Alison

Lyrics - Credits - Discography - Covers - Bootlegs - Chords

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've been 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. I'll 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.

Credits Written by: Elvis Costello Produced by: Nick Lowe Musicians: Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar The Shamrocks (a.k.a. Clover): John McFee - guitar, pedal steel Sean Hopper - piano, organ, backing vocals Johnny Ciambotti - bass, backing vocals Mickey Shine - drums Nick Lowe - backing vocals Discography Albums: My Aim Is True, 1977 My Aim Is True (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001 This section may be incomplete. Singles: Alison, 1977 Alison, 1978 (Germany/Holland) Less Than Zero, 1985 (12" single) Accidents Will Happen, 1989 (U.S. "Hall Of Fame" 3" CD single) Collections: The Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1985 The Man (The Best Of Elvis Costello), 1985 Girls Girls Girls, 1989 2½ Years, 1993 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello & The Attractions, 1994 The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999 Singles, Vol. 1, 2003 This section may be incomplete. Alternate Versions: Alison (U.S. version with synth-strings and backing vocals) Alison, 1977 (U.S./Canada) Watching The Detectives, 1977 (U.S.) Alison, 1981 (U.S./Canada "Hall Of Fame" reissue) Singles, Vol. 1, 2003 Alison (live at Hollywood High School, Hollywood, CA 1978-06-04) Live At Hollywood High, 1979 Almost New, 1982 (Australia/New Zealand mini-LP) Armed Forces (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993 Armed Forces (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002 Alison (live with Neil Young, Mountain View, CA 1990-10-26) Various Artists, The Bridge School Concerts Vol. One, 1997 Alison/Living A Little, Laughing A Little/Tracks Of My Tears/Tears Of A Clown/No More Tearstained Make-Up/Clowntime Is Over {Medley) - (live with Steve Nieve, The Supper Club, New York 1996-05-22) Costello & Nieve, 1996 Alison (live with Steve Nieve, Woodstock, Rome, NY 1999-07-25) Various Artists, Woodstock 99, 1999 Soundtracks: Metroland, 1999 Get Over It, 2001 Various Artists collections: Heroes And Cowards, 1978 (Italy) The Stiff Records Box Set, 1992 Covers Recorded by: Holly Cole, The Best Of Holly Cole 1998 Linda Ronstadt, Living In The USA 1977 Patrik Tanner, A Tribute To Elvis Costello 2004 This section may be incomplete. Performed by: none This section may be incomplete. Bootlegs This section is incomplete.

Chords

[Chords you will need:] 

 Abm7    Abm    B7sus4  B7sus
--4--   --4--   --2--   --2-- 
--4--   --4--   --5--   --5--
--4--   --4--   --2--   --4--
--4--   --6--   --4--   --4--
--6--   --6--   --2--   --2--
--4--   --4--   -----   -----

[Intro]
Bsus4  B  |  Abm A C#m B   | F#m Abm  |  Abm  B

            A                            E
Oh it's so funny to be seeing you after so long girl

              A                              Abm7           C#m    B
And with the way you look I understand that you are not impressed

A                                   Abm7     C#m 
  But I heard you let that little friend of mine

D                         B7sus4  B7
  Take off your party dress

A                       Abm7     C#m    B         
  I'm not going to get too sentimental like those 

A                       Abm7  C#m  B
other sticky valentines 

A                                 Abm7       C#m
  Cause I don't know if you were loving somebody

  D                       B7sus4  B7
I only know it isn't mine

[CHORUS]

A    E  Abm7 A    C#m B    F#m Abm Ab7   C#m
Alison  I  know this world is kil-ling  you

B  A   E  A    B       E
Oh Alison  My aim is true

[Verse 2]
[Chorus]

Repeat and fade on this: 

D    B        E  A
  My aim is true

----------------------------------------------------------------------
from: Christian Korbanka, Cologne, Germany
e-mail: Christian_Korbanka@msn.com
lyrics and chords of: Alison by Elvis Costello  

Suggestions and corrections are always welcome!
date: 95/10/15

Bsus4  B
G#m  A  C#m  B
F#m  G#m
B

             A                            E
Oh, it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl
              A
And with the way you look I understand that
G#m7            C#m       B
You are not impressed
A                                 G#m7     C#m
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
D                         B7sus4  B7
Take off your party dress

A                  G#m7     C#m
I'm not gonna get too sentimental
 B         A                       G#m7  C#m  B
Like those other sticky valentines
A                              G#m7       C#m
`Cos I don't know if you were loving somebody
  D                       B7sus4  B7
I only know it isn't mine

A   E        A        B        G#m G#7/D# C#m
Alison - I know this world is kill-ing    you
B   A   E   A    B       E
Oh, Alison - my aim is true

A                      E
 Well I see you gotta husband now
        A
Did he leave your pretty fingers lying
G#m7            C#m  B
In the wedding cake?
A                          G#m7     C#m
You used to hold him right in your hand
          D                     B7sus4  B7
I bet he took all he could take

 A                              G#m7         C#m    
Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking
  B     A                              G#m7  C#m  B
When I hear the silly things that you say
A                        G#m7            C#m
I think somebody better put out the big light
        D                              B7sus4  B7
`Cos I can't stand to see you this way

A   E        A        B        G#m G#7/D# C#m
Alison - I know this world is kill-ing    you
B   A   E   A    B       E
Oh, Alison - my aim is true

D    B       E   A
 My aim is true.

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: My Aim Is True | lyrics | chords | MAIT info page | Rykodisc/Demon MAIT reissue info page | Rhino MAIT reissue info page
• Elvis Costello Home Page: Alison single info page | Alison U.S. single info page | Watching The Detectives U.S. single info page | Alison German single info page
• Template:Alison

External links

• Elvis Costello on Rhino My Aim Is True reissue page