Forgive Her Anything

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Oh, a TV went off like three day old milk
They shut this town down better than most
And it always was less of an idea and more of a boast

Oh, you're burning in the bloom of life
'Til you're powder in the grave
Or you're pounding on the counter begging for more
'Til you evaporate
You'd forgive her anything
If you look like you, my pretty miss
I wonder where you are tonight
When this place becomes pitiless

Oh, I couldn't sleep, but I can't complain
(Oh, she offered it all but she forgot to say when)
Oh, this won't hurt a bit, oh, this won't hurt again
When the roof comes down and the walls move in

Oh, I didn't know it could feel like that
When your face turned away and the day turned black
And the rain fell like a curtain
Oh, it's my turn to begin
To forgive her anything

You'd forgive her anything
If you knew what I have known
You'd forgive her anything
(It's forgiven and forgotten)
So where did all my pride go?

You'd forgive her anything
If you knew what I have known
I've been given and forgotten
More than you will ever know



Alternate lyrics from home demo version:


Why is the radio so brutally cheerful
This endless happiness overdose
That it always was less of an idea and more of a boast
Now you're burning in the bloom of life
Until you're powder in the grave
Or you're pounding on the counter begging for more
Till you evaporate

Chorus:
You'd forgive her anything
If you could win back her tender kiss
You wonder where she is tonight
As this town becomes pitiless

Well, you couldn't sleep, you don't want to think anymore
You listen for a footfall, a key in the door
As the roof comes down and the walls move in
So you didn't know it could feel like that
Till the face turned away and the day turned black
And the rain fell like a curtain
Now it's your turn to begin
To forgive her anything

(Repeat Chorus)

You'd forgive her anything
If you knew what I know
You'd forgive her anything
Say, where did all your pride go?

Forgive Her Anything
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byNick Lowe with Colin Fairley
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedMarch-May 1986, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedSeptember 5, 1995
AlbumsBlood & Chocolate (Rykodisc/Demon edition), 1995
Length3:11

First known performance:
October 2, 1986, Los Angeles, CA
Last known performance:
November 24, 1986, London, England
     (4 known performances)


Alternate versions

Forgive Her Anything (New Version)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byNick Lowe with Colin Fairley
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedApril 8, 1986, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
AlbumsBlood & Chocolate (Rhino/Edsel edition), 2002
PromosSelections From This Year's Model - Blood & Chocolate - Brutal Youth, 2002
Length3:48

Forgive Her Anything (Home Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, all instruments
Recordedca. 1990, Elvis' home
ReleasedNovember 18, 2002
AlbumsMighty Like A Rose (Rhino/Edsel edition), 2002
Length3:58
Blood & ChocolateBAC album cover large.jpg

Mighty Like A RoseMLAR album cover large.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2019 YouTube

Chords

If: This is my best attempt. Correct it if you think it's wrong.

On the G* and C*, I play the barre chord at the third fret like in the intro.

Intro:
    C#        C        Eb        G
e||-4--4-6-4--3--3-3---3--3-5-3--3--3-3---||
B||-6--6-x-6--5--5-5---4--4-4-4--3--3-3---||
G||-6--6-6-6--5--5-5---3--3-3-3--4--4-4---||
D||-6--6-6-6--5--5-5---5--5-5-5--5--5-5---||
A||-4--4-4-4--3--3-3-------------5--5-5---||
E||---------------------------------------||

      C                   F           C
Oh, a TV went off like three day old milk 
       C        F         G*          C*
They shut this town down better than most 
       D               Bm         Am       F     C          
And it always was less of an idea and more of a boast 

            C               F       C
Oh, you're burning in the bloom of life 
  C          F     G*       C*
'Til you're powder in the grave 
           D               Bm                  Am
Or you're pounding on the counter begging for more 
      F    C
'Til you evaporate 

 Ab               Gm 
You'd forgive her anything 
F       Bb        F        Bb    Ab      
If you look like you, my pretty miss 
           Gm             F
I wonder where you are tonight 
       Bb        F       Bb  C*
When this place becomes pitiless 

Repeat intro

       C                     F         C
Oh, I couldn't sleep, but I can't complain 
         C                          F           C
(Oh, she offered it all but she forgot to say when) 
          C            F             G*          C*
Oh, this won't hurt a bit, oh, this won't hurt again 
          D              Bm                 Am  F C
When the roof comes down and the walls move in 

       C                    F          C
Oh, I didn't know it could feel like that 
           C            F           G*          C*
When your face turned away and the day turned black 
         D                Bm
And the rain fell like a curtain 
         Am      F     C 
Oh, it's my turn to begin 
C      F       G*   C*
To forgive her anything 

 Ab               Gm
You'd forgive her anything 
F        Bb      F        Bb
If you knew what I have known 
Ab                Gm
You'd forgive her anything 
 Ab            Gm
(It's forgiven and forgotten) 
     F       Bb       F    Bb a
So where did all my pride go? 
 
Ab        Gm              F Bb F Bb
Oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh 
Ab        Gm              F Bb F Bb a 
Oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh 

 Ab               Gm
You'd forgive her anything 
F        Bb      F        Bb
If you knew what I have known 
Ab              Gm
I've been given and forgotten 
 F         Bb      F      Bb a
More than you will ever know

Ab        Gm              F Bb F Bb
Oh, oh oh oh oh oh oh oh 
Repeat and fade

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