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Elbow — Asleep in the Back
Album: Asleep in the Back
Avg rating:
6.7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 537









Released: 2001
Length: 3:41
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Were you crushed?
Did I rush you?
All my time is yours
My twisted heart is yours
The faithless shit is yours
The shameless fits of love
That only smother you for moments
'Til I fold them up and leave
All yours

Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know

Show your scars
Not to rush you
The hieroglyphic hints
In all the toilet scrawl
Guilty little pins
In all the things I never talk about
Are spilling with the gin
Taste how tough you are
All yours

Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Not to rush you
Comments (61)add comment
Another great Elbow tune. Thanks RP for introducing me to this band. 
 joejennings wrote:

Good Tune!  I never heard it before. Thanx RP!




I remember that moment...first time I heard an Elbow tune...here on RP. One of the greatest gifts this station has given me. Enjoy!
Good Tune!  I never heard it before. Thanx RP!

Found Elbow (the band) thanks to RP.  Their live session with the BBC concert orchestra is great! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-T2M3bI4L8


 fredriley wrote:
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
 
That was going to be the name of my band.  It's more-or-less a Klezmer-Rajasthan-Bluegrass style we play.
 fredriley wrote:
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
 
"Oh you had to rush, didn't chew."

I think he's singing about how people choke on food.   {#Sick}

8->9. Love me some Elbow. While I haven't seen any of their live shows in person, I've watched a couple, and I'm astonished by Guy's stage presence, and his interaction with the audience.
this whole record is great. was my first taste of them back in 2002. i have always loved the cover, too.
 fredriley wrote:
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
 
Damnit Fred, nice earworm you've inplanted. Heh.
Less irritating than other tracks of theirs but that boat simply will not float in my sea
 fredriley wrote:
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
 
Point: Fredriley.

Brilliant!!  That was awesome!  
First time hearing this song and I read your comment before the chorus and that was all I heard.   I had to google the lyrics just to get your sentence out of my brain.  

I won't spoil Fred's take on it but if you want to see the real lyrics highlight from  Here ->Oh you had to ask, didn't you?<- to here.
Any chance of hearing stuff from the new record, Build a Rocket Boys? It's excellent, as always for Elbow.
Nice play!  Asleep in Back is by far their best, most complete album.  Play more from this one.
love
Nice!
A great album, the opening and ending tracks are wonderful bookends....not sure where this title track sits as I own the original pressing.
 fingerpin wrote:
I discovered this band here with Seldom Seen Kid which I happily purchased as a result. They are one of those bands that are diverse but, at the same time have their own recognizeable sound.  I'll be adding this to my collection too.

Thanks again Bill and Rebecca! {#Sunny}
 

Ditto (except that I have already bought the album)
I discovered this band here with Seldom Seen Kid which I happily purchased as a result. They are one of those bands that are diverse but, at the same time have their own recognizeable sound.  I'll be adding this to my collection too.

Thanks again Bill and Rebecca! {#Sunny}
 westslope wrote:

Interesting.  I absolutely adore Seldom Seen Kid so I'm willing to give everything and anything by Elbow a try.
 

Of course
 i4niblind wrote:
This is the best album by a flippin fantastic band.  Their newest (Seldom Seen Kid) comes in a close second.. 
 
Interesting.  I absolutely adore Seldom Seen Kid so I'm willing to give everything and anything by Elbow a try.


I've grown to like "Cast of Thousands" more than "The Seldom Seen Kid". But then I've always wanted to pull my ribs apart and let the sun inside.


 EssexTex wrote:
Clever band

 

Great band {#Yes}




 jptl wrote:

Curious as to how you'd rate Cast of Thousands. I really like Seldom Seen Kid, but haven't quite gotten into Cast of Thousands.

 

I've given a Cast of Thousands a nice few listens, but it never really grew on me.  There's a couple of songs on there I really enjoy, it just doesn't measure up when compared to any of their other albums as far as I'm concerned.
 fredriley wrote:
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
 
OMG - that's exactly what I was hearing too!!!

 
 i4niblind wrote:
This is the best album by a flippin fantastic band.  Their newest (Seldom Seen Kid) comes in a close second.. 
 
Curious as to how you'd rate Cast of Thousands. I really like Seldom Seen Kid, but haven't quite gotten into Cast of Thousands.

