal Law and occupied by the British Army. The line you had issue with refers to the killing of an Irish Catholic living in Northern Ireland. He's dead and there is one more widow.

[@Ffinity]

NI is not protestant, it's mixed.

[@TrumbullComic]

Dear everyone who suggested this song for them to react to: You know what you did.

[@AnAdorableWombat1]

😂😂😂😂😂terrible

[@robertmarriott6767]

Elvis is from Liverpool of Irish heritage. The white N word lyric is what his Catholic grandfather who served in the British army was called by his sergeant. There was a lot of discrimination of the Irish in the military. Oliver Cromwell invented the New model British army.

[@josephboyle229]

I think it's about British imperialism in the 20th, and how all these different groups (Chinese, Arabs, Irish and greek Cypriots) were degraded and mistreated by British troops

[@maureenwagg5305]

Great song. Glad the troubles in Ireland are mostly a thing of the past. I'm Irish decent and I have family I have never met in County Cavan. I feel safe going to Ireland and definitely want to visit one day. Hello Gaffney's!

[@EgbertWilliams]

No need to be shocked at him using a word. He knew "exactly" what he was doing and meant it - that it was one group treating another group with mindless, vicious contempt, completely ignoring their common humanity. He's a smart guy. He knew how it would hit.

[@amyk9175]

Lots of British history to understand before you really understand the lyrical references, I believe. I don’t take this song as comedy, though it has a cheerful, lighthearted sound for a rather dark message. This was my first time to hear this song also, though I’m familiar with EC (and the Attractions). I would suggest Everyday I Write the Book for an easy to follow and understand song. Other hits were Alison, Radio , Watching the Detectives, (What’s So Funny ‘bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding.

[@stewartmatthews1551]

Woah woah!!!! yeah he just said that man this guy has guts to say that holy cow

[@cmortenson3647]

thank you guys for doing this song. elvis is cool

[@patrickdawson3376]

He meant it as a commentary on British Imperialism and particularly the occupation of Northern Ireland. Not comprehensive, though.

[@patrickdawson3376]

That’s my understanding.

[@1thommyberlin]

'white nigger' means the Catholics in Northern Ireland from a protestant POV. (ok not all protestants Northern Ireland are....) This was back in the 70's during the height of (what they call) 'the troubles'. It's an inditement of prejudice - Specifically British prejudice. Dave Border (below) is right.

[@kdavies3105]

You have to listen to all the lyrics as the song is actually anti racism and anti-war

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

Seeing S n M reaction to White N word genuinely made me stop and think , it’s the first time I’ve ever been moved emotionally by a proud black couples reactions to that word . That word has some power that I was officially unaware of and I feel by their reaction Ive been educated in a way . Elvis Costello is 100pc NOT a racist or has used that word casually without understanding. It was part of the narrative he was emoting about Belfast , Northern Ireland , the British army , colonialism in general . You are right to spot it is much deeper than at first hearing . 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@OaktownPirate510]

Elvis has recently said he doesn’t play the song anymore and doesn’t want radio stations to play it. He’s got so much else to offer, and he can’t unrecorded it. It’s part of the historical record. But he doesn’t have to make it a part of what he does today.

[@headingley72]

He does play this song now just with that verse changed and an explanation as to why he changed it.

[@spoonerfive]

I love watching you guys get your minds blown! Always a big smile! You're right, Mel, there's a lot more about this song than you know, and yes, the rabbit hole is deep with Elvis Costello!

[@pipmaple]

His social commentary is flawless ! You need to go down that rabbit hole for sure !

[@franciswalsh8416]

This was from 1979 and it is Very British. He called everyone out when it came to war, those were the days

[@grahamplows5505]

Very powerful, very relevant of the times in Northern Ireland.

[@kpodonnell7924]

He no longer performs the song and asked radio stations to stop playing. The reference relates to a slur that was actually used by soldiers in Northern Ireland including against his grandfather.

[@headingley72]

He does play this song now just with that verse changed and an explanation as to why he changed it.

[@cowsongs]

Which I find sad, because the lyric was brilliant. He was socially forced into it because people have such a knee-jerk reaction to that word without listening to the meaning. He asked radio stations to stop playing it because bleeping out the word was ridiculous and worse than hearing it, saying, "People hear that word go off like a bell and accuse me of something that I didn't intend"

[@beltaneboy742]

I think it's been explained elsewhere here. But, yes, 'white n-' is an English slur for the Irish (cf. 'porridge wog' for the Scots). This song is about the colonial role of the army in imperialism (and economic conscription) and this verse is referencing the Troubles in the north of Ireland, where the British Army were deployed and operated checkpoints.

[@emmacresswell7012]

You should probably read the lyrics. Oliver, is Oliver Cromwell, who created the New Model Army. A white N- refers to Catholics in N. Ireland during the 30 year conflict that was the Troubles.

[@spruce381]

It’s about por lads who join the army, because they’ve no other options. Oliver’s army is the British army. Oliver is Oliver Cromwell who started a permanent army.

