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MPR News Staff

Elvis Costello's 'Alison' inspired by a real woman

Elvis Costello
In a 2015 autobiography, Elvis Costello explained that he wrote the song "Allison" "after seeing a beautiful checkout girl at the local supermarket."
Courtesy of the artist

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Today's Morning Edition music is from "Alison" by Elvis Costello, which was released 40 years ago this week.

In a 2015 autobiography, he explained that he wrote the song "after seeing a beautiful checkout girl at the local supermarket. She had a face for which a ship might have once been named. Now she was punching in the prices on cans of beans at a cash register and looking as if all the hopes and dreams of her youth were draining away. All that were left would soon be squandered to a ruffian who told her convenient lies and trapped her still further."