Costello, Elvis - Pretty Words Lyrics






I ask you nicely
Get my face slapped under wraps
What's going on precisely
Is there something wrong perhaps?

Surprise, surprise (surprise, surprise)
It's more like a booby trap than a booby prize

Civil disobedience from a soldier with a dirty rifle
You're loosening all the screws that hold the hinges of my life

Fat cats and army brats
Hep cats and dog tags pawing over girly mags

[Chorus:]
Pretty words don't mean much anymore
I don't mean to be mean much anymore
All I see are snapshots, big shots, tender spots
(1) mug shots, machine slots
(2) machine slots, mug shots
Till you don't know what's what
You don't know what you got

Curious women running after curious men
Curiosity didn't kill the cat
It was a poisoned pen
But there's not much choice (it's Hobson's choice)
Between a cruel mouth and a jealous voice

Got back to London
Picked a paper from the mat
No words of consolation
Just cartoons and chitter chatter
Well well, fancy that
Millions murdered for a kiss me quick hat
No backbone, blood and guts
Better keep your big mouth shut

[Chorus]





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Costello, Elvis Pretty Words Comments
  1. J.... c....

    I don’t mean to be mean much anymore...

  2. G.... ....

    More like a booby trap than a booby prize.

  3. P.... C....

    A bunch of the songs on Trust - Pretty Words, Clubland, Watch Your Step, White Knuckles, New Lace Sleeves, and a bunch from Get Happy - New Amsterdam, Possession, High Fidelity, Clowntime Is Over, Riot Act, are his very best, for my money.

    P.... C....

    I agree all those are top notch Elvis,but so are Shabby Doll,Man Out Of Time,Beyond Belief from IB.

    P.... C....

    All those mentioned and more. Lipstick Vogue. Charm School. Shipbuilding. The man was a hit engine non-pareil and in no small part to his incredibly versatile three piece. I mean their range is just ridiculous. Quite a shame about the acrimony with BT.

  4. J.... H....

    The bass guitar work by Bruce Thomas on this song is just incredible.

  5. Y.... E....

    I AGREE WITH ALL THE COMMENTS BELOW. A beautiful, beautiful melody; wistfully sung.

    Y.... E....

    Yes and Pretty Words Don't Mean Much Anymore... means a helluva lot more than in 1981!

  6. E.... W....

    The bass and the way it is foregrounded in the whole production is amazing on this whole album.

  7. M.... L....

    This video is seriously lacking in views, it makes me so sad to see how overlooked Elvis is

  8. B.... D....

    over looked beauty of a composition.

  9. C.... B....

    this song is truly an overlooked masterpiece. I've loved it since I first bought the record in 81. What a melody and chord progression. And the lyrics. Cold yet touching and still absurdly clever.

  10. l.... ....

    Another great melody from a genius!