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| |release_info = July 7, 1977 | | |release_info = July 7, 1977 |
| |albums = [[My Aim Is True]], 1977<br>[[Viva England]], 1982 (Spain) | | |albums = [[My Aim Is True]], 1977<br>[[Viva England]], 1982 (Spain) |
| |singles = [[Single: (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes|(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes]], 1977<br>[[Single: Mystery Dance|Mystery Dance]], 1977 (Belgium) | | |singles = [[(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes (single)|(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes]], 1977<br>[[Mystery Dance (single)|Mystery Dance]], 1977 (Belgium) |
| |collections = [[Stiff Box Set No. 2]], 1981<br>[[Girls Girls Girls]], 1989 (CD/cassette only)<br>[[2½ Years]], 1993<br>[[Singles, Volume 1]], 2003 | | |collections = [[Stiff Box Set No. 2]], 1981<br>[[Girls Girls Girls]], 1989 (CD/cassette only)<br>[[2½ Years]], 1993<br>[[Singles, Volume 1]], 2003 |
| |soundtracks = [[Zero Effect: Music From The Motion Picture|Zero Effect]], 1998 | | |soundtracks = [[Zero Effect: Music From The Motion Picture|Zero Effect]], 1998 |
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| {{song notes | | {{song notes |
| |first = [[Concert 1977-05-27 London|May 27, 1977, London, England]] | | |first = [[Concert 1977-05-27 London|May 27, 1977, London, England]] |
| |last = {{2023}} | | |last = {{2024}} |
| }}{{song quote | | }}{{song quote |
| | quote = | | | quote = |
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| |release_info = October 14, 1977 | | |release_info = October 14, 1977 |
| |albums = [[My Aim Is True (2007 Hip-O deluxe edition)|My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition]], 2007 | | |albums = [[My Aim Is True (2007 Hip-O deluxe edition)|My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition]], 2007 |
| |singles = [[Single: Watching The Detectives|Watching The Detectives]], 1977 | | |singles = [[Watching The Detectives (single)|Watching The Detectives]], 1977 |
| |collections = [[Stiff Box Set No. 2]], 1981<br>[[Singles, Volume 1]], 2003 | | |collections = [[Stiff Box Set No. 2]], 1981<br>[[Singles, Volume 1]], 2003 |
| |length = 3:34 | | |length = 3:34 |
Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill
He jumped out the window 'cause he couldn't sit still
Juliet was waiting with a safety net
He said "Don't bury me 'cause I'm not dead yet"
Chorus:
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance
I wanna know about the mystery dance
Why don't you show me 'cause I've tried and I've tried,
and I'm still mystified
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied
Well I remember when the lights went out
And I was tryin' to make it look like it was never in doubt
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
So both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it
(chorus)
Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
Tryin' to discover my left foot from my right
You can see those pictures in any magazine
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean
(chorus)
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied
(repeats)
Alternate lyrics
Additional fourth verse from Honky Tonk demo:
I'm gonna walk right up to heaven dodging lightning and rods
I'm gonna have this very personal conversation with God
I'll say "You've got the information why don't you say so?"
