Elvis Costello – Brilliant Mistake (Guitar)

   G                           D
He thought he was the King of America

      C                             G       D
Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine

    G                          D
Now I try hard not to become hysterical

            C                        G  D
But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying

  C
I wish that I could push a button

C                                F         C
And talk in the past and not the  present tense

            F         Em
Like it was  common sense

G          F      G          F
  It was a fine idea at the time

G            Em C D
  Now it's a brilliant mistake

    G                                 D
She said that she was working for the ABC News

          C                       G               D
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use

    G                           D
Her perfume was unspeakable, it lingered in the air

         C                            G            D
Like her artificial laughter like her mementos of affairs

 C
"Oh" I said "I see you know him"

C                  F                 C
  "Isn't that very fortunate for you"

                                      F                 Em
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two

G          F     G          F
  He was a fine idea at the time

G            Em  C  D
  Now he's a brilliant mistake

   G                           D
He thought he was the King of America

    C                          G      D
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams

  G                                   D
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals

    C
The words of love in whispers

        G              D
And the axe of love in screams

  C
I wish that I could push a button

C                               F          C
And talk in the past and not the present tense

            F         Em
Like it was  common sense

G         F     G          F
  I was a fine idea at the time

G           Em C D
  Now I'm a brilliant mistake