King Of Confidence

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She had her mind made up just like her face
She painted in the lines and shadows
She shaded colour in that would express
The lonely mood that follows

Love, short and painful, untidy lies in self-defence
She just told a thing or two to the King of Confidence

He said that he could tell her anything
She even held him when he was crying
And made her feel she was the only one
Who knew that he was lying when he said he was lying

Love is short and painful, but she finally made sense
Of the love he had for the one and only King of Confidence

And it's hard enough to be your lover, let alone your confidant
You say you know what I need but you don't know who I want

It's just another tawdry morning now
Another tarnished farewell
Your body's tired and complaining now
But you're too tore down to tell

Love is short and painful, all you kind ladies and gents
I spent years and a couple of days as the King of Confidence

And it's hard enough to be your lover, let alone your confidant
You say you know what I need but you don't know who I want

It's just another tawdry morning now
Another tarnished farewell
Your body's tired and complaining now
But you're too tore down to tell

Love is short and painful, all you kind ladies and gents
I spent years and a couple of days as the King of Confidence
I spent years and a couple of days as the King of Confidence


King Of Confidence
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byThe Costello Show
Produced byJ. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett & Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus with Larry Kalman Hirsch
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, acoustic guitar
Jerry Scheff - bass
Mitchell Froom - keyboards
Jim Keltner - drums
RecordedJuly 29, 1985, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles
ReleasedJune 28, 1995
AlbumsKing Of America (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1995
King Of America (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2005
Various Artists collectionsDoing It Right, 1996
PromosSelections From King Of America, 1995
Length2:46

First known performance:
June 22, 1985, Sydney, Australia
Last known performance:
February 14, 2023, New York, NY
     (9 known performances)


King Of America1986 King Of America Album.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2019 YouTube

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External links