Brilliant Mistake

Lyrics - Credits - Discography - Covers - Bootlegs - Chords

Lyrics He thought he was the King of America Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine Now I try hard not to become hysterical But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying I wish that I could push a button And talk in the past and not the present tense And watch this hurtin' feeling disappear Like it was common sense It was a fine idea at the time Now it's a brilliant mistake She said that she was working for the ABC News It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use Her perfume was unspeakable It lingered in the air Like her artificial laughter Her mementos of affairs "Oh" I said "I see you know him" "Isn't that very fortunate for you" And she showed me his calling card He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two He was a fine idea at the time Now he's a brilliant mistake He thought he was the King of America But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals The words of love in whispers And the axe of love in screams I wish that I could push a button And talk in the past and not the present tense And watch this lovin' feeling disappear Like it was common sense I was a fine idea at the time Now I'm a brilliant mistake

Credits Written by: D.P.A. MacManus Produced by: J. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett and Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus with Larry Kalman Hirsch Musicians: The Little Hands Of Concrete - vocals, acoustic guitar Mickey Curry - brushes & drums Jerry Scheff - string bass T-Bone Wolk - electric guitar, piano accordion Mitchell Froom - Hammond organ, harpsichord Discography Albums: King Of America, 1986 King Of America (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1995 King Of America (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2005 This section may be incomplete. Singles: This section may be incomplete. Collections: Album Name, Year This section may be incomplete. Soundtracks: none Various Artists collections: none Covers Recorded by: Stuart Davis, on Davis Does Elvis, 2004 Nevermore, 1992 Swan Arcade, on Diving For Pearls, 1986 Performed by: Mitch Elrod, Brilliant Mistakes Tribute, 2002, Albany Rhett Miller, KEXP, 2002-12-09, Seattle Mr. Blotto, 2004-08-14, Chicago Naked Trucker & T-Bones, Knitting Factory tribute, 2003-03-27 Oliver's Army, (Costello tribute band, Dallas) Yoko Moment, Tonic Ball 2, 2003-11-21, Indianapolis Bootlegs This section is incomplete.

Chords

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G  F  G  F  G  F  G  F

   G                           D
He thought he was the King of America
      C                             G       D
Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine
    G                           D
Now I try hard not to become hysterical
            C                        G  D
But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying
  C
I wish that I could push a button
                                F        C
And talk in the past and not the present tense

And watch this hurtin' feeling disappear
            F      C    Em
Like it was common sense
G         F     G          F
 It was a fine idea at the time
G           Em  C D G C
 Now it's a brilliant mistake

G, C, G, C, Em, Am, G, C


She said that she was working for the ABC News
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable
It lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter
Her mementos of affairs
"Oh" I said "I see you know him"
"Isn't that very fortunate for you"
And she showed me his calling card
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at the time
Now he's a brilliant mistake

He thought he was the King of America
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
The words of love in whispers
And the axe of love in screams
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this lovin' feeling disappear
Like it was common sense
I was a fine idea at the time
Now I'm a brilliant mistake

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: King Of America | lyrics | chords | KOA info page 1
• Template:Brilliant Mistake

External links

• Elvis Costello on Rhino King Of America resissue page