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Taking Liberties


    1. Clean Money
    2. Girls Talk
    3. Talking In The Dark
    4. Radio Sweetheart
    5. Black And White World (demo)
    6. Big Tears
    7. Just A Memory
    8. Night Rally
    9. Stranger In The House
    10. Clowntime Is Over (version 2)
    11. Getting Mighty Crowded
    12. Hoover Factory
    13. Tiny Steps
    14. (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
    15. Dr. Luther's Assistant
    16. Sunday's Best
    17. Crawling To The U.S.A.
    18. Wednesday Week
    19. My Funny Valentine
    20. Ghost Train

Clean Money

Transcribed by Marika Whaley (whaley.24@osu.edu)
Corrections welcomed!

Intro:
Esus4 alternating w/ E (or something like it)

E7               A7              G7               E7
Payday's coming and we wash it away
(Backing: Clean money, clean money)
(repeat once)

A                   Asus4         A
That's what I want to do
B                  Bsus4           B           B6
I want to spend it on you

A7
Checking on a checkmate
G7                                             E
Grassing on a classmate           (background: "Money")
         A7
So beautiful and fortunate
         G7                                               E
He hates to love, you love to hate        (background: "Money")
         A7
He can fix you for good
          G7
'Cause he is the neighborhood
             A7
You can't get money for blood
             G7                                    F#  G#  A  B   Bsus4   B
Blood money for doin' no good
F#                         G#    A               B   Bsus4   B
But they won't take my love for tender (repeat)

B  A# A G#    G# G  F#  F         E7
(transition into next verse)

Payday's coming and we wash it away
Clean money, clean money
Payday's coming and we wash it away
Clean money, clean money
That's what I want to do
I want to spend it on you

Have you made your selection?
Are you ready for correction?
'Cause the wages of sin
Are an expensive infection
And it's under the counter
Under the Geiger counter
Who stole your thunder?
F#                         G#    A               B   Bsus4   B
But they won't take my love for tender (repeat/fade out)

Note: for chromatic runs, I usually just play the bottom three strings -
it's much easier on the left hand!

Girls Talk

From:   SMTP%"dal23@hermes.cam.ac.uk" 11-DEC-1996 13:37:59.35


A       G       D
A       G       D

          A                           G       D            A      G    D
There are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder
            A                    G
I thought I heard you mention my name 
          D        E
Can't you talk any louder?
               F#m
Don't come any closer
               E/G#
Don't come any nearer
             A                 D
My vision of you can't get any clearer
   A G    D            A          G     D
Oh I just want to hear girls talk
        A           G            D        E
I got a loaded imagination being fired by girls' talk
            F#m                       E/G#
But I can't say the words you want to hear
          A                       D
I suppose you're going to have to play it by ear
               A        G
Right here and now
      D             
Girls talk 
         A                G
And they want to know how
      D
Girls talk 
         A                      G
And they say it's not allowed
      D
Girls talk 

If they say that it's so 
                               E
Don't you think that I know by now?


That the word upon everyone's lips
Stick that you're dedicated
Though you may not be an old-fashioned girl
You're still going to get dated
Was it really murder?
Were you just pretending?
Lately I have heard you are the living end

Girls talk and they wanna know about her
Girls talk they wanna know if I care
Girls talk and they wanna know where yeah
Girls talk
Girls talk

Radio Sweetheart

Transcribed by Zach Maggio
spadwick@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Intro:  Em

Em
My head is spinning and my legs are weak
Em
Goose step dancing, can't hear myself speak
Em
Hope in the eyes of the ugly girls who
Am
Settle for the lies of the last chancers when
                        Em
Slow motion drunks pick wallflower dancers

F#m                          Em           
You come here looking for the ride to glory
C                   D
Go back home with a hard luck story
G            Em          F#m               B7           
I can hardly wait around until the weekend comes to town

E                    C#m            
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
F#m7            B7
Hide your love, hide your love
E                C#m
Though we are so far apart
             F#m7         B7
You've got to hide your love
F#m                      G#m           
Cause that's the way the whole thing started
 A            F#7         E 
I wish we had never parted

B7

G                      Em      
When it's late and the night gets colder
C                      D  
Don't lay your head on any other shoulder
G                    Em                  
Some hire themselves out for a good time
F#m               B7               
But you and I, we have been sold

So I keep on saying:
E
Play one more for my radio sweetheart  (repeat indefinitely)

Black And White World (demo)

Transcribed by Daniel Lunsford (peachfish42@hotmail.com)

This version of B&W World is in a different key than the album version 
-- and the chords are a little more basic and easier to play.

