Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

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Baby can you understand me now
Sometimes I feel a little mad
Don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel
When things go wrong I seem to be mad

Chorus:
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood
Baby sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
Other times it seems that all I have to do is worry
And then I know you're bound to see my other side

(Chorus)

If I get edgy I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems and I get my share
But that is one thing I would never do 'cause I love you
Oh don't you know I'm human
I've got my faults just like anyone
Sometimes I lie awake long regretting
Some foolish thing, some sinful thing I've done

(Chorus x 3)

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Written byBennie Benjamin, Sol Marcus & Gloria Caldwell
Performed byThe Costello Show
Produced byJ. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett & Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus with Larry Kalman Hirsch
MusiciansThe Little Hands Of Concrete - vocals
Michael Blair - marimba
Jerry Scheff - string bass
Jim Keltner - brushes & drums
Mitchell Froom - Hammond organ
T Bone Burnett - electric guitar
RecordedSeptember-October 1985, Ocean Way and/or Sunset Sound and/or Sound Factory, Los Angeles
ReleasedJanuary 1986
AlbumsKing Of America, 1986
SinglesDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood, 1986
CollectionsSingles, Volume 3, 2003
VideosThe Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The Videos, 2005
Length3:18

First known performance:
January 31, 1986, The Tube - broadcast date
Last known performance:
2024
     (105 known performances)


Alternate versions

Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Live 1986)
Performed byElvis Costello
Produced byDavid Vanderhayden
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
RecordedFebruary 11, 1986, New York, NY
Released1986 (promo-only release)
October 27, 2003 (commercial release)
CollectionsSingles, Volume 3, 2003
PromosDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood, 1986
Length3:21
King Of America1986 King Of America Album.jpg

Single: Don't Let Me Be MisunderstoodDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood UK 12" single front sleeve.jpg

Single: Don't Let Me Be MisunderstoodDon't Let Me Be Misunderstood US 12" promo front sleeve.jpg

Singles, Volume 3Singles Volume 3 album cover.jpg

The Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The VideosTRS dvd cover.jpg


Chords

General description:

Intro:  Bm | Em

Verse 1: Bm | A | G | F#7
         Bm | A | G | F#7

Chorus: D | Bm | Em        { the Em bar is actually 6 quarters, though this
                             is a four quarters song }

Verse 2: G A | G A | G A | D Bm   { the G is played on 3 eighths, the A on
         G A | G A | G A | F#7      5 eighths }

Bm:  7-9-9-7-7-7        
Em:  x-7-9-9-8-7
A:   5-7-7-6-5-5
G:   3-5-5-4-3-3
F#7: 2-4-2-3-5-2
D:   x-5-7-7-7-5



[Intro]
[Intro]

[Verse 1]
Baby can you understand me now
Sometimes I feel a little mad
Don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel
When things go wrong I seem to be mad 

[Chorus]
I'm just a soul who's intentions are good
Oh Lord please don't let me be misunderstood

[Intro]
[Intro]

[Verse 1]
Baby sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
When other times it seems that all I have to do is worry
And then I know you're bound to see my other side

[Chorus]

[Intro]

[Verse 2]
If I get edgy I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems and I get my share
But that is one thing that I would never do 'cause I love you

[Verse 1]
Oh don't you know I'm human
I got my faults just like anyone
Sometimes I lie awake long regreting 
Some foolish thing, some sinful thing I've done

[Chorus]

[Intro]

[Chorus]

[Intro]

[Chorus]

[Intro]
repeat (and fade...)

Internal links

External links