You Gotta Lose

I hope I don't seem immodest when I tell you that my Mother was a pinhead and my father was a fly That's why I love you darlin' with a love that's so unique Your glistenin' wings they complement your head's exquisite peak They all died by coin toss Love's a form of memory loss I can't forget that triple cross You gotta lose You gotta lose Not so long ago I knew a guy who thought he can't be beat But he got rabies on his rubies so he can't unlace his feet For twenty minutes yesterday felt great, felt insensate But when you're twenty minutes late your fate is patient and will wait They all died by coin toss Love's a form of memory loss I can't forget that triple cross You gotta lose You gotta lose I know it's hard for you to face the fact Max Factor failed your face And your social life's misshapen cuz you feel so out of place Those magic men you want to ask your soul to keep They only love you from a distance one man deep They all died by coin toss Love's a form of memory loss I can't forget that triple cross You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose You gotta lose

You Gotta Lose (Live 1978) Written by Richard Hell Performed by Elvis Costello with Richard Hell & The Voidoids Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Richard Hell - backing vocal Robert Quine - guitar Ivan Julian - guitar Marc Bell - drums Jerry Antonius - bass Frank Mauro - drums Recorded October 18, 1978, New York, NY Released March 19, 2002 Albums Richard Hell: Time, 2002 Length 4:06 Only known performance:  October 18, 1978, New York, NY      (1 known performance)

Recordings by other artists

Richard Hell

1976

Blank Generation EP; also on Hits Greatest Stiffs

RichardHell.com

The Heartbreakers

1992

What Goes Around  (recorded 1975)

Dim Stars

1992

Dim Stars  EP

Thee Headcoats

2003

Brother Is Dead... But Fly Is Gone!

Internal links

• Lyrics

External links

• RichardHell.com