Less Than Zero

Calling Mister Oswald with the swastika tattoo, There is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo, Carving V for vandal on the guilty boy's head. When he's had enough of that maybe you'll take him to bed To teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead. Chorus Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect, Even your mother won't detect it, So your father won't know. They think that I've got no respect But everything means less than zero. Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey. Oswald and his sister are doing it again. They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen. They've got a thousand variations: every service with a smile. They're gonna take a little break, and they'll be back after a while. Well I hear that South America is coming into style. Chorus A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor. Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law. He said he heard about a couple living in the USA. He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet. Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away. Chorus

Less Than Zero Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Nick Lowe Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar John McFee - guitar Sean Hopper - keyboards Johnny Ciambotti - bass Mickey Shine - drums Stan Shaw - organ Recorded late 1976-early 1977, Pathway Studios, London Released March 25, 1977 Albums My Aim Is True, 1977 Viva England, 1982 (Spain) Singles Less Than Zero, 1977 Alison, 1978 (Germany) Less Than Zero, 1985 (12" single) Collections Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (CD only) 2½ Years, 1993 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 Various Artists collections A Bunch Of Stiff Records, 1977 Heroes & Cowards, 1978 The Stiff Records Box Set, 1992 Unusual Sounds For Levi's® Selected By Tahiti 80, 2005 Promos 4 Track Sampler From My Aim Is True, 1977 Our Aim Is True, 1978 Note The original Less Than Zero single (with "LYN-7473" etched in the runoff groove) and A Bunch Of Stiff Records have an alternate mix with a more prominent organ part. First known performance:  July 21, 1977, Manchester, England      (290 known performances, 1 as a snippet) Alternate versions Less Than Zero (Live 1977) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded August 7, 1977, London, England Released September 11, 2007 Albums My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007 Length 3:27 Less Than Zero / Radio, Radio (Live 1977) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded December 17, 1977, Saturday Night Live Released September 21, 1999 Albums Saturday Night Live: The Musical Performances Volume 1, 1999 Videos Saturday Night Live: The Complete Third Season, 2008 Length 3:05 see also: Less Than Zero (Dallas Version)

Chords

tabbed by phillip@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Phillip Charles Saunders)

|F Bb C|  F C|F Bb C|  F C|
 
F              Bb              C            F
Calling Mister Oswald with the swastika tattoo,
      C     F        Bb           C           F
There is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo,
C      Bb                      Gm
Carving "V" for vandal on the guilty boy's head.
          Bb                               Gm
When he's had enough of that, maybe you'll take him to bed
    C              Dm/F    C                    Dm/F C
To teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead.
 
|C   FC|  -  |
 
 
Bb                       F
Turn up the T.V. No one list'ning will suspect.
           Bb                              F
Even your mother won't detect it, so your father won't know.
Bb                      F
They think that I've got no respect,
   Ebm                F
But ev'rything means less than zero.
     Bb    F  C  F
Hey,  ooh hey,
C  F Bb    F  C
Hey,  ooh hey.

Translation

• Less Than Zero (français)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: My Aim Is True  •  lyrics  •  chords  •  MAIT info page  •  Viva England  •  Rykodisc/Demon MAIT reissue  •  Rhino/Edsel MAIT reissue
• Elvis Costello Home Page: Less Than Zero single  •  Alison German single
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: My Aim Is True