F#dim:  xx2323


C                    G               C
I was looking at the black and white world

Am             E   C
It seemed so exciting

C                            G              C
If you'd only put me back to back with that girl

Am                 E    C
When the night's inviting

     E      Am     E   Am
With just a little lighting

Dm         Am       Cm        G     D     G
  There'll never be days like that again

     D     G      D       G        D     G
When I was just a boy and men were men

F#dim    Dm            G          C
     You never go from moment to moment

G                 C           G      C
You're the living double of a single fiction

F#dim       Dm         G             C      G
     You're very colourful with your compliments

   C            G         C
As you feel the finger's friction
              
Am            D
It's a freeze-frame

           Am
Still it's real life

D                 Am
You don't want to look

             D        Am              D         G
Cause you've seen the film and you've read the book

Repeat same progression for second verse:
Corrections, suggestions, etc. to peachfish42@hotmail.com

Big Tears

{title:Big Tears}
{st:Elvis Costello}
# from: Taking Liberties
# Convert this to PostScript with CHORD: for info see:
#   http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/keith/lyrics.html
# Keith Waclena 
# http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/keith/

[G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      

[G]Everyone is busy with their [Em]regular routine
The [D]sniper just takes his [G]aim
[C]Everyone is window shoppin, [Am]no one is amazed
[C]Get hit in the head and you still [Am]think that it's a graze
[D]You go to a mov[G]ie
[D]You go to a show
[D]You think that your liv[G]in'
[D]You don't really know

{start_of_chorus}
[C]Big [G]tears [C]mean [D]nothing
[C]You can't [Em]count them [Am]as they [D]fall
[C]Big [G]tears [C]mean [D]nothing
When you're [A]lying and you're [D]coughin'
Tell me [G]who'[F]s    [C]    [D] been taken in?
{end_of_chorus}

[G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      [G]      [F]      [C]      

Oh you [G]talk about the new boys [Em]automatic clause
But of [D]course they make it all up for [G]you
[C]I was fascinated by the [Am]weird edge of town
[C]Come home disappointed every [Am]time they put you down
[D]Laughing at the old [G]boys
[D]Saying that its all [G]noise
[D]I suppose

{c:chorus}

[G]All the buttons on my [Em]overcoat they have [D]fallen off one by [G]one
[C]You wouldn't even like me if you'd [Am]never had a drink
[C]You wouldn't even like me if you'd [Am]never stopped to think
[D]Standin' in the shad[G]ow
[D]*      [G]
[D]Don't you know?

{c:chorus}

Tell me [G]who'[F]s    [C]    [D] b

Just A Memory

Tabbed by Zach Maggio
spadwick@uclink4.berkeley.edu

Intro:   F   Bb/F  F  C/F    F   (x2)

F                        Bb/F  F  C/F
Layin about lyin in bed
F                              Dm7      Gm 
Maybe it was something that I thought I said
Gm
With the tempo of today and the temptation of tomorrow
               Ab                             Eb/G   
I don't know if I could give you anything but sorrow

Eb                                      
They stay alive this late on Radio Five
Eb
But the pen that I write with won't tell the truth
Eb
'Cause the moments that I can't recall are the moments that I treasure
Eb                              Dm         D
Better take another measure for measure

Bb        Eb                Bb            
Losing you is just a memory, memories
Eb
Don't mean that much to me
Bb         Eb               Bb         
Losing you is just a memory, memories
Eb                  Dm  Cm  F
Don't mean that much to me

          Gm 
Now you're here
         Dm
I'm here too
Eb                    Fsus4   F   
Could be this easy for me and you

Repeat chorus and then first part of 1st verse

Night Rally

From: mats@omega.physchem.kth.se (Mats Jansson tel: 790 71 93)


Intro: Chord: E, notes: c c c c c a g#

         E                                    A                     E
I would send out for assistance, but there's someone on the signal wire
         E                                               A
and the corporation logo is flashing on and off in the sky.
         A
They're putting all your names in the forbidden book.
G#m                            F#m               B7
 I know what they're doing, but I don't want to look.


      B7
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny.

Wait until they've got you running to the
A       E       A       E       A       E
  night   rally,  night   rally,  night   rally.


G                               Em
Ev'rybody's singing with their hand on their heart
         Am                        D
about deeds done in the darkest hour.
        G                              Em
That's just the sort of catchy little melody
           F#        B        F#
to get you   singing in the showers.

        E
Oh, I know that I'm ungrateful. I've got it lying on a plate,
            A                         E
and I'm not   bying my share of souvenirs.
        E
You can  stand to attention; you can pray to your uncle.
                              A
Only get that chicken out of here.
A
Ev'ryone get armbands and 3-D glasses.
G#m                                                        B7
Some are in the back row, and they're taking those night classes.


        B7
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny.

Wait until they've got you running to the

A       E       A       E       A       E
  night   rally,  night   rally,  night   rally.
A       E       A       E       A       E
  night   rally,  night   rally,  night   rally.

