Mischievous Ghost

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She came dancing right before my eyes
She said she came to warn me
Before it dawned on me
I went walking on the blank hillside
Where the sunset falls
Where the sunset dies
She gave me love, she told me lies
That most mischievous ghost
She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise

He started to whistle, they bought him a flute
He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute
He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful
Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full

They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight
As he drew on their days, resurrected his nights
He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze
"There you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy"

With scandal and shame, they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never dying to be a mischievous ghost

They dug him up quick with a polish and lick
They powdered him up till he only looked sick
The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause
But his dancing was not quite as lively of course

These are the rewards immortality affords
Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss
Parroting slack sentimental laments
Of going away and not being missed

With scandal and shame, they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never dying to be a mischievous ghost

With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos
Singing his songs of the battles we lose
And "Will ye come home again", so we can murder you
What would you do if they took his word
With forty-eight million to join in the toast
Move over my darling mischievous ghost
Mischievous ghost

Mischievous Ghost
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello with Mary Coughlan
Produced byDónal Lunny
String arrangementFiachra Trench
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, 12-string guitar
Mary Coughlan - vocals
Dónal Lunny - bodhran
Davy Spillane - Uilleann pipes
Michael Healy - violin
Fionnuala Sherry - violin
Padraig O'Connor - viola
Elizabeth Csibi - viola
David James - cello
Rosemary Elliott - cello
RecordedApril 12, 1990, Ringsend Studios, Dublin
ReleasedMay 1991
AlbumsMighty Like A Rose (Rhino reissue), 2002
SoundtracksBringing It All Back Home, 1991
PromosSelections From Armed Forces - Imperial Bedroom - Mighty Like A Rose, 2002
Length5:43

First known performance:
     (0 known performances)


Bringing It All Back HomeBringing It All Back Home album cover.jpg

Mighty Like A RoseMLAR album cover large.jpg

Covers

Erich Sellheim home studio production, sung in German 2020 YouTube

Internal links

External links