Song Lyrics Collection

Brilliant Mistake

Elvis Costello
1986-02-013:24 minSynced lyrics

"Brilliant Mistake" is a song by Elvis Costello, released in 1986 in the Pop genre. The song is 3:24 long and contains 32 lines and 259 words.

Lyrics

0:11He thought he was the King of America
0:16Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine
0:21Now I try hard not to become hysterical
0:25But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying
0:31I wish that I could push a button
0:33And talk in the past and not the present tense
0:41And watch this hurtin' feeling
0:44Disappear like it was common sense
0:52It was a fine idea at the time
0:57Now it's a brilliant mistake
1:16She said that she was working for the ABC News
1:21It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
1:27Her perfume was unspeakable it lingered in the air
1:31Like her artificial laughter her mementos of affairs
1:37"Oh" I said "I see you know him
1:40Isn't that very fortunate for you "
1:47And she showed me his calling card
1:50He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two
1:57He was a fine idea at this time
2:02Now he's a brilliant mistake
2:22He thought he was the King of America
2:28But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
2:33A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
2:38The words of love in whispers and the acts of love in screams
2:43I wish that I could push a button
2:46And talk in the past and not the present tense
2:54And watch this lovin' feeling
2:56Disappear like it was common sense
3:04I was a fine idea at the time
3:09Now I'm a brilliant mistake
3:19I was a fine idea at the time
3:24Now I'm a brilliant mistake
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 laughing or crying
I wish that I could push a button
And talk in the past and not the present tense
And watch this hurtin' 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 working 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 "
And she showed me his calling 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
I was a fine idea at the time
Now I'm a brilliant mistake

Translation

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