Elvis Costello Pills and Soap

[snargmcnarf]

Elvis Costello
What is the meaning of the term "pills and soap" in Elvis Costellos song called Pills and Soap?

Actually - Also, not sure what is meant by needle and rope either - is that a drug related thing or the biblical easier for camel (camel may be misinterpretation of gamel meaning rope?) than rich man to go through the eye of the needle.

Thanks for any answers on this.

[MarkRae]

I always assumed that it was about the celebrity culture which sprang up in the early 80s as a result of Thatcherism and the swing towards individual materialism. He did, after all, release it as a single under the name "The Imposter" right around the time of the 1983 election...

[snargmcnarf]

I sort of gathered the song was about capitalism and an Irish funeral and rich folks walking over the poor - but I dont get what the phrase "pills and soap" itself meant - thanks for the reply anyway.

[Mick-Talbot]

Elvis is one of those 'almost a vegetarian' types (he eats fish ) and I thought the 'Pills and Soap' was a nod to the way we humans treat animals?