Poor Fractured Atlas

He's out in the woods with his squirrel gun To try to recapture his anger He's screaming some words at the top of his lungs Until he begins to feel younger But back at his desk in the city we find Our trembling punch-drunken fighter Who can't find the strength now to punish the length Of the ribbon in his little typewriter (Chorus:) Poor Fractured Atlas Threw himself across the mattress Waving his withering pencil As if it were a pirate's cutlass I'm almost certain he's trying to increase his burden He said "That's how the child in me planned it; A woman wouldn't understand it" I believe there was something that I wanted to say Before I conclude this epistle But you would forgive me for holding my tongue 'Cause man made the blade and the pistol Yes man made the waterfall over the dam To temper his tantrum with magic Now you can't be sure of that tent of azure Since he punched a hole in the fabric (Repeat Chorus) A woman wouldn't understand it A woman wouldn't understand it

Poor Fractured Atlas Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Produced by Geoff Emerick & Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - grand piano Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded August-September 1995, Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin, and/or February 1996, Westside Studios, London Released May 13, 1996 Albums All This Useless Beauty, 1996 Collections Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997 Length 3:57 First known performance:  November 11, 1994, London, England Last known performance:  November 19, 1999, Oxford, England      (73 known performances) Alternate versions Poor Fractured Atlas (Live 1996) Performed by Costello & Nieve Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - piano Recorded May 14, 1996, Los Angeles, CA Released December 3, 1996 Albums Costello & Nieve, 1996 Promos Live At The Troubadour, Los Angeles, 1996 Length 4:58

Chords

Poor Fractured Atlas

F#dim		x.x.1.2.1.2 or 2.x.1.2.1.2

D	D	D	D	/	Dm	Dm	Dm	Dm

D
He's out in the woods with his squirrel gun
Dm
To try and recapture his anger
    G
He's screaming some words at the top of his lungs
 Em                      A
Until he begins to feel younger
   F#dim                    Em
But back at his desk in the city we find
   F#dim                    Em
Our trembling punch-drunken fighter
     B7              Em             B7         Em
Who can't find the strength now to punish the length
        G                        A
Of the ribbon in his little typewriter

*
	G           A
	   Poor fractured Atlas 
	A                 D
	   Threw himself across the mattress
	G              A
	   Waving his withering pencil
	A                   D
	   As if it were a pirate's cutlass
	Dm             C       G         
	   I'm almost certain
	Bb        A          D
	   He's trying to increase his burden
	Em           B7             Em            A
	   He said "That's how the child in me planned it,
	      A7             D     A       C  G  Bb  A...
	   A woman wouldn't understand it"

I believe there was something that I wanted to say
Before I conclude this epistle
But you would forgive me for holding my tongue
'Cause Man made the blade and the pistol
Yes, Man made the waterfall over the dam
To temper his tantrum with magic
Now you can't be sure of that tent of azure
Since he punched a hole in the fabric

(*)
to end (x2):

D A D    A7             D     A       C  G  Bb  A  D A D...
     A woman wouldn't understand it

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: All This Useless Beauty  •  lyrics  •  chords  •  ATUB info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: All This Useless Beauty