That's How You Got Killed Before

Lyrics

Well, you're standing on the corner flagging all the girls you see

Now do like EC and let those ladies be

You know that's wrong, man, you know that's wrong

Boy, you better get control -- that's how you got killed before

That girl you just met who got a big guy for a pal

Who'll put knots on your head for messing with his gal

So take it steady, man, let those women go

Well, I'm just trying to tell you -- that's how you got killed before

Now, you wouldn't listen, Ephrom, you got two black eyes

That's what you get, Daddy, for messing with men's wives

So take it steady, whoa, let those women go

Well, I'm just trying to tell you -- that's how you got killed before

My Flame Burns Blue version

Well, you're standing on the corner flagging all the girls you see

Now do like I say and let those ladies be

You know that's wrong, man, you know that's wrong

I'm just trying to tell you -- that's how you got killed before

That girl you meddled got a big guy for a pal

He'll put knots on your head for messing with his gal

So take it easy, man, you'd better take it slow

Well, I'm just trying to tell you -- that's how you got killed before

Now, you wouldn't listen to me, you got two black eyes

That's what you get, man, for messing with men's wives

So take it easy, whoa, let those women go

I'm just trying to tell you -- that's how you got killed before

Credits

• Written by: Dave Bartholomew
• Produced by: Scott Billington
• Musicians:

The Dirty Dozen Brass Band

Gregory Davis - trumpet

Efrem Towns - trumpet

Kevin Harris - tenor saxophone

Roger Lewis - baritone saxophone

Charles Joseph - trombone

Kirk Joseph - Sousaphone

Jenell Marshall - drums, percussion

Elvis Costello - vocals

Danny Barker - guitar

Discography

Albums:

• The Dirty Dozen Brass Band - The New Orleans Album, 1990
• Kojak Variety (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2004
• My Flame Burns Blue, Deutsche Grammophon, 2006

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• King Of America (reissue), live, Rykodisc
• King Of America (Deluxe Edition), live, Rhino/Edsel

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• This section is incomplete.

Performed by:

• This section is incomplete.

Bootlegs

• Do The Rumba
• Enchanted From Memories
• Red Shoes
• Plugging The Gaps, Vol. 2
• This section may be incomplete.