Tiny Steps

{title:Tiny Steps}
{st:Elvis Costello}
# from: Taking Liberties
# Convert this to PostScript with CHORD: for info see:
#   http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/keith/lyrics.html
# Keith Waclena 
# http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/keith/
Muscle [D]baby [C]won't [G]let [D]go
[C]Week[G]end [D]baby [C]won't [G]say [D]no
Is she an [C]ac[G]tive [D]beauty ?
I should sa[G]y so

Wooden [D]bones and [C]pret[G]ty [D]lashes
[C]I-[G]o-[D]dine for your [C]ba[G]by's [D]gashes
[C]Lit[G]tle [D]tombs for your [C]ba[G]by's [D]ashes
If something goes [G]wrong

Tiny [G]steps [F]al[C]most [G]real
[F]Ti[C]ny [G]fingers you [F]al[C]most [G]feel
[F]Make [C]her [G]walk or [F]make [C]her [G]kneel
[F]Oh, [C]she's [G]almost [F]hu[C]man [G]beneath that [F]Cu[C]ban [G]heel

[Em]Who's that down at the [A]bottom of the garden?
[Em]Who's that hiding [A]underneath the sofa?
[Em]Who gets blamed when[A]ever you're in trouble?
[G]She's your friend and [D]she's your double

Tiny [G]steps [F]al[C]most [G]real
[F]Ti[C]ny [G]fingers you [F]al[C]most [G]feel
[F]Make [C]her [G]walk or [F]make [C]her [G]kneel
[F]Oh, [C]she's [G]almost [F]hu[C]man [G]beneath that [F]Cu[C]ban [G]heel

Pretty [D]little [C]fash[G]ion [D]face
Pick [C]any[G]one [D]up [C]off [G]the [D]shelf
[C]Though [G]you [D]say it's [C]a [G]dis[D]grace
You [C]know [G]you [D]owe it [C]to [G]your[D]self

[C]You [G]can [G]even shop a[D]round
[C]Though [G]you [D]won't find [C]a-[G]ny [D]cheaper

[E]She's your [A]baby now
[D]You can keep her

Tiny [G]steps [F]al[C]most [G]real
[F]Ti[C]ny [G]fingers you [F]al[C]most [G]feel
[F]Make [C]her [G]walk or [F]make [C]her [G]kneel
[F]Oh, [C]she's [G]almost [F]hu[C]man [G]beneath that [F]Cu[C]ban [G]heel

(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

From: mats@omega.physchem.kth.se (Mats Jansson tel: 790 71 93)


The bass line is too neat to be left out here.

Chord:    Bm      A       G       A       Bm      A      G       A
Rhythm    1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4. 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
Bass:   D ----4-------2---------0-----2-------4-------2--------0-----2---
        A 2-----2-0-----------2---0-0---0-2-----2-0----------2---0-0---0-
        E ------------------3------------------------------3-------------

Guitar: e ------------------777-7-7-5-----------------5----777-7-7-5---
        B ----------------------------7-5---------5------------------7-etc.
        G --------------------------------7-7-7-7----------------------


Bm       A        G      A   Bm             A        G    A
  Photographs of fancy tricks  to get your kicks at sixtysix.
Bm             A        G            A   Bm             A          G        A
  He thinks of all the lips that he licks  and all the girls he's going to fix.
     Bm             A             G             A
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle,
            Bm        A            G          A
but there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle.
     Bm        A           G           A
Capital punishment, she's last year's model.
      G          A              G         A
They call her Natasha, but she looks like Elsie.
G          F#m    Em      D
  I don't want to go to Chelsea.


G    D      G        D      G        D          G        D
Oh, no, it does not move me,  even though I've seen the movie.
G          D        G         D    G          D      G   D
  I don't want to check your pulse.  I don't want nobody else.
G          D       E
  I don't want to go to Chelsea.


Repeat intro


Ev'rybody's got new ordes. Be a nice girl and kiss the warders.
Now the teacher is away, all the kids begin to play.

Repeat intro

Men come screaming, dressed in white coats, shake you very gently by the throat.
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie.
I don't want to go to Chelsea.


Oh, no, it does no move me...

