#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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from: Christian Korbanka, Cologne, Germany
e-mail: Christian_Korbanka@msn.com
lyrics and chords of: How To Be Dumb by Elvis Costello
Suggestions and corrections are always welcome!
date: 95/10/15
G
I was hell-bent on destroying my powers of concentration
D
While you were living like a saint
G
And all the time the very one you trusted
Em Bm
Was washing off somebody else's paint
G
Now you've got yourself a brand new occupation
D
Every fleeting thought is a pearl
G
And beautiful people stampede through the doorway of
Em Bm
The funniest fucker of the world
F
They're here to help you
Dm Bm
Satisfy your desire
C G
There's a bright future for all you professional liars
C D
Now you know how to be dumb
G C
Are you ready to take your place in
G/B D
The modern museum of mistakes?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C
Like a building thrown up overnight
G/B D
In one of those reverse earthquakes
G
They emptied out all the asylums,
D
They emptied out all the goals
G
The "New Bruise" was the name of the dance craze
Em Bm
By "Jesus Cross and the Cruel Nails"
G
Followed up by "Tortouzring Little Beaver"
D
With their contraption of barbed wire
G
Between the fear and the fever lies
Em Bm
All the rejection they require
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/c/costello-elvis/4028.html ]
F
They'll be howling by midnight,
Dm Bm
They'll be drooling by dawn
C
Skulls shrunk down to the size of their brains
G
Heads shaven and shorn
C D
Now you know how to be dumb
G C
Are you ready to take your place in
G/B D
The modern museum of mistakes?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C
Like a building thrown up overnight
G/B D
In one of those reverse earthquakes
Em
Trapped in the house of the Perpetual Sucker
C D
Where bitterness always ends so pityful
Em
You always had to dress up your envy in
C D
Some half-remembered philosophy
G
Now you're masquerading as pale powdered genius
D
Whose every bad intention has been purged
G
You could've walked out any time you wanted
Em Bm
But face it you didn't have the courage
G
I guess that makes you a full time hypocrite
D
Or some kind of twisted dilletante
G
Funny though people don't usually get so ugly
Em Bm
'Til they think they know what they want
F
Scratch you own head stupid
Dm
Count up to three
Bm C
Roll over on your back
G
Repeat after me
C D
Don't you know how to be dumb
G C
Are you ready to take your place in
G/B D
The modern museum of mistakes?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C
Like a building thrown up overnight
G/B D
In one of those reverse earthquakes
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
G C D
Don't you know how to be dumb?
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