Elvis Costello

[fox69]

"My Brave Face"

"My Brave Face"



My brave, my brave, my brave face

I've been living in style
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back
I've been doing the rounds
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm gonna get back
Ever since you went away I've had the sentimental inclination not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed I want to go bury my head in your pillow

Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face

I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife
I been breaking up dirty dishes
And been throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to compose a "Baby, would you please come home" note meant for you
As I clear away another untouched TV dinner from the table I made for two

Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face

 

[fox69]

"My Dark Life"

"My Dark Life"



She says nobody wants to believe
You're the same as everyone.
What makes me unique? My Dark Life.
There was a kink in the world
Sent that statue tumbling
An invitation east
So we can watch it all crumbling

She came off like light and so softly she spoke:
"You don't know, no you don't know about my dark life"
And you think you're a guest, you're a tourist at best
Peering into the corners of your dark life
Now that you tear your dreams from consumptive ballerinas
She'd stand on tiptoes for you in a grey and tattered tutu
She stays where she is because of voyeurs like these
With an accusative look that says My Dark Life.

Robber men await you then in each beguiling alley
To shake you and to pierce you and remind you of
My Dark Life.

Enter the pious elite, in their preening finery
And bang the tambourine
They're dining on rice paper scenery
See how the villain attracts envious glances from everyone
She's waitressing by day
It doesn't bring in much money now

And his strong concealed arms set off bells and alarms
In the strangest locations of My Dark Life
But the fantasy slipped as he tipped her in cigarettes
She tries to smile very graciously when she wants to kill him
Now the victory is sweet, you'll get down on your knees
It's the perfect position for kissing western leather

So they came from Ugly Texas and from Nameless Tennessee
From Peculiar Missouri and from places closer to me.
All the cream of heartless England, cheered the carnival is over
There are remnants of red army bandsmen
Played "America The Beautiful"

 

[fox69]

"My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count)"

"My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count)"



As the last light glimmers
And the evening hours dim
Maybe I'm too proud to utter it out loud
Even though my flame burns blue

As the night's descending
Once again I find I'll tarry and pretend
My confidential friend
Will suddenly appear in view

All my might
Between velvet and dynamite
Blow out the doors
Let in the light
Falling dust in the beam
And a small stifled scream

Alibis and decoys
Were his eyes so turquoise?
Covered with a lash
They flatter and they flash
Even though my flame burns blue

If I seem a stranger
I feel far from danger
We tamper and we toy
With passion over joy
Even though my flame burns blue

Even though the fire that once was desire
Doesn't look for trouble or dare to flare
Look now
And I won't be there

 

[fox69]

"My Lovely Jezebel"

"My Lovely Jezebel"



She attracts dark rumours
Travels in blue and other humours
Each time she walks in the room
Brings in much more than you'd assume

Ooo, I looked in her eyes and out through that window I fell
She's My Lovely Jezebel
She neglects you and then ransacks you so very well

She suspects your sweet confection
When you talk in contradictions
Then she walks without detection
Overrules all your objections
Ooo, I looked in her eyes and through that window I fell
She's My Lovely Jezebel

Man is miserable ape and sad pile of sticks
He comes out swinging, gets in a few licks
The longest of drumrolls for the shortest of tricks

So she attracts bad intentions
She distracts all my attention
With her ways and her wild inventions
The facts of life they forgot to mention

Ooo, I looked in her eyes and down through that window I fell
She's My Lovely Jezebel
She neglects you and then ransacks you so very well

 

[fox69]

"My Mood Swings"

"My Mood Swings"


She was smitten from the first
By a curious fellow
She said I love the way you talk
And with a a flounce she announces
I love the way that you pronounce it: "Marshmallow"

So she liked to sing along
To her favourite song
From the year that she was born
She had mysterious affairs [?]
And promptly work out what her age is [?]

[Chorus:]
So speak to me
Just like you should
And then you can say those wicked things
And if you want
We'll make it good
Before my mood swings

Well he looked like one of those
Who would take off his clothes
Like he would peel a tangerine
Don't ****** know what truly blind is [?]
Once you have found out what your sign is

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"My New Haunt"
(with The Roots)

"My New Haunt"
(with The Roots)



My New Haunt
Gives me everything I want
My New Haunt
Gives me everything I want
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
If she turns out to be crazy in time

Bring me black strap molasses
Light me a burning witch
Bring me my bristle brushes
Bring me my tar and pitch
Bring me my feather pillow
And I'll unpick the stitch
We've lived too well
Too long
So long
So strong

My New Haunt
Brings me everything I want
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
If she turns out to be faithless in time

My New Haunt
Sometimes disappears
Then comes back in the night
And whispers in my ears
Saying "Don't you know you little fool
You've nothing to fear
I'll tell you everything you want to know
Everything you want to hear"
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind

Raise up that flaming torch
Watch as the ships approach
An invitation on her lips
The homeless, tempest-tossed, she grips

