Music Video

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Vocals
The Little Hand Of Concrete
The Little Hand Of Concrete
Acoustic Guitar
Mickey Curry
Mickey Curry
Drums
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Bass Guitar
T-Bone Wolk
T-Bone Wolk
Accordion
MITCHELL FROOM
MITCHELL FROOM
Hammond Organ
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Declan Patrick MacManus
Declan Patrick MacManus
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
J. Henry Burnett
J. Henry Burnett
Producer
Declan Macmanus
Declan Macmanus
Producer
Larry Kalman Hirsch
Larry Kalman Hirsch
Producer
David Miner
David Miner
Associate Producer
William Jackson
William Jackson
Assistant Recording Engineer
David Dominguez Alhert
David Dominguez Alhert
Assistant Recording Engineer

Lyrics

He thought he was the king of America
Where they pour Coca-Cola just like vintage wine
Now, I try hard not to become hysterical
But, I'm not sure if I am laughin' or cryin'
I wish that I could push a button
And, talk in the past, and not the present tense
And, watch this hurting feeling
Disappear like it was common sense
It was a fine idea at the time
Now, it's a brilliant mistake
She said that she was workin' for the ABC News
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable, it lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter, her mementos of affairs
"Oh" I said "I see you know him
Isn't that very fortunate for you?"
She showed me his callin' card
He came third or fourth, and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at this time
Now he's a brilliant mistake
He thought he was the king of America
But, it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
The words of love in whispers, and the acts of love in screams
I wish that I could push a button
And, talk in the past and not the present-tense
And, watch this lovin' feeling
Disappear like it was common sense
I was a fine idea at the time
Now, I'm a brilliant mistake (Now, I'm a brilliant mistake)
I was a fine idea at the time
Now, I'm a brilliant mistake (Now, I'm a brilliant mistake)
Written by: Declan Patrick MacManus
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