He'll say "Well I've been around and I still don't know"
|
Mystery Dance |
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Written by | Elvis Costello |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello |
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Produced by | Nick Lowe |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar, piano, drumsticks John McFee - guitar Nick Lowe - bass, piano, drumsticks Mickey Shine - drums |
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Recorded | September 17, 1976, Pathway Studios, London |
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Released | July 7, 1977 |
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Albums | My Aim Is True, 1977 Viva England, 1982 (Spain) |
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Singles | (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, 1977 Mystery Dance, 1977 (Belgium) |
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Collections | Stiff Box Set No. 2, 1981 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (CD/cassette only) 2½ Years, 1993 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 |
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Soundtracks | Zero Effect, 1998 |
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Various Artists collections | Heroes & Cowards, 1978 (Italy) No Thanks! The '70s Punk Rebellion, 2003 |
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Promos | UK Elvis Costello (2006), 2006 |
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Videos | The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook, 2011 |
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Length | 1:36 |
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Note | Most releases have a fadeout ending, but others end with a sudden stop, including Girls Girls Girls, My Aim Is True (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), and 2½ Years. |
Alternate versions
Mystery Dance (Live 1977) |
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Performed by | Elvis Costello & The Attractions |
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Musicians | Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums |
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Recorded | August 7, 1977, London, England |
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Released | October 14, 1977 |
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Albums | My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007 |
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Singles | Watching The Detectives, 1977 |
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Collections | Stiff Box Set No. 2, 1981 Singles, Volume 1, 2003 |
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Length | 3:34 |
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Covers
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Reverend Shawn Amos
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performed live, 2016-09-00, Santa Barbara, California
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2016
|
YouTube
|
|
Australian Crawl
|
performed live, 1980
|
1980
|
info
|
|
Beatsteaks
|
performed live, 2007-11-21, Mannheim, Germany
|
2007
|
YouTube
|
|
The BelAirs
|
performed live, 2004
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2004
|
link needed
|
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Buddy Love Combo
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performed live
|
|
link needed
|
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Chef Eddy
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performed live, 2011-02-19, The Wet Whistle, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
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2011
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YouTube
|
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Davy & the Crocketts
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performed live, 1979, Buffalo, New York
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1979
|
link
|
|
Dyan Diamond
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performed live, 1980-03-14, Los Angeles
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1980
|
etree.org
|
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Ronny Elliott and the Nationals
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performed live, 2001-08-17, Costello tribute, Tampa, Florida
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2001
|
info
|
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Firehose
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performed live, 1987-06-04, London & 1989-09-05, Manchester
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1987
|
etree
|
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Ellen Foley
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performed live, 1980-02-14, Amsterdam
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1980
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etree • info
|
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Greg Goodwill
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performed live, Portland, Maine
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2001
|
link
|
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Green Planet Band
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performed live, 2018 and 2020-12-30, New Jersey
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2018
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YouTube • Facebook
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ICU Stringband
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performed live, 2017-03-16, Costello Tribute, Harlows, Sacramento, California
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2017
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YouTube
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Infamous Scientists
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performed live, 1985-09-25, La Hacienda, Victoria, BC
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1985
|
info
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Moon Pie
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performed live, 1981, Greensville, South Carolina
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1981
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newspapers.com
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New Departure
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performed live, 1983, Sacramento, California
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1983
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newspapers.com
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The Nighthawks
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performed live, 1978-01-26, WGTB-FM Studios, Washington, DC
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1978
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Oliver's Army (Dallas)
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performed live, Dallas-area Costello tribute band
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2003+
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OliversArmyBand
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Pop Rocks (Pat Dull)
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Pop Rocks Live (EP)
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1988
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info needed
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The Radiators
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performed live, 1999, 2009
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1999
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archive.org
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The Rainmakers
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performed live, 1985, Fayetteville, Arkansas
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1985
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archive.org
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The Rave Band
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performed live
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1978
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link
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The Rugburns
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performed live, 2005-12-31, Ramona, California
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2005
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|
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The Shambles
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performed live, 2008-06-28, Ocean Beach, San Diego, California
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2008
|
info
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Surrender Dorothy
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performed live, 2008, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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2008
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archive.org
|
Chords
F5 G5
Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill.
F5 G5
He jumped out the window 'cause he couldn't sit still.
F5 G5
Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
F5 G5
He said, "Don't bury me, 'cause I'm not dead yet."
C
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance.
G
I wanna know about the mystery dance.
Why don't you show me,
D C
'Cause I've tried and I've tried and I'm still mystified.
I can't do it anymore, and I'm not satisfied.
e||------------------------------------------||
B||------------------------------------------||
G||------------------------------------------||
D||------5-5--5-5-5----3--------3---3----5---||
A||------------------------5-----------------||
E||------------------------------------------||
Well, I remember when the lights went out
And I was try'n' to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
So both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it.
Well, I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
Trying to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine,
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean?
Internal links
External links