Make her beautiful
Make her dutiful and rich
Sing me a love song
So long
So strong

My New Haunt
Has just been repossessed
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
if I have to guess my next address

I'm out on the horizon
Just as the sun was rising
First rays bestow a kiss
So you would never guess
I'm sailing off a precipice
Dragons and gold down in the hold
Burning leaves and spices choking back the stench of piss

My New Haunt
Requires a coat of paint
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
If the walls are peeling and the ceiling is revealing the stars out there reeling

My New Haunt
Sometimes disappears
Comes back in the night
And whispers in my ears
Saying "Don't you know you little fool
You've nothing to fear
I'll tell you everything you want to know
Everything you want to hear"
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind

At the end of the working day
He's tired of kneeling, and praying
"As I lay down to die"
I can't remember why
Up on the silent screen
A cowboy ropes a trick
And in the second feature
Some lovely creature saved by a yankee dick

Make her beautiful
Make her dutiful and rich
Sing me a love song
So long
So strong

My New Haunt
The shiver of a chill
And I don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind

Start making babies
Beat out those bayonets
Stop making bullets
Reverse the planets
Pick all my pockets
Cut off those bracelets
Have you no remorse?
Peel off your corsets
Of course

 

[fox69]

"My Science Fiction Twin"

"My Science Fiction Twin"


My science fiction twin
Is doing better than expected
He captured a little blonde trophy wife
Who's really very well connected
And when he calls home with his alibi
She says "Is this really necessary?"
But she knows that a man can't be a man
Unless he's punishing his secretary
He sips in the glow of a '61 vintage
Just as the day is dimming
With every intention of surrendering
To fifty-foot women
Who put the fascination back into my science fiction twin
My science fiction twin
Decided to become invisible
He has my eyes, my face, my voice
But he's only happy when I'm miserable
The words flew from his mouth
And they were gently gathered by reporters
Trying to frame his once infamous flame
With tattered pictures of her daughter
Her hair is all made out of porcupine
Her figure is fantastic
But as you know, they corrupted her
So they're being sarcastic
Who put the fascination back into my science fiction twin

He'll scream and shout
Everything is working out just as he predicted
Pride and position in the gallery of attempted people
Oh and the pain is so sweet
Better stamp his little feet
And you'll even have time to pity me
How can you feel content?
You wonder where this fellow went

My science fiction twin
Escorted by his lovely nieces
Filled up his purse dictating verse
While painting masterpieces
His almost universal excellence
Is starting to disturb me
They asked how in the world he does all these things
And he answered "Superbly"
He's trapped in his own parallel dimension
That's why I'm so forgiving
But how could I possibly forget to mention those fifty-foot women
Who put the fascination back into my science fiction twin

My science fiction twin [4x]

 

[fox69]

"My Thief"

"My Thief"



When I go to sleep, you become my thief
Why don't you steal what you can keep?
But you won't let me be
You break into my dreams
And every day seems different
Sometimes I pretend you'll come back again
And you'll console the heart you stole
Have pity on the man
Who knows that you have gone
And has begun to break down

I feel almost possessed
So long as I don't lose this glorious distress then
You can take all I have left
I know it's over
If you can't be my lover
Be my thief

I'm so drowsy now, I'll unlock the door
What fades in time will hurt much more
So here's that happy scene
Where you come back to me
It's only found in fiction

I feel almost possessed
So long as I don't lose this glorious distress then
You can take all I have left
I know it's over
If you can't be my lover
Be my thief

"I didn't lead you on,
But there will always be
A little larceny in everyone

So hush and don't you cry
I'm trying to be kind
Because I have a perfect alibi"

 

[fox69]

"My Three Sons"

"My Three Sons"



Day is dawning
Almost sounded like a warning
Wind was rushing through the trees almost roaring
I never thought that I'd become
The proud father of
My three sons

Here's a fragment
Between the shame and the sentiment
For all the years that I might have been absent
I can't do what can't be undone
Oh no, my three sons

I love you more than I can say
What I give to one
The other cannot take away
I bless the day you came to be
With everything that is left to me

Here's your pillow
Go to sleep and I will follow
May you never have any more sorrows
That's not something you can count upon
Still I want it for my three sons
My my
My three sons

Deep in the night I turn cold and sick
But I only curse arithmetic
I bless the day that you came to be
With everything that is left to me

Day is closing
Old men and infants are dozing
That's the kind of life I've chosen
Just see what I've become
The humble father of my three sons
The humbled father of my three sons

 

[fox69]

"Mystery Dance"

"Mystery Dance"


Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill.
He jumped out the window cause he couldn't sit still.
Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
He said "Don't bury me cause I'm not dead yet".

[Chorus:]
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance.
I wanna know about the mystery dance.
Why don't you show me,
'cause I've tried and I've tried,
and I'm still mystified.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.

Well I remember when the lights went out
and I was tryin' to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
so both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it.

[Chorus]

Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
tryin' to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine.
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean.

[Chorus]