The title track from Elbow’s debut record, Garvey said of the song in 2009:
We only added this after the album was finished, bizarrely. Quite often when you’re in love you find yourself testing your partner in the early stages of a relationship; telling them all the naff things about you, the dark...
Were you crushed?
Did I rush you?
All my time is yours
My twisted heart is yours
The faithless shit is yours
The shameless fits of love
That only smother you for moments
'Til I fold them up and leave
All yours
[Chorus]
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Show your scars
Not to rush you
The hieroglyphic hints
In all the toilet scrawl
Guilty little pins
In all the things I never talk about
Are spilling with the gin
Taste how tough you are
All yours
[Chorus]
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to ask, didn't you?
Oh you had to know
Not to rush you
Asleep In The Back was written by Richard Jupp & Mark Potter & Pete Turner & Craig Potter & Guy Garvey.
Asleep In The Back was produced by Elbow & Ben Hillier.
Elbow released Asleep In The Back on Mon May 07 2001.