Alison

Words & Music:

Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (Elvis Costello)

 

Doug Young has a fingerstyle instrumental arrangement of this in Drop D & the key of G in the June 2007 issue of Acoustic Guitar.  It is gorgeous and instructive for when you later play song with the words.

 

Esus4  E  |  C#m  D  F#m  E  |  Bm  C#m  |  C#m  E

 

            D                           A

Oh, it's so funny to be seein' ya after so long, girl.

             D                              C#m            F#m   E

And with the way you look I understand that you are not impressed.

D                               C#m       F#m

But I heard you let that little friend of mine

G                   E7sus4  E7

Take off your party dress.

D                 A        C#m    F#m    E

I'm not gonna get too sentimental like those

D                   C#m  F#m E

Other sticky valentines.

D                               C#m        F#m

'Cause I don't know if you were lovin' somebody

  G                  E7sus4  E7

I only know it isn't mine.

 

D   A     D         E        C#m     F#m

Alison, I know this world is killing you.

E   D   A  D   E      A

Oh, Alison, my aim is true.

 

Well, I see you got a husband, now.

Did he leave your pretty fingers lyin' in the weddin' cake?

You used to hold him right in your hand, but it took all he could take.

Sometimes, I wish 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,

D  E      A  F#m   D  E      A   

My aim is true---, My aim is true...