Elvis Costello hits back at "woke" criticism over 'Oliver's Army'

9 June 2026, 12:06

Elvis Costello in concert. Picture: Alamy

By Mayer Nissim

Elvis Costello has brought the song back into his setlist - with a difference.

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Elvis Costello has hit back at critics who accuse him of being "woke" for changing the lyrics to 'Oliver's Army' when he now performs it live.

The 1979 single from his Armed Forces album was Elvis's biggest hit, reaching number two in the charts, but in recent years attracted criticism for its lyric "Only takes one itchy trigger / One more widow, one less white n***er".

Costello not only stopped playing the song in concert for a few years, but also urged radio stations to stop playing it.

He especially took issue with those broadcasters who "bleeped" out the offending word, as that only drew more attention to it.

But he has started playing the song again in recent years, changing the lyric to "One more widow, another pallbearer”.

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Oliver's Army

"I've re-written it... I no longer use words that go off like alarm clocks, because indignation about that word stops people hearing what the song is about," Elvis has told The Times.

"That is my position. People went, ‘that’s woke’. Well, go f**k yourself."

He added: "I don’t believe I’ve ever written political songs, because political means party alignment.

Elvis Costello - Oliver’s Army (2023 Version) - Gramercy Theatre (2/11/2023)

"I call them bulletins. They are reports of what I see from my perception. Can you find a song of mine that directs you to do anything? Except 'Tramp the Dirt Down'."

Back in 2022 when talking about the song, Elvis told The Telegraph: "That's what my grandfather was called in the British army – it's historically a fact.

"But people hear that word go off like a bell and accuse me of something that I didn’t intend."