I'm Your Toy

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You may be sweet and nice
That won't keep you warm at night
'Cause I'm the one who taught you how
To do the things you're doing now
He may feel all your charms
He may hold you in his arms
But I'm the one who let you in
I was right beside you then

Once upon a time
You let me feel you deep inside
Where nobody knew, nobody saw
Do you remember the way you cried?

I'm your toy, I'm your old boy
But I don't want no one but you to love me
Oh, I wouldn't lie
You know I'm not that kind of guy

Once upon a time
You let me feel you deep inside
And nobody knew, nobody saw
Do you remember the way you cried?

I'm your toy, I'm your old boy
But I don't want no one but you to love me
Oh, I wouldn't lie
You know I'm not that kind of guy

I'm Your Toy
Written byChris Ethridge & Gram Parsons
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byBilly Sherrill
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
John McFee - guitar
Tommy Millar - fiddle
RecordedMay 18-29, 1981, CBS Studio A, Nashville
ReleasedOctober 23, 1981
AlbumsAlmost Blue, 1981
Various Artists collectionsAll Time Classic Country Tearjerkers, 2003
PromosElvis Costello Introduces... The Tracks From His New Album 'Almost Blue', 1981
The Rykodisc/Hannibal Fall '94 Collection, 1994
Selections From Almost Blue, Goodbye Cruel World, Kojak Variety, 2004
Visa Sampler, 2007
Length3:20

First known performance:
December 23, 1981, London, England
Last known performance:
February 16, 2023, New York, NY
     (17 known performances)


Alternate versions

I'm Your Toy (Live 1982)
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Arranged byRobert Kirby
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
John McFee - guitar
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
RecordedJanuary 7, 1982, London, England
ReleasedApril 2, 1982
AlbumsAlmost Blue (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1994
Almost Blue (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2004
SinglesI'm Your Toy, 1982
CollectionsAlmost New, 1982
Singles, Volume 2, 2003
Length4:01
Almost BlueAB album cover large.jpg

Elvis Costello Introduces... The Tracks From His New Album 'Almost Blue'Elvis Costello Introduces The Tracks From His New Album Almost Blue album cover.jpg

I'm Your Toy singleI'm Your Toy UK 7" single front sleeve.jpg

Almost NewAlmost New album cover.jpg

Singles, Volume 2Singles Volume 2 album cover.jpg

Visa SamplerVisa Sampler front.jpg


Chords

Em Em(maj7) E7 A

D          Dmaj7
 You may be sweet and nice
D7                        Adim/B*
 But that won't keep you warm at night
Em                Em(maj7)           E7                            
 Cause I'm the one who taught you how
                          A
 To do the things you're doing now

He may feel all your charms
He may hold you in his arms
But I'm the one who let you in
I was right beside you then

D D+ Bm D7

G             Adim      
 Once upon a time 
             D              Bm
You let me feel you deep inside
       E7
Where nobody knew, nobody saw
Em                   A
Do you remember the way you cried

D            Dmaj7
I'm your toy I'm your old boy
D7                  Adim/B          Em
But I don't want no-one but you to love me
       A
Oh, I wouldn't lie
G                      A7      D
You know I'm not that kind of guy

Instrumental Verse

G             Adim      
 Once upon a time 
             D              Bm
You let me feel you deep inside
       E7
Where nobody knew, nobody saw
Em                   A
Do you remember the way you cried

D            Dmaj7
I'm your toy I'm your old boy
D7                  Adim/B          Em
But I don't want no-one but you to love me
       A
Oh, I wouldn't lie
G                      A7      D
You know I'm not that kind of guy



*On the Adim/B chord, Bruce is playing a distinct B and all signs lead to
this being a B7, but Elvis sings a C note which makes it sound overall as
an A diminished chord.

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External links