American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version)

Lyrics

December 1965 in Caracas

When Arnie LaFlamme took his piece of the pie

When he packed up the casino chips, the IOU and the abacus

And switched off the jukebox in a "A Fool Such As I"

He was a leg man who was open to offers

But he couldn't get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office

And as he entertained himself singing just like Sammy Davis Junior

He toyed with a trip to Miami

For money like that

He could have sweet talk in your ear

Now they don't speak any English

Just American without tears

It was an idea that he dandled on his knee

And nursed it like his coffee cup

When he couldn't find any other way

It always seemed to come to him while the day was dipping down

And the sun was like a light bulb being swallowed by a clown

He took her for everything

He took her for his only one

He took her out of Coventry and over to Idaho

But the war wound that he carried home wasn't really visible

When the bullets were forgotten

She looked dowdy, down, and miserable

And she seemed to be crying for year after year

And said, "You don't speak any English

Just American between tears."

"Arnie" she said to me, "Will you turn down the radio?

You haven't slept a wink since we came to Havana

When're you gonna get the strength to go over to Florida?

All you ever listen to is 'The Voice of America'"

It was a story of a young English poppet

Who took up with a soldier boy

And thought she would profit

Just like me she found out what true love is about

Anyway she's in New Orleans, it would never work out

Oh she seemed to be crying for year after year

Now you don't speak any English

Just American between tears

Just American without tears

For you seem to be crying for year after year

Now you don't speak any English

Just American without tears

Just American without tears

Credits

• Written by: D.P.A. MacManus
• A Napoleon Dynamite Production
• Recorded and Mixed by: Colin Fairley
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitars, bass, piano, celesta, organ, harmonica, marimba, timbale

Discography

Albums:

• Blood And Chocolate (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1995
• Blood And Chocolate (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2002

Singles:

• Blue Chair, 1987

Collections:

• Out Of Our Idiot, 1987
• Singles, Volume 3, 2003

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Alternate Versions:

• American Without Tears

Covers

Recorded by:

• none

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.