American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version)

December 1965 in Caracas
When Arnie LaFlamme took his piece of the pie
When he packed up the casino chips, the IOU and the abacus
And switched off the jukebox in a "A Fool Such As I"

He was a leg man who was open to offers
But he couldn't get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office
And as he entertained himself singing just like Sammy Davis Junior
He toyed with a trip to Miami

For money like that
He could have sweet talk in your ear
Now they don't speak any English
Just American without tears

It was an idea that he dandled on his knee
And nursed it like his coffee cup
When he couldn't find any other way
It always seemed to come to him while the day was dipping down
And the sun was like a light bulb being swallowed by a clown

He took her for everything
He took her for his only one
He took her out of Coventry and over to Idaho
But the war wound that he carried home wasn't really visible
When the bullets were forgotten
She looked dowdy, down, and miserable

And she seemed to be crying for year after year
And said, "You don't speak any English
Just American between tears."

"Arnie" she said to me, "Will you turn down the radio?
You haven't slept a wink since we came to Havana
When're you gonna get the strength to go over to Florida?
All you ever listen to is 'The Voice of America'"

It was a story of a young English poppet
Who took up with a soldier boy
And thought she would profit
Just like me she found out what true love is about
Anyway she's in New Orleans, it would never work out

Oh she seemed to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American between tears
Just American without tears

For you seem to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American without tears
Just American without tears

American Without Tears No. 2 (Twilight Version)
Written by	Declan MacManus
Performed by	Elvis Costello
Produced by	Napoleon Dynamite ("a Napoleon Dynamite production")
Recorded and mixed by	Colin Fairley
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocals, guitars, bass, piano, celesta, organ, harmonica, marimba, timbale
Recorded	January 1987, Eden Studios, London
Released	January 1987
Albums	Blood & Chocolate (Rykodisc/Demon edition), 1995 Blood & Chocolate (Rhino/Edsel edition), 2002
Singles	Blue Chair, 1987
Collections	Out Of Our Idiot, 1987 Singles, Volume 3, 2003
Length	3:32