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Today's Morning Edition music is from Elvis Costello and "Less Than Zero." 

Costello says that he wrote the song "after seeing the despicable Oswald Mosley being interviewed on BBC television. The former leader of the British Union of Fascists seemed unrepentant about his poisonous actions of the 1930s." 

When he performed the song in the United States, Costello sometimes changed the lyrics so that the song would be about Lee Harvey Oswald; he assumed Americans had never heard of Oswald Mosely.

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The song is about Oswald Mosely, but when performing in America, Costello would change the lyrics so that it would be about Lee Harvey Oswald. He assumed Americans had never heard of Oswald Mosely.

Today's Morning Edition music is based on Elvis Costello's release of his first single from his debut album fourty years ago.  Costello says that he wrote the song "after seeing the despicable Oswald Mosley being interviewed on BBC television. The former leader of the British Union of Fascists seemed unrepentant about his poisonous actions of the 1930s." Sometimes when he performed the song in this country, Costello would change the lyrics so that the song was about Lee Harvey Oswald because he assumed Americans had never heard of Oswald Mosely.

Elvis Costello customized 'Less Than Zero' lyrics for American listeners

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