When I Was Cruel (No. 1)

You talk your way out of this Did someone flip your switch? Now there is only right or wrong Can you tell which is which? But it was so much easier When I was cruel Why did you leave, you had a home Why did you travel far abroad - So you could sleep with strangers? You must have heard just how absurd The words poured out of you, you fraud I guess you don't know what pain is So don't pretend you're innocent Do I look like a fool? I guess you have forgotten When I was cruel Oh when I was cruel and I could make you so unhappy Lonely cowards followed me like ghouls And you liked me too When I was cruel Oh you know you did But if you should feel anything, A signal from within Go back in your laboratory And try to dial it in But if you should feel anything, A signal from without Abandon your dreams of vengeance So don't protest your innocence The truth is hard to judge Perhaps you have forgotten when I held a grudge Oh when I was cruel and I could make you very sorry Lonely cowards followed me like ghouls And you liked me too When I was cruel Oh you know you did When I was cruel

When I Was Cruel (No. 1) Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello (& The Imposters) Produced by The Imposter: Elvis Costello, Ciaran Cahill, Leo Pearson & Kieran Lynch Horn arrangement Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Davey Faragher - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded 2001, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin Released April 8, 2002 Albums When I Was Cruel - Collectors Edition, 2002 Cruel Smile, 2002 Singles Tear Off Your Own Head (It's A Doll Revolution), 2002 Length 4:16 First known performance:  October 1, 1999, Oakland, CA Last known performance:  November 3, 2002, Clearwater, FL      (16 known performances) Alternate versions see also: When I Was Cruel No. 2

Chords

E                 B
You talk your way out of this
     E
Did someone flip your switch?
      E            B
Now there is only right or wrong
     E
Can you tell which is which?
    A   g# f#       E   C#m     
But it was so much easier
F#m           B
 When I was cruel
   
             C#m 
Why did you leave, you had a home
              G#m              A   
Why did you travel far abroad -
                           B  Bsus4 B
So you could sleep with strangers?
               C#m
You must have heard just how absurd
           G#m                         A
The words poured out of you, you fraud
                             B  Bsus4 B       
I guess you don't know what pain is
 
    A     g# f#         E
So don't pretend you're innocent
   A  g#   f#     C#m  e eb c# e eb c# e eb c#
Do I look like a fool?
   A     g#  f#         E 
I guess you have forgotten
 F#m         B
When I was cruel
 
A       g#      E                B
Oh when I was cruel and I could make you so unhappy
 A      g#     E                  B  Bsus4 B
Lonely cowards followed me like ghouls
     F#m G#m      A
And you liked me too
[tacet]             
When I was cruel
E B A
        Oh, you know you did
E B A

    E                  B    
But if you should feel anything,
   E
A signal from within
    E              B
Go back in your laboratory
      E
And try to dial it in
    E                  B
But if you should feel anything,
   E
A signal from without
C#m                       B  Bsus4 B
  Abandon your dreams of vengeance
    A     g# f#        E   
So don't protest your innocence
      A   g#  f#      C#m e eb c# e eb c# e eb c#
The truth is hard to judge
    A    g#  f#      E
Perhaps you have forgotten when
F#m         B  
 I held a grudge

A       g#      E                B
Oh when I was cruel and I could make you very sorry
 A      g#     E                  B  Bsus4 B
Lonely cowards followed me like ghouls
     F#m G#m      A
And you liked me too
[tacet]             
When I was cruel
E B A
       Oh, you know you did
E B A   E B A
                  When I was cruel
E B A   E

Internal links

• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: When I Was Cruel