(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes

Words & Music:

Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus (Elvis Costello)

 

E    A    E    Esus4

 

E                                    G#m

Oh, I used to be disgusted and now I try to be amused.

                E                                    A            B           E

But since their wings have got rusted; you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.

E    F#   G#   A                               E

But, when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain,

              A                       E

That's when I knew that I could not refuse.

            B                      A                        E  Esus4  E

And I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.

 

A                           B        E

I was watching while you're dancing away.

B                             A        E

Our love got fractured in the echo and sway.

A                           B       E

How come everybody wants to be your friend?

G#m                                     B

You know that it still hurts me just to say it.

 

Oh, I know that she's disgusted (Oh, why's that?)

'Cause she's feeling so abused. (Oh, that's too bad.)

She gets tired of the lust, (Oh, I'm so sad.) but it's so hard to refuse.

How can you say that I'm too old, when the angels have stolen my red shoes?

 

"Oh," I said "I'm so happy, I could die."

She said "Drop dead," then left with another guy.

That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance.

Ever since you got me punctured this has been my sentence.

 

Oh I used to be disgusted and now I try to be amused.

But since their wings have got rusted, you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.

 

Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.  [repeat and out]