Oliver's Army
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"Oliver's Army" is a song written by Elvis Costello, originally performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions and appearing on the album Armed Forces in 1979. Written after the author visited Belfast in Northern Ireland, it criticizes the British Army for targeting disadvantaged young men leaving secondary school (when the song was written in the late 1970s, England had a high unemployment rate). The title refers to Oliver Cromwell, who as Protector of the Commonwealth created the New Model Army, an earlier version of the modern British Army. The song also mentions specific "trouble spots" in the world, such as South Africa (at the time experiencing turmoil over Apartheid), Palestine, Cyprus, and most prominently Northern Ireland. In reference to the latter country, Costello included the controversial lyric "Only takes one itchy trigger/One more widow, one less white nigger", referring to the Irish, as they have historically been oppressed by the English, much as black people have been oppressed in many countries. Costolle is himself of Irish descent.
The "Oliver's Army" single (with a b-side of Costello performing "My Funny Valentine" solo) peaked at #2 on the UK charts. It was recorded at Eden Studios in West London.
During the recording of Armed Forces, the incomplete "Oliver's Army" was nearly dropped from the album, but was eventually kept after keyboardist Steve Nieve created a piano part for the song that was reminiscent of "Dancing Queen" by ABBA.
The song has been covered by a large number of bands, including Blur, [spunge], Belle & Sebastian, Peter Mulvey, and Dirty Pretty Things.
