Can She Excuse My Wrongs

Can she excuse my wrongs with Virtue's cloak? Shall I call her good when she proves unkind? Are those clear fires which vanish into smoke? Must I praise the leaves where no fruit I find? No, no, where shadows do for bodies stand Thou may'st be abus'd if thy sight be dimmed Cold love is like to words written on sand Or to bubbles which on the water swim Wilt thou be thus abused still Seeing that she will right thee never? If thou cans't not o'ercome her will Thy love will be thus fruitless ever Wilt thou be thus abused still Seeing that she will right thee never? If thou cans't not o'ercome her will Thy love will be thus fruitless ever Was I so base, that I might not aspire Unto those high joys which she holds from me? As they are high, so high is my desire If she this deny, what can granted be? If she will yield to that which Reason is It is Reason's will that Love should be just Dear, make me happy still by granting this Or cut off delays if that I die must Better a thousand times to die Than for to live thus still tormented Dear, but remember it was I Who for thy sake did die contented Better a thousand times to die Than for to live thus still tormented Dear, but remember it was I Who for thy sake did die contented

Can She Excuse My Wrongs (Live 1995) Written by John Dowland Performed by Elvis Costello, Fretwork & Composers Ensemble Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal Fretwork Composers Ensemble Recorded July 1, 1995, London, England Released March 21, 2006 Albums The Juliet Letters (Rhino reissue), 2006 Length 4:03 First known performance:  July 1, 1995, London, England Last known performance:  October 27, 1996, London, England      (2 known performances)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: The Juliet Letters | lyrics | TJL info page 1
• Lyrics

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: The Juliet Letters