Veronica: Elvis Costello Shines A Light On Dementia
October 23rd 2008 04:28
We all have songs that we remember from our adolescence or childhood that reached into our minds and hearts, grabbed us and refused to let go, long before our minds were mature enough to fully comprehend their meanings. Maybe it was the melody, a catchy chorus or a plaintive note in the singer's voice that we recognised but having barely begun to live, could not explain. All we know is that we loved the song. And it is only when we revisit the song years later that we finally understand its true meaning.
For me, no song did that quite like Elvis Costello's Veronica. Released when I was just hitting my teens. I knew it was about an old woman and how she used to be a wild, carefree young girl and as a wild, carefree young girl myself, I took it to be a commentary on the fleetingness of youth and a warning to make the most of every day for it will soon all be behind me. In a way, that is part of the song's message, but of course, it goes much deeper than that.
Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well I used to know a girl and I would have sworn
That her name was Veronica
Well she used to have a carefree mind of her own
And a delicate look in her eye
These days I'm afraid she's not even sure
If her name is Veronica
Do you suppose, that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide
And all the time she laughs at those who shout
Her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Did the days drag by, did the favors wane
Did he roam down the town all the time
Will you wake from your dream, with a wolf at the door,
Reaching out for Veronica
Well it was all of sixty-five years ago
When the world was the street where she lived
And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea
With a picture of Veronica
On the Empress of India
And as she closed her eyes upon the world
And picked upon the bones of last week's news
She spoke his name out loud again
Veronica sits in her favorite chair
And she sits very quiet and still
And they call her a name that they never get right
And if they don't then nobody else will
But she used to have a carefree mind of her own,
With a devilish look in her eye
Saying "You can call me anything you like,
But my name is Veronica"
As a youngster, the part of the song that grabbed me most was the last stanza, "She used to have a carefree mind of her own and a devilish look in her eye. She said you can call me anything you like but my name is Veronica". It made me think of how sad and scary it was that one day I too would be an old woman. Of course as a 13 year old, aging was merely a theoretical construct to me, oh I knew I would get old one day, but I don't think I really believed it. Does any smooth skinned teenager really believe they would one day be a wrinkly 85 year old? Nonetheless, it saddened me to think of the old Veronica who was, I imagined, a wild independent gypsy woman, now confined to "her favourite chair" and I vowed that I too would live my life as she did: to its fullest possible potential and that I would have my memories to sustain me when I grew old as she did. What I didn't know at the time was that for most of the time in her old age, Veronica didn't even have those.
For Veronica isn't just a song about getting old. It is a song about Alzheimer's Disease and the terrifying prospect of losing your memories and consequently, your sense of self. It was co-written by Paul MCartney (who play his Hofner bass guitar on the track), and is a tribute to Costello's grandmother about her slide into dementia. Costello once remarked about how she would have "terrifying moments of lucidity" and it is these moments that he explores in Veronica.
I had thought of Costello's role as the singer as a sort of third person omniscient narrator, who was there following and watching Veronica as she moved through all the stages of her life. I had no idea that he was simply recounting periods of her life from the small snippets that she could remember. And I realise now why it is simply called Veronica and why he repeats her name so often throughout the course of the song. Because he wants to prove to us that she was real, that she existed.
Because when all is said and done, when the years go by, when we have loved and lost and been here and done that, after all of that is over, all we have left is ourselves and our names. By invoking our own monikers or those of our loved ones we can recall episodes from our past. Veronica is carefree. Veronica is wild. Veronica is in love. But when Veronica's memory fails her, when "she's not even sure if her name is Veronica", then that sense of self is being cruelly taken away from her. As Proctor says in The Crucible, "How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul. Leave me my name".
In the end, Veronica no longer even had her name. She couldn't remember it and those around her in the nursing home "never get (it) right". But the singer did. My favourite part in the video is at 1.17, when Costello is calling out her name. His expression is desperate and longing. He calls out to her over and over again as if, by sheer virtue of repetition, he can can bring her back again, exactly as she was, with a carefree mind of her own and a devilish look in her eye.
For me, no song did that quite like Elvis Costello's Veronica. Released when I was just hitting my teens. I knew it was about an old woman and how she used to be a wild, carefree young girl and as a wild, carefree young girl myself, I took it to be a commentary on the fleetingness of youth and a warning to make the most of every day for it will soon all be behind me. In a way, that is part of the song's message, but of course, it goes much deeper than that.
Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well I used to know a girl and I would have sworn
Well she used to have a carefree mind of her own
And a delicate look in her eye
These days I'm afraid she's not even sure
If her name is Veronica
Do you suppose, that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide
And all the time she laughs at those who shout
Her name and steal her clothes
Veronica
Veronica
Did the days drag by, did the favors wane
Did he roam down the town all the time
Will you wake from your dream, with a wolf at the door,
Reaching out for Veronica
Well it was all of sixty-five years ago
When the world was the street where she lived
And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea
With a picture of Veronica
On the Empress of India
And as she closed her eyes upon the world
And picked upon the bones of last week's news
She spoke his name out loud again
Veronica sits in her favorite chair
And she sits very quiet and still
And they call her a name that they never get right
And if they don't then nobody else will
But she used to have a carefree mind of her own,
With a devilish look in her eye
Saying "You can call me anything you like,
But my name is Veronica"
As a youngster, the part of the song that grabbed me most was the last stanza, "She used to have a carefree mind of her own and a devilish look in her eye. She said you can call me anything you like but my name is Veronica". It made me think of how sad and scary it was that one day I too would be an old woman. Of course as a 13 year old, aging was merely a theoretical construct to me, oh I knew I would get old one day, but I don't think I really believed it. Does any smooth skinned teenager really believe they would one day be a wrinkly 85 year old? Nonetheless, it saddened me to think of the old Veronica who was, I imagined, a wild independent gypsy woman, now confined to "her favourite chair" and I vowed that I too would live my life as she did: to its fullest possible potential and that I would have my memories to sustain me when I grew old as she did. What I didn't know at the time was that for most of the time in her old age, Veronica didn't even have those.
For Veronica isn't just a song about getting old. It is a song about Alzheimer's Disease and the terrifying prospect of losing your memories and consequently, your sense of self. It was co-written by Paul MCartney (who play his Hofner bass guitar on the track), and is a tribute to Costello's grandmother about her slide into dementia. Costello once remarked about how she would have "terrifying moments of lucidity" and it is these moments that he explores in Veronica.
I had thought of Costello's role as the singer as a sort of third person omniscient narrator, who was there following and watching Veronica as she moved through all the stages of her life. I had no idea that he was simply recounting periods of her life from the small snippets that she could remember. And I realise now why it is simply called Veronica and why he repeats her name so often throughout the course of the song. Because he wants to prove to us that she was real, that she existed.
Because when all is said and done, when the years go by, when we have loved and lost and been here and done that, after all of that is over, all we have left is ourselves and our names. By invoking our own monikers or those of our loved ones we can recall episodes from our past. Veronica is carefree. Veronica is wild. Veronica is in love. But when Veronica's memory fails her, when "she's not even sure if her name is Veronica", then that sense of self is being cruelly taken away from her. As Proctor says in The Crucible, "How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul. Leave me my name".
In the end, Veronica no longer even had her name. She couldn't remember it and those around her in the nursing home "never get (it) right". But the singer did. My favourite part in the video is at 1.17, when Costello is calling out her name. His expression is desperate and longing. He calls out to her over and over again as if, by sheer virtue of repetition, he can can bring her back again, exactly as she was, with a carefree mind of her own and a devilish look in her eye.
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Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
fantastic read!
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
I guess that puts you in the vicinity of 29 or 30-ish if my recollection of the release serves me correctly.
Costello's a very underated artist in my opinon - and his music (particularly Olivia's Army, My Aim is True and Watching the Detectives were probably more my vintage.
Unfortunately he fell out of favour with the popular music scene not long after that . . . despite some moderate success and some brilliant work - both individually and in collaborative efforts with people like McCartney.
Stay well
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I haven't thought about nor heard this song in years. It was on some sort of countdown the other week and has been stuck in my head ever since. So I decided I would try and explore why it was having such an effect on me. I think it all has to do with getting older and the fact that when this song came out I was the little girl in the clip. Now I am the woman. Soon I will be the old lady...but I truly hope that I will always know that my name is Ruby...
Hi MNG,
give or take a few years...
this was actually Costello's most popular song in the US, the only one of his to crack the top 20 there. I also love Oliver's Army. My sister and I thought he was singing about the Eye Of The Zombie. haha.
Thanks for visiting my poor, neglected music blog. maybe I should give politics a rest and concentrate on this. It's much less volatile and all the arguments lately have been turning me into a crabby bitch!
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Artist Quirk
ummm im not sure where our musical tastes overlap so ill just throw a mixture at you Garbage, REM, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, David Bowie, Elton John, Talking Heads, Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens, Janis Joplin, Dusty Springfield, Gorillaz, Jamiroquai, Bob Marley
i think im overwhelmed by being allowed into the DJ box!
Comment by John in Seattle
-- John in Seattle