December 1965 in Caracas
When Arnie LaFlamme(?) took his piece of the pie
When he packed up the casino chips, the IOU and the abacus
And switched off the jukebox in a "A Fool Such as I"
He was a leg man who was open to offers
But he couldn't get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office
and as he entertained himself singing just like Sammy Davis Junior
He toyed with a trip to Miami

For money like that
he could have sweet talk in her ear
Now they don't speak any English
Just American without tears

It was an idea that he dandled on his knee
and nursed it like his coffee cup
when he couldn't find any other way
It always seemed to come to him
while the day was dipping down
and sun was like a light bulb
being swallowed by a clown

He took her for everything
He took her for his only one
He took her out of Coventry and over to Idaho
But the war wound that he carried home
wasn't really visible

Sing with the song of Elvis Costello, American Without Tears #2 (twilight Version) lyrics!

When the bullets were forgotton
she lived dowdy, down, and miserable

And she seemed to be crying for year after year
and says, "You don't speak any English
Just American between tears."

"Arnie" she said to me, "Will you turn down the radio.
You haven't slept a wink since we came to Havana
When're you gonna get the strength to go over to Florida?
All you ever listen to is 'The Voice of America'."

It was the story of a young English poppet
Who took up with a soldier boy
And thought she would profit
Just like me she found out what true love is about
Anyway she's in New Orleans It would never work out

Oh she seemed to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American between tears
Just American without tears

For you seem to be crying for year after year
Now you don't speak any English
Just American without tears
Just American without tears

elvis costello

Artist Information

Name:

Declan Patrick Aloysius McManus

Albums / OSTs:

all this useless beauty almost blue armed forces blood and chocolate brutal youth de-lovely deep dead blue [with bill frisell] for the stars [