The song ends and fades with the intro (more or less, EC improvises around
the theme)

Sunday's Best

Transcribed by Ian Tanner (tanrocks@golden.net) 
  

INTRO: 

A    |A    |A    |A    |G    |G    |G    |G    | 
A    |A    |A    |A    |G    |G    |G    |G    | 
  

A                                    G 
Times are tough for English babies    Send the army and the navy 
A                                  G 
Beat up strangers who talk funny    Take their greasy foreign money 
A                                  G 
Skin shop, red leather, hot line    Be prepared for the engaged sign 
D                                     E 
Bridal books, engagement rings    And other wicked little things 
  

CHORUS: 

D                                  E 
Standing in your socks and vest    Better get it off your chest 
D                                      D    A/C#    E/B 
Every day is just like the rest    But Sunday's     best 
  
  

A                                    G 
Stylish slacks to suit your pocket    Back supports and picture lockets 
A                                    G 
Sleepy towns and sleeper trains        To the dogs and down the drains 
A                                   G 
Major roads and ladies smalls        Hearts of oak and long trunk calls 
D                               E 
Continental interference        At death's door with life insurance 
  

CHORUS 
  

D                                E 
Sunday's best, Sunday's finest    When your money's in the minus 
D                                  E 
And you suffer from your shyness    You can listen to us whiners 
  

A                                  G 
Don't look now under the bed    An arm, a leg and a severed head 
A                                   G 
Read about the private lives    The songs of praise, the readers' wives 
A                              G 
Listen to the decent people     Though you treat them just like sheep 
D                                 E 
Put them all in boots and khaki    Blame it all upon the darkies 
  
  

CHORUS 
  
  

D   A/C#     E/B         D   A/C#     E/B     D   A/C#     E/B     D   A/C#     E/B 
Sunday's     best        Sunday's     best    Sunday's     best    Sunday's     best

  

ENDING FADE OUT: 

D  A/C# | E/B  E | D  A/C# | E/B  E |

Crawling To The U.S.A.

Transcribed by Marika Whaley (whaley.24@osu.edu)
Thanks to Bill Nemec for his suggestion on the opening chords.

Opening chords: G (two beats) G7 (four beats)

    C                Am              C               F  C
I thought I would go to the sea and shrink down very tiny
     C                Am                  C              F  C
And slide inside the telephone wire that runs under the briny
F                  Bb    F                     Bb  G
Till I found there is a way of crawling to the U.S.A.

C                  Bb     C
You had better not go too far
F                            Bb    F
There's one way out, there's only one way
C                 Bb        C
Leave your mother and your father
F               Bb  G
Crawling to the U.S.A.

C               Am
Saw it late one night on a secret channel
C                Am
(Crawling to the U.S.A.)
C                 Am
It's farther on along the tunnel
C                Am
(Crawling to the U.S.A.)
F                    Bb     F
It's way beyond the final station
F                    Bb
That's the one they never mention

(same as above)
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.

(same as "Saw it late one night..." above)
You don't have to pay them that much
You had better bring your lunch
It's undercover, around the houses
Up your skirt and down your trousers

You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.

(same as first verse above)
She said, "I catch you taking liberties and they do not impress me
Attach me to your credit card and then you can undress me
Everybody is on their knees except the Russians and the Chinese

You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.

fade out
C               Am
Crawling to the U.S.A.

My Funny Valentine

(Rodgers & Hart)
tabbed by Dirk Jetten ( dirk@telecom.ptt.nl )


The last part of this arrangement you'll have to figure out yourself,
'cause I have no recording of this song. Anyway, here are the chords that go
with this last part :

| Fmaj7        A7  | Dm7 Dbm7 Cm7 Bmaj7 | Bbmaj7        |
| A7               | Dm7                | A/Db          |
| Dm/C             | Bm7b5              | Bbmaj7        |
| Em7b5        A7  | Dm7            C#7 | Cm7     Bmaj7 |
| Bbmaj7           | Gm7           C7b9 | F


{ title: My Funny Valentine}


{ define Dm7    base-fret 5 frets x 0 2 0 1 0 }
{ define A/Db   base-fret 2 frets x 2 0 0 0 x }
{ define Dm/C   base-fret 0 frets x 3 x 2 3 1 }
{ define Bm7b5  base-fret 0 frets x 2 3 2 3 x }
{ define Bbmaj7 base-fret 1 frets x 0 2 1 2 0 }
{ define Em7b5  base-fret 5 frets x 2 3 2 3 x }
{ define A7     base-fret 5 frets 0 2 0 1 3 0 }
{ define C7b9   base-fret 0 frets x 3 2 3 2 x }


[Dm7]My funny [A/Db]valentine,
[Dm/C]Sweet comic [Bm7b5]valentine,
[Bbmaj7]You make me [Gm7]smile with my [Em7b5]heart. [A7]

[Dm7]Your looks are [A/Db]affable.
[Dm/C]Unphoto[Bm7b5]graphable.
[Bbmaj7]Yet your my [Bbm7]favourite work of [C7b9]art.

Is your [Fmaj7]figure less than [Gm7]greek? [Am7] [Gm7]
Is your [Fmaj7]mouth a little [Gm7]weak?    [Am7] [Gm7]

[?]When you open it to speak, are you smart?
Don't change a hair for me, not if you care for me.
Stay little valentine, stay.
Each day is Valentine's day.