Blame It On Cain

From The Elvis Costello Wiki

Once upon a time, I had a little money. Government burglars took it long before I could mail it to you. Still, you are the only one. Now I can't let it slip away. So if the man with the ticker tape, he tries to take it, well this is what I'm gonna say. Blame it on Cain. Don't blame it on me. Oh, oh, it's nobody's fault, but we need somebody to burn. Well if I was a saint with a silver cup and the money got low we could always heat it up or trade it in. But then the radio that heaven will be wired to your purse. And then you can run down the wave band, coast to coast, hand in hand. Bad to worse, curse for curse, don't be dissatisfied. So you're not satisfied. (Chorus) I think I've lived a little too long on the outskirts of town I think I'm going insane from talking to myself for so long. Oh but I've never been accused. When they step on your face, you wear that good look grin. I gotta break out one weekend if I do somebody in. But every single time I feel a little stronger, they tell me it's a crime. Well how much longer? (Chorus)

Blame It On Cain Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Nick Lowe Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar John McFee - guitar Sean Hopper - keyboards Johnny Ciambotti - bass Mickey Shine - drums Recorded late 1976-early 1977, Pathway Studios, London Released July 22, 1977 Albums My Aim Is True, 1977 Viva England, 1982 (Spain) Collections 2½ Years, 1993 Length 2:50 First known performance:  July 21, 1977, Manchester, England Alternate versions Blame It On Cain (Honky Tonk Demo) Performed by Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Recorded late 1975-early 1976, Elvis' bedroom, London Released October 15, 1993 Albums My Aim Is True (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1993 My Aim Is True (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2001 Length 3:31 Blame It On Cain (Live 1977) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded August 7, 1977, London, England Released October 14, 1977 Albums My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007 Singles Watching The Detectives, 1977 Collections Stiff Box Set No. 2, 1981 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 Length 2:53 Blame It On Cain (Live 1978) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded February 28, 1978, Washington, DC Released March 4, 2008 Albums This Year's Model: Deluxe Edition, 2008 Length 4:05 Blame It On Cain (Live 2004) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Imposters Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Davey Faragher - bass, backing vocal Pete Thomas - drums Recorded September 17, 2004, Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, TN - either early or late show Released April 19, 2005 Videos Club Date: Live In Memphis, 2005

Covers

Alice Wonders

Mod Tea Diary

2002

AMG  •  Amazon

Boondogs

Roots Pop For Now People (EP)

2001

website  •  Bandcamp.com

Dustin Kensrue

performed live, 2007-06-19, House of Blues, New Orleans

2007

YouTube

House Of Teeth

unreleased demo recording

2010

Facebook

Larkin Poe

performed live, 2011, Treorchy, Kelvedon, and London

2011

info  •  YouTube

Larkin Poe

performed live, 2012-01-27, Glasgow

2012

YouTube

Peter Mulvey

performed live

2003

website

Oliver's Army (Dallas)

performed live, Dallas-area Costello tribute band

2003-

OliversArmyBand

Paper Or Plastic

Come Again

2003

AMG  •  Amazon

Real Cheese

performed live

2002

info

Solipsistics

performed live, Knitting Factory tribute, 2003-03-27

2003

info  •  MySpace

Chords

tabbed by zeroy@netcom.com (Roy M. Randall)

G
Once upon a time, I had a little money.

Government burglars took it long before I could mail it to you.
                 C7
Still you are the only one.
                             G
Now, I can't let it slip away.
          D
So if the man with the ticker tape, he tries to take it,
D7                            G
Well, this is what I'm gonna say:

            Em7                     G
Blame it on Cain.  Don't blame it on me.
               C              D         C                G
Oh, oh, oh, it's nobody's fault, but we need somebody to burn.


Well, if I was a saint with a silver cup
And the money got low, we could always heat it up or trade it in.
But then the radio that heaven will be wired to your purse.
And then you can run down the wave band, coast to coast, hand in hand.
D7                                                C
Bad to worse, curse for curse, don't be disatisfied.
           D           G
So, you're not satisfied.
           Em7                      G
Blame it on Cain.  Don't blame it on me.
               C              D
Oh, oh, oh, it's nobody's fault,
       C                   G
But we need somebody to burn.


I think I've lived a little too long on the outskirts of town.
I think I'm goin' insane from talking to myself for so long.
Oh, but I never been accused.
When they step upon your face, you wear that good luck grin.
         D7
I gotta break out one weekend if I do somebody in.

But ev'ry single time I feel a little stronger,
     C                           D
They tell me it's a crime.  Well how much longer?
           Em7                        G
Blame it on Cain.  Don't blame it on me.
               C              D
Oh, oh, oh, it's nobody's fault,
       C                   G
But we need somebody to burn.
            Em7                       G
Blame it on Cain.  Don't blame it on me.
               C              D
Oh, oh, oh, it's nobody's fault.
       C                    G
But it just seems to be his turn.

Translation

• Blame It On Cain (français)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: My Aim Is True  •  lyrics  •  chords  •  MAIT info page  •  Viva England  •  Rykodisc/Demon MAIT reissue  •  Rhino/Edsel MAIT reissue
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: My Aim Is True