"The Comedians" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions is a song about the deceptive nature of relationships and the disappointment that can come from trusting the wrong people. The lyrics describe a situation where the narrator is being persuaded by someone who is familiar and comforting, like a home away from home. However, in the world of cars, everything that shines is not necessarily valuable. The song goes on to discuss the social circle surrounding the narrator, who seem to be suffering from emotional problems. Despite appearing to have everything they need, their hearts feel empty. The new acquaintances the narrator has made turn out to be trouble, bringing negative consequences to their life. The chorus reflects the narrator's ability to stay strong and rise above the emotional turmoil, even though their heart is hurting. They should be celebrating absent friends instead of being surrounded by disappointing and fake people. The second verse talks about the narrator's experiences with love and how they have seen different faces of it. Upon closer examination, the love they have encountered seems to be deceptive, and the narrator acknowledges that they may be the last to realize who is fooling whom. Overall, "The Comedians" highlights the idea that relationships and appearances can be deceiving, and that it is important to see through the facades and the masks that people wear.