[@bentruthuncovers9331]

The faces on these children

[@alexschonski3637]

The song is about oppression , The English over the Irish, The Whites over the blacks in south Africa , or any country who imposes the forces of their Empire over another nation,. The Term White N is what Protestants called Catholics , seeing them as second class .

[@conniekungfu206]

If you know history than everything is not about black and white! 😊❤

[@Ian-lx1iz]

From the late 1970s, Costello penned 'Oliver's Army' as _any_ generic fascist force of occupation and subjugation. The Chinese, the Arabs, Johannesburg (Apartheid South Africa), the Soviets. Forever on the brink of WW3, the 70s were all about the militaristic tension.

[@albion7000]

The white "n" is in reference to how the British soldiers and the Loyalist population in Northern Ireland viewed Irish people.

[@CRAIGT1971]

You reaction is priceless. Love you guys btw.

[@jeffsmith3350]

So fragile.

[@jonathanmcdonagh5042]

Both Irish and Black people were refused into certain establishments in the not so distance past. So the song references this with White N*+~r it is how Irish were described.

[@antiusromanus1500]

My brother-in-law is English and the song is what happened to him. At age 16 they take a test to determine if they continue with school. If you don't do well you have to go to work. So he ended up in the British Navy at age 16. The Mersey, Thames and Tyne are rivers that run through working class towns, again referring to how the poor end up as soldiers while the rich go to college.

[@michaellombard894]

I first heard this song back over 35 years ago. The lyrics are very compelling, and provocative. I've learned a lot by reading the other comments right on this page! I just assumed the lyrics were about military adventurism, armies and mercenaries. Soldiers of Fortune. You know, war & treasure.

[@marklester1711]

Get the context of this guys - he’s calling out the jingoism and casual racism of certain sections of British institutions. He has Irish heritage, and the British mistreatments of Irish catholic’s harks all the way back to Oliver Cromwell, who partially conquered Ireland with his Puritan army carrying out numerous atrocities whilst doing so, hence the aIrish catholic’s during the troubles in N Ireland still referring to British ‘peace keeping’ troops as Oliver’s army - of course many atrocities were carried out by catholic’s and the IRA also, but the controversy of the lyrics at the time were largely overlooked due to Elvis’ (Declan McManus) jaunty tune with a ‘dancing queen’ keyboard riff borrowed from ABBA from Steve Nieve. -

[@daviddalby8537]

Oliver was, of course, Oliver Cromwell who created the New Model Army. It's also a dig at both Cromwell, who caused havoc in Ireland and the modern British. We did not distinguish ourselves there either. Elvis Costello (Deckland McMannus) is also Irish

[@newtonbowland9966]

Declan MacManus

[@daviddalby8537]

@@newtonbowland9966 Quite right, should pay more attention to what I type

[@mikxly8147]

His grandfather was called that

[@uncleants]

Lot of people saying Oliver's Army refers back to Cromwell and that the white N lyric refers to Ireland may be right, but I remember when it came out. I was about ten. My Dad had been in the Royal Navy from the early fifties to the late sixties in the Fleet Air Arm and had witnessed tangentially the UKs various post colonial conflicts, most of which in the fifties were fought by conscript national service soldiers. They went to places like Kenya, Malaysia and Cyprus to fight against what we might call terrorists or might call liberation movements. The minister of defence at the time was Oliver Lyttelton. Dad followed music all his life and loved Costello. He told me that the song could be referring to Cromwell and Ireland but could also be referring to Lyttelton's conscript Oliver's Army and the conflicts it fought in the fifties. their was a notorious part of Cyprus known as the murder mile to British troops and I don't doubt some conscripts would have considered Cypriots as white ni**ers. Its a great song, even if Elvis doesn't want to sing it anymore.

[@mmmmm4986]

Definitely his best song

[@simonlitten]

Elvis Costello was a driving force in the English new wave movement of the late 1970s. He did a variety of fast and slow numbers e.g. Pump It Up (fast) and Alison (slow). Nothing from his first three albums was dull.

[@sirslice7531]

I got turned on to The Specials (and the Two Tone scene) because Elvis produced their first album.

[@loritalbot3063]

When I was in high school I had an English teacher who looked exactly like Elvis Costello. He dressed like him and had the glasses as well! We used to hang EC pictures on his door and would call him mr. Costello. Even the office got into it and would call him that over the intercom. Drove him nut's!

[@GinMae]

YES! thanks, Shawn, etc.... Elvis Costello is absolutely brilliant.. as a singer and mostly songwriter... I hope you do more of his music! (yep, this is "political".. and the use of "white nigger" was representative of the terminology at the time.. later versions of this are "whited out".. but it really doesn't represent his "racism" -- "Oliver's Army" refers to Oliver Cromwell -a long time ago... reference Churchill - from WWII)

[@robdas1]

The words "White N****" in this song, was not used as a racial slur. It's a historical fact that "Wite N****" was a derogatory slang phrase to describe the front line soldiers in the British army during the occupation of Northern Ireland. The song was based on the premise "they always get a working class boy to do the killing". It wasn't a happy song, it was meant to stir anger. In the 1970's Northern Ireland was a war zone. Another song about the troubles in Northern Ireland was Zombie by the Cranberries. Also not a happy song.

