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International Echo Lyrics by Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint

The River in Reverse

2006

[Verse 1]
The streets were deserted and the house was dark
Down in the basement there was the faintest spark
Three boys hoping to make their mark
International echo
[Verse 2]
They said it was nothing but a worthless toy
Sign right here and you can be employed
Woke up startled in the state of joy
International echo
[Pre-Chorus]
The roof is shaking and the house is ablaze
I've been wide awake for days
[Chorus]
I thought I heard a signal breaking through
At this distance that is hard to do
Could be seven inches, could be twelve
Drop the needle on it and let it revolve
I felt a pulse and a drum tattoo
I was just thinking about you
[Verse 3]
Send out a message and it's sure to rebound
What's that I hear? What's that sound?
Seems to be coming from under the ground
International echo
[Verse 4]
It can't be repeated, it can't be resisted
It went out straight and it came back twisted
If you didn't see it then, then you probably missed it
International echo
[Pre-Chorus]
Must be something in the atmosphere
Let me be your volunteer
[Chorus]
I thought I heard a signal coming through
In a language that I never knew
Give me seven inches, give me twelve
Drop the needle on it and let it revolve
I felt a pulse and a drum tattoo
Even though it was taboo
Solo!
[Piano Solo]
[Verse 4]
Though they paid me money for playing pretend
Then they said this must be the end
I was just following the popular trend
International echo
[Verse 5]
The beer from the bottle, wine from the grape
Stood up straight, got bent out of shape
Now I'm just looking for some way to escape
International echo
[Pre-Chorus]
Everything I said seems automatic
The radio plays nothing but static
[Chorus]
I think that I'm about to flip my lid
My waitress said that she might be my kid
Give me seven inches, give me twelve
Drop the needle on it and let it revolve
Did you hear me calling you? 'Cause here I go
International echo, echo
Solo!
[Piano Solo]
[Verse 1]
The streets were deserted, the house was dark
Down in the basement was the faintest spark
Three boys hoping to make their mark
International echo
Credits
Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello

Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint

About “International Echo” by Elvis Costello

Read the complete lyrics to "International Echo" by Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint from the album "The River in Reverse" in 2006. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Rock.

"International Echo" is performed by Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint. from the album "The River in Reverse" in 2006 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "International Echo", explore more songs by Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"International Echo" is credited to Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"International Echo" appears on "The River in Reverse" in 2006.

Visit the Elvis Costello, Allen Toussaint artist page at /artist/elvis-costello for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.