This is the best album by a flippin fantastic band.  Their newest (Seldom Seen Kid) comes in a close second.. 
I definitely agree with you, and I have also noticed that those "aural wallpaper" tracks are the ones I rarely give a rating. The good stuff I check out, and often also rate. The same goes for the crappy songs (which, admittedly, are very few): "WTF is this? I'll give it a 2!" And consequently my rating distribution has a hole in the middle. All the 4s, 5s and 6s tend to leave no trace in my book...

 
RobGraham wrote:
As I sit here with RP running in the background a good number of the tracks pass by unnoticed like some type of aural wallpaper. However, every so often there's a song that makes me dig through the pile of open windows in search of the play list. This is one of those tracks.
 

Still go back to this album very often. Great debut, and they've more than proven themselves since then too.
I thought he sang "Guilty leather boots"...
"Only hats rash stick in the shoe" - wtf? I must get my ears washed out :(
Clever band
Yeah! More Elbow...
I agree with you, except that the occurrence of songs that make me search for the playlist is so much more frequent. RobGraham wrote:
As I sit here with RP running in the background a good number of the tracks pass by unnoticed like some type of aural wallpaper. However, every so often there's a song that makes me dig through the pile of open windows in search of the play list. This is one of those tracks...
As I sit here with RP running in the background a good number of the tracks pass by unnoticed like some type of aural wallpaper. However, every so often there's a song that makes me dig through the pile of open windows in search of the play list. This is one of those tracks. Silly band name aside this is a very nice sound.
twothingsatonce wrote:
I really hear Peter Gabriel in the vocal here.
Particularly in the beginning. I like everything I've heard by this band.
discovered this in the college radio station room amongst a pile of bad music. this one has really stuck with me out of everything else and i continue to get their music. their videos are pretty shoestring budget though - don't really do justice to the music!
DwarfBaby wrote:
My three favorite bands are Pink Floyd, The Tea Party, and Elbow.
The Tea Party?! Really?
This is not their best song but I love this band dearly. I became a member just to post this. Their first two albums which I actually purchased are outstanding. Their lyrics often seem odd but when looked at closely are saturated in depth. My three favorite bands are Pink Floyd, The Tea Party, and Elbow. The latter I have seen 6 times in concert.
Elbow? Who names their band Elbow? I guess the answer is these guys....but they should have kept trying. The song's OK though. Not great, but certainly not horrible either.
Great album from start to finish.
radiozep wrote:
Ahhhhhh, anyone know the actual lyric?
Were you crushed Did I rush you All my time is yours My twisted heart is yours The faithless shit is yours The shameless fits of love that only smother you for moments Until I fold them up and leave All yours (chorus) Oh you had to ask didn't you (x2) Oh you had to know Show your scars Not to rush you The hieroglyphic hints in all the toilet scrawl Guilty little pins And all the things I never talk about Are spilling with the gin Test how tough you are All yours (chorus) Not to rush you
Misaria wrote:
"All your hat's was steak an' chew."
Bossdawg wrote:
I read your post before I heard the lyric in the song, now that is all I can hear. Thanks a lot!
Ahhhhhh, anyone know the actual lyric?
twothingsatonce wrote:
I really hear Peter Gabriel in the vocal here.
I thought it was him until I clicked over to the playlist.
interesting love song....
Misaria wrote:
"All your hat's was steak an' chew."
I read your post before I heard the lyric in the song, now that is all I can hear. Thanks a lot!
Three more days till I get to see them Live for the first time in Minneapolis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really hear Peter Gabriel in the vocal here.
"All your hat's was steak an' chew."
rascal420 wrote:
Are there any other bands named after flexible body joints? Anyone?
We just heard 3:59 am - James - Knuckle Too Far. Does that count? BTW, don't think much of this track.
guy sounds like peter gabriel
rascal420 wrote:
Are there any other bands named after flexible body joints? Anyone?
There are groups named Neck, Jaw and, tragically, the Hip.
rascal420 wrote:
Are there any other bands named after flexible body joints? Anyone?
"The Shins" is the only one coming up to my mind now.
Are there any other bands named after flexible body joints? Anyone?
I typically like Elbow, but this tune is a bit of a snoozer... Nothing about it really stands out.
Bill, you are putting me to sleep...
Simply wonderful. There hasn't been a band the calibre of Elbow for a long, long time. Bravo
Now if Lamb hasn't put you to sleep, this certainly will.
meh... must have dozed off
Nice!