The Big Light tab - elvis costello

From: phillip@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Phillip C. Saunders)
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 1995 00:16:18 EDT
Subject: CRD:The Big Light, Elvis Costello

The Big Light
phillip@princeton.edu
E
Well I had a little feeling to have a big night
    B
And woke up feeling small and not so brave and not quite right
         E
I had to face the who am I and where is she what did I do
             A            B            E
But worst of all I had to face the big light


Chorus
E                                           A
The big light came through my window and it opened up my eyelids
       B                                      E
And it snapped them up like roller blinds and told me things that I did
        E                             A
I can't face another day and night of good ideas and complications
        B
And I'm thankful I didn't open another bottle of inspiration

Nifty James Burton lick at end of chorus
A--2---4--5--6--|-2---4--5--6--|-2---4--5--6--|--64--2----------
E---------------|--------------|--------------|----------3b4--0--


When the hangover this morning had a personality
And I cast my shattered mind over selected memories
I didn't even touch the light switch so I knew I'd never see
The Haggard face that would be staring back at me

Chorus

Well I had a little feeling to have a big time
And I woke to alarm bells like a big church chime
I had to face the who am I and who is she what did I do
But worst of all I had to face the big light

Chorus

          E                  A
Well it's fine to go out and have a big night
              B                                E
But sooner or later you've got to face the big light

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Video The Big Light

Elvis Costello - The Big Light (Tschimmi Cash Version)
originally by Elvis Costello pictures all stolen from google picture search

Johnny Cash The Big Light
Johnny Cash singing The Big Light by Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello - Alison - Malvasio
My friend petitchatnoir has been bugging me to do a version of this wonderful song from Elvis Costello's equally wonderful album My Aim is True. Without great risk to my personal health I can't sing this in the key I used to so I had to go low and Malvasionize. Alison Oh it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl. And with the way you look I understand that you were not impressed. But I heard you let that little friend of mine take off your party dress. I'm not going to get too sentimental like those other sticky valentines, 'cause I don't know if you are loving some body. I only know it isn't mine. Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true. Well I see you've got a husband now. Did he leave your pretty fingers lying in the wedding cake? You used to hold him right in your hand. Bet he took all he could take. Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say. I think somebody better put out the big light, 'cause I can't stand to see you this way. Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true. My aim is true.

Alison by Elvis Costello
Alison by Elvis Costello as heard on One Tree Hill Season 6 Episode 5 entitled "You've Dug Your Own Grave, Now Lie In It" Lyrics: Oh it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl. And with the way you look I understand that you were not impressed. But I heard you let that little friend of mine take off your party dress. I'm not going to get too sentimental like those other sticky valentines, 'cause I don't know if you are loving some body. I only know it isn't mine. Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true. Well I see you've got a husband now. Did he leave your pretty fingers lying in the wedding cake? You used to hold him right in your hand. Bet he took all he could take. Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say. I think somebody better put out the big light, 'cause I can't stand to see you this way. Alison, I know this world is killing you. Oh, Alison, my aim is true. My aim is true.

Green Shirt - Elvis Costello
Video for "Green Shirt" from the "Armed Forces" album. High quality sound. This is off of a VHS tape from 1985 called "The Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions". The 'video' is a montage of scenes pirated from other Elvis videos. The only original feature are the squiggly, 80's-style cartoons and captions in the frame. Which are lovely. Enjoy! There's a smart young woman on a light blue screen Who comes into my house every night. She takes all the red, yellow, orange and green And she turns them into black and white. But you tease, and you flirt, And you shine all the buttons on your green shirt. You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it Better cut off all identifying labels Before they put you on the torture table 'Cause somewhere in the "Quisling Clinic" There's a shorthand typist taking seconds over minutes. She's listening in to the Venus line She's picking out names I hope none of them are mine. But you tease, and you flirt... Never said I was a stool pigeon I never said I was a diplomat Everybody is under suspicion But you don't wanna hear about that 'Cause you tease, and you flirt... Better send a begging letter to the big investigation Who put these fingerprints on my imagination? You tease, and you flirt... You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it. You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it.