Elvis Costello Mischievous Ghost Lyrics

Mischievous Ghost Lyrics

She came dancing right before my eyes 
She said she`d came to warn me 
Before it dawned on me 
I went walking on the blank hillside 
Where the sunset falls 
Where the sunset dies 
She gave me love, she told me lies 
That most mischievous ghost 
She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise. 

He started to whistle, they bought him a flute 
He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute 
He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful 
Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full 

They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight 
As he drew on their days resurrected his nights 
He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze 
"There you go," they said, "he`s good for nothing and lazy"


With scandal and shame they slandered his name 
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast 
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully 
Never [trying/dying] to be a mischievous ghost 

They dug him up quick with a polish and lick 
They powdered him up till he only looked sick 
The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause 
But his dancing was not quite as lively of course 

These are the rewards immortality affords 
Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss 
[Harrington slacks/Harrods in slacks] and tormental laments 
Of going away and not being missed 

With scandal and shame they slandered his name 
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast 
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully 
Never dying to be a mischievous ghost 

With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos 
Singing his songs of the battles we lose 
And [when/will] you come home again so we can murder you 
What would you do if they took his word 
With forty-eight million to join in the toast 
Move over my darling 
Mischievous ghost 
Mischievous ghost