I was 15 or 16 when I heard my first Elvis Costello song. I was in the back of a Volkswagen GTI. Gary was driving. Charles was in the passenger seat, and I was in back, with Veronica, Gary’s girlfriend. That was over 25 years ago. Must have been a spring day because we were still in school and I remember the windows were open and the music was cranking.
“Well I used to know a girl
and I would have sworn
that her name was Veronica”
It took me 25 years to hear the song again and realize what the song is about. Costello’s inspiration for this song was his grandmother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s. When talking about the song on a VH1 interview, Costello reminisced about his grandmother having “terrifying moments of lucidity” and how this was the inspiration for “Veronica”.
“Well she used to have a carefree mind of her own
and a delicate look in her eye
These days I’m afraid she’s not even sure
if her name is Veronica”
Matt Becker Portsmouth, NH
Live from Matt’s House
