Wave A White Flag

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Take off your shoes, hang up your wings
Stack up the chairs, roll up the rug
Savor the things that sobriety brings
Drain in the last from a jug

But when I hit the bottle, there's no tellin' what I'll do
'Cause something deep inside me wants to turn you black and blue
I can't resist you, I can't wait
To twist your loving arms 'til you capitulate

Beat me in the kitchen, and I'll beat you in the hall
There's nothing I love better than a free for all
To take your pretty neck and see which way it bends
But when it is all over we will still be friends

Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me

Oh, was it all right, or was it okay
I'll make it all up to you someday
Oh, but you didn't have to laugh that way
Oh, no, you didn't have to laugh that way

Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Gee, baby, hope you don't murder me

Wave A White Flag (Honky Tonk Demo)
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Recordedlate 1975-early 1976, Elvis' bedroom, London
ReleasedOctober 15, 1993
AlbumsMy Aim Is True (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1993
My Aim Is True (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2001
Collections2½ Years, 1993
PromosTimothy White's Rock Stars, 1989
Length1:58

Background:
 Broadcast by Charlie Gillett on his BBC Radio London programme Honky Tonk 1976-08-15.
First known performance:
November 8, 2007, San Francisco, CA (late show)
Last known performance:
February 9, 2023, New York, NY
     (34 known performances)


My Aim Is TrueMAIT UK initial album cover large.jpg

2½ Years2½ Years album cover.jpg

Covers

Bailey Dee performed live, 2011, Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago 2011 YouTube
Jason Falkner performed live, 1996-08-07, CBGB, New York 1996 jasonfalkner.free.fr
Ben Folds Five performed live, 1998-02-09, Club Rio, Tempe, Arizona 1998 etree.org
Lee Press-on & The Nails Swing Is Dead 2000 AllMusicAmazon
Lee Press-on & The Nails Playing Dirty: Live At The Derby 2001 AllMusicAmazon
Rebecca Wallace performed live (bedroom cover) 2016 YouTube

Internal links

External links