[@thewkovacs316]

it's a slur against the irish the song is all about the absurdity of british imperialists seeing themselves as "putting the world to right", while they are racists and bigots, screwing the world up even more

[@lumpyfishgravy]

"Oliver" is a forked reference. Cromwell was both a convinced republican AND protestant.

[@watkinscopicat]

“white N” was a racist slur commonly used by the British against the Irish people, Irish people were often treated as poorly as black people and other minorities in the 50’s/60’s/70’s/80’s… Elvis is using this as a critique of the racism of the British empire, from his Irish heritage perspective.

[@ROCKINGMAN]

I saw Elvis Costello 2 weeks ago in Berwick St, London, a real nice guy. This was a big hit when I was at school.

[@Bassman2353]

You must hear his version of "What's So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?" Phenomenal.

[@sirslice7531]

The original version ain't too shabby either.

[@davidfilcher]

I was a young solider who went to Northern Ireland and I was also a white 😏😏😏😏😌🤣as this songs says . I was about us 18 year olds with no employment prospects so we joined the army and fought in civil war . It pretty much sums up my choices in 70s and after 37 years service I finally gave up , top song by a top artist

[@darronpitts4952]

It is calling out the establishment! That the world will continue on the same as long as the people in charge are allowed to carry on!

[@martinthompson7160]

I think you're right Mel, it's about the army being a job for people with poor prospects, describes the places they might end up. The lines ' All it takes one itchy trigger, one more widow one less white xxxx. Is a reference to the expendability of the lads in the army.

[@Two_Seat_Pete_FatA55]

The White N is what the English and Loyalists used to call Irish Catholics.

[@WillieDuitt1]

The song is about the British government sending poor people around the world to fight their battles. Most of them were poor white people that didn't have a choice due to the fact that jobs weren't plentiful. I my opinion words are not evil unless a person uses it in an evil way. I grew up as a white person listening to many black people using the N word around me in various ways, my parents taught us not to use the word but I have used it in times of extreme anger. Forgive me.

[@deanmaynard8256]

The N word itself wasn't taboo then - just the use of it to insult and belittle. It was more about the context.

[@danamuller554]

I love this song so much. I thought this was pump it up. But elvis costello is good stuff

[@macker33]

Elvis costello is a good guy and hes calling out british imperialism. White n---r refers to irish catholics up in the six counties, Oliver refers to oliver cromwell, a guy responsible for halving irelands population in less than ten years.

[@wee67]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that you guys want to discuss this further. That you want to try and understand before simply reacting. Others here have explained the usage. I also want to point out that Elvis was singing against Apartheid long before so many others.

[@nicholasszohner7933]

That term, was a derogatory slang that was used against the Irish People, by the British. My understanding is that this song is about the British occupation of Ireland.

[@stevecalvert5212]

Priceless reactions

[@kimhesketh2016]

I think people have cut off their nose to spite their face giving this word so much power. All you have done is give those that either have Schadenfreude needs or, have the need to cut off another person's feet in order to feel taller, a weapon to use. Start rolling your eyes at in instead.

[@jonathancole833]

Costello has recently requested that radio stations around the world stop playing this track, presumably because of the terminology used. It was written in an era when people didn’t shy away from using offensive terms if they were trying to highlight offensive behaviour.

[@sirslice7531]

The young Elvis wouldn't give a crap. I'm sure the Mrs. would mind...with all that smooth jazz. Remember what he said (after one too many) about Ray Charles?

[@jonathancole833]

@@sirslice7531 Was that on a US tour? I think I read about that.

[@melissas4874]

He did request they stop playing it - but not for any of the reasons you give.

[@jonathancole833]

@@melissas4874 Well at least I was half-right.

[@tasossaros8375]

Loved this song 😋

[@aaron75fy]

I never got that the first time I heard it tbh, the more you know

[@BlindingSun_]

At one time British pubs had signs outside saying “No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish.” We weren’t the smartest bunch

[@WilliamMorgan-rc5ud]

Glad to see lots of peace love and understanding in these comments!

[@MrPaulwaters]

Ireland reference.......Believe it or not.......The world is not just the USA

[@grahamplows5505]

The crazy fact is that it was the catholics who required help from England, At one time the protestants worked the ship yards and could make the weapons.

[@brooksboyd1959]

Listen to Dylan’s Hurricane…once again, context is everything

[@conniekungfu206]

No, he's a historian! Lol

[@WheelieMacBin]

The song is actually about mercenaries, hired guns, think Blackwater.

[@xrentonx]

The song is being critical of the armed forces. It is satire and sung in the ironic way that Elvis Costello is known for. I love this song. But I do wish people weren't so hung up on that part of the song and miss the rest of it. It's a very anti-war song.