Mystery Dance

Lyrics - Credits - Discography - Covers - Bootlegs - Chords

Lyrics Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill He jumped out the window 'cause he couldn't sit still Juliet was waiting with a safety net He said "Don't bury me 'cause I'm not dead yet" Chorus: Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance I wanna know about the mystery dance Why don't you show me 'cause I've tried and I've tried, and I'm still mystified I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied Well I remember when the lights went out And I was tryin' to make it look like it was never in doubt She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew, So both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it (chorus) Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night, Tryin' to discover my left foot from my right You can see those pictures in any magazine But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean (chorus) I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied (repeats) Alternate Lyrics alternate lyrics from Mystery Dance Honky Tonk demo: I'm gonna walk right up to heaven dodging lightning and rods I'm gonna have this very personal conversation with God I'll say "You've got the information why don't you say so?" He'll say "Well I've been around and I still don't know"

Credits Written by: Elvis Costello Produced by: Nick Lowe Musicians: Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar, piano, drumsticks The Shamrocks (a.k.a. Clover): John McFee - guitar, pedal steel Sean Hopper - piano, organ, backing vocals Johnny Ciambotti - bass, backing vocals Mickey Shine - drums Nick Lowe - backing vocals, bass, piano, drumsticks Discography Albums: My Aim Is True, 1977 Viva England, 1982 My Aim Is True (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 (sudden stop ending) My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001 This section may be incomplete. Singles: (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, 1977 Mystery Dance, 1977 (Belgium) Collections: Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (CD and cassette versions only; sudden stop ending) 2½ Years, 1993 (sudden stop ending) Singles, Vol 1, 2003 This section may be incomplete. Alternate Versions: Mystery Dance (Honky Tonk demo) - recorded in Elvis' bedroom ca. late 1975 My Aim Is True (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001 Mystery Dance (live at the Nashville Rooms, London 1977-08-07) Watching The Detectives, 1977 Singles, Vol. 1, 2003 Mystery Dance (live at the El Mocambo, Toronto 1978-03-06) Live At The El Mocambo, 1978 (Canadian promo) Live At The El Mocambo, Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 2½ Years, 1993 Mystery Dance (live at Hollywood High School, Hollywood, CA 1978-06-04) Armed Forces (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002 Soundtracks: Zero Effect, 1998 Various Artists collections: Heroes And Cowards, 1978 (Italy) No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion, 2003 Covers Recorded by: none This section may be incomplete. Performed by: none This section may be incomplete. Bootlegs This section is incomplete.

Chords

F5  G5                                      
   Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill.
F5   G5                                                
 He jumped out the window 'cause he couldn't sit still.
F5 G5
  Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
F5        G5
He said, "Don't bury me, 'cause I'm not dead yet."

                                 C
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance.
                        G
I wanna know about the mystery dance.

Why don't you show me,
              D                            C
'Cause I've tried and I've tried and I'm still mystified.
                                          
I can't do it anymore, and I'm not satisfied.
e||------------------------------------------||
B||------------------------------------------||
G||------------------------------------------||
D||------5-5--5-5-5----3--------3---3----5---||
A||------------------------5-----------------||
E||------------------------------------------||

Well, I remember when the lights went out
And I was try'n' to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
So both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it.

Well, I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
Trying to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine,
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean?

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: My Aim Is True | lyrics | chords | MAIT info page | Viva England info page | Rykodisc/Demon MAIT reissue info page | Rhino MAIT reissue info page
• Elvis Costello Home Page: (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes single info page | Watching The Detectives single info page | Mystery Dance Belgian single info page
• Template:Mystery Dance
• Template:Mystery Dance (Honky Tonk)

External links

• Elvis Costello on Rhino My Aim Is True reissue page