The song "Room With No Number" by Elvis Costello and The Attractions tells the story of two lovers who are staying in a hotel room and hiding a secret that no one must know. The lyrics describe a hotel room with clothes scattered on the floor, covers pulled back from the pillow, and a sign hung on the door. The lovers are locked up tight in the room, enduring endless days and nights. The chorus talks about the room being without a number, even though the sign outside claims there is no vacancy. The hotel staff smile at the lovers, understanding the secret they are hiding. It hints at the discretion and understanding the hotel staff show towards their situation. The second verse portrays a moment in the night when the woman cries out, awakening the porter from his sleep. He grins slyly to himself as he goes to fetch his keys, aware of the lovers' secret. The song suggests that love has brought them into a terrible nightmare that they cannot escape. In the bridge, the protagonist expresses a longing for the man he used to be before his current situation. He wishes he could revert to his former self, suggesting that he may be trapped in an unhappy or compromising situation. Towards the end of the song, a girl arrives at the hotel in the morning and asks if the lovers have been seen. She notices the missing number thirteen on the room doors and questions it. The hotel staff advises her to dismiss it as superstition and avoid scandal or suspicion. The song concludes by mentioning the lovers rearranging the furniture and papering over the door. This suggests an attempt to keep their secret hidden and maintain a sense of normalcy, even though the room lacks a proper number. Overall, "Room With No Number" portrays a clandestine affair taking place within the confines of a hotel room, with the characters striving to keep their hidden relationship concealed.
