My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count)

As the last light glimmers
And the evening hours dim
Maybe I'm too proud to utter it out loud
Even though my flame burns blue

As the night's descending
Once again I find I'll tarry and pretend
My confidential friend
Will suddenly appear in view

All my might
Between velvet and dynamite
Blow out the doors
Let in the light
Falling dust in the beam
And a small stifled scream

Alibis and decoys
Were his eyes so turquoise?
Covered with a lash
They flatter and they flash
Even though my flame burns blue

If I seem a stranger
I feel far from danger
We tamper and we toy
With passion over joy
Even though my flame burns blue

Even though the fire that once was desire
Doesn't look for trouble or dare to flare
Look now
And I won't be there

My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count) (Live 2004)
Written by	Billy Strayhorn & Elvis Costello
Performed by	Elvis Costello with The Metropole Orkest
Produced by	Gert-Jan van den Dolder
Arranged by	Vince Mendoza
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal Steve Nieve - piano The Metropole Orkest Vince Mendoza - conductor Marc Scholten - alto saxophone solo
Recorded	July 9, 2004, The Hague, Netherlands
Released	January 13, 2006
Albums	My Flame Burns Blue, 2006
Length	5:13

First known performance:
July 8, 2004, The Hague, Netherlands
Last known performance:
May 29, 2010, Dallas, TX
(26 known performances)

Alternate versions

My Flame Burns Blue (Blood Count) (from Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life)
Produced by	Robert Levi
Co-Produced by	George Seminara & Joshua Blum
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal Joe Lovano - tenor sax Bill Charlap - piano
Recorded	2004, Bennett Studios, Englewood, NJ
Released	January 23, 2007
Soundtracks	Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life, 2007
Length	4:45