Running Out Of Angels (Demo Version)

Song Meaning

In this stark, demo version of "Running Out Of Angels," Elvis Costello distills a potent cocktail of cynicism and weary acceptance. The repeated phrase "They're running out of angels / They say I'm running out of time" functions as both a societal observation and a personal reckoning. Costello isn't just noting a decline in morality or goodness; he's also confronting his own mortality or relevance within a culture that increasingly values expediency over authenticity. The line "It is easier than trying" hints at a world where genuine effort is becoming obsolete, replaced by superficial success and manufactured consent. The "hammer on anything that sells" suggests a ruthless commercialization that devalues art and integrity. The off-the-cuff spoken interjections add a layer of vulnerable imperfection to the song, a kind of meta-commentary on the pressure to perform flawlessly, the very thing being critiqued in the song. The introduction of the "girls upon the rails" introduces a complex, possibly dangerous, feminine force. They are purveyors of deceit ("all the lies upon the tongues") capable of destroying those who underestimate them. The line "she looks just like an angel / But she sings so out of tune" is particularly biting. This "angel" is a false idol, beautiful on the surface but fundamentally flawed, perhaps even destructive. The song meaning, then, isn't simply about the absence of goodness but about the deceptive allure of its counterfeit. Costello suggests that we are not only running out of genuine angels but also being actively misled by imposters. The constant refrain, and the demo's raw, almost unfinished quality, amplify the song's sense of urgency and resignation. The repetition drills the message home: time is short, authenticity is rare, and deception is rampant. The phrase "running out of angels" isn't a lament, but a weary observation of a world where genuine goodness is being replaced by manufactured consent and fleeting trends. The listener is left to grapple with the unsettling idea that perhaps it's not just the angels who are disappearing, but also our ability to discern the real from the fake.