Sulky Girl

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She wears a wedding ring her sister lent
To throw them off the scent
Just let them guess, it's what they expect
Who in the world has bitten her neck
She's discovered wearing last night's dress
The carnal and cunning, she couldn't express
"Who do you think she's trying to impress?"

(Chorus:)
I think you'd better hold your tongue
Although you've never been that strong
I'm sorry to say that I knew all along
You're no match for that sulky girl

She left her European town
Before she let the family down
She couldn't stand the Massacre Game
So she dyed her hair, adopted another name
With the evidence of passing out
Stamped on her hand
She glows in the dark
He thinks she's from another planet
So...

(Repeat Chorus)

Sulky girl, I'm sure you look a picture when you cry
Threatening the silent treatment doesn't qualify
It's like money in the bank
Your expression is blank
But when the chance appears
You'll be nearer to tears
Sulky girl, sulky girl

He said "Hello, my pretty flower"
Just trying out his tycoon power
Avoiding the mirror
Her pitying stare
She said "You're mistaken, your money's no good in here"
Just some stupid little know-it-all
Who thought she looked easy
He's not that astute
He'll pay for the distance
Between cruelty and beauty

(Repeat Chorus)

I won't tell you again
What do you gain
By blackening her name
She's smarter than you
Oh isn't it a shame
You're gonna lose that sulky girl

Sulky girl, I saw you practising your blackmail faces
Suddenly you're talking like a duchess
But you're still a waitress
I saw through your pretence
But in my defence
There are a few events
I think we'll spare the censor
Sulky girl, sulky girl
Sulky girl, sulky girl

Sulky Girl
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byMitchell Froom & Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Pete Thomas - drums
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Recorded1993, Olympic Studios, London
ReleasedFebruary 21, 1994
AlbumsBrutal Youth, 1994
SinglesSulky Girl, 1994
CollectionsExtreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997
The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999
Various Artists collectionsThe Awards 1995, 1995
PromosWarner Music United Kingdom New Releases, 1994
Words And Music, 1994
Malice And Magic (Japan), 1994
Heck On Wheels Vol. 4, 1994
Sulky Girl, 1994
Discoveries 8, 199_
Selections From This Year's Model - Blood & Chocolate - Brutal Youth, 2002
VideosThe Right Spectacle: The Very Best Of Elvis Costello - The Videos, 2005
Length5:01 (album version)
3:19 (single version)

First known performance:
April 20, 1994, Kevin Greening radio show
Last known performance:
November 3, 2018, Atlantic City, NJ
     (120 known performances)


Alternate versions

Sulky Girl (Demo)
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Recorded1992-1993, Elvis' home
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
AlbumsBrutal Youth (Rhino reissue), 2002
Length4:29
Brutal YouthBY album cover large.jpg

Sulky Girl singleSulky Girl UK CD single front insert.jpg

Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. YearsEH album cover 500.jpg

The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999The Very Best Of Elvis Costello (2CD) album cover.jpg

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

Covers

Wendy Ip performed live, 2002-08-10, Brilliant Mistakes Tribute, Albany, NY 2002 info
Radio Costello performed live, 2023-10-01, The Rhodehouse, Sutton Coldfield, England 2023 FaceBook

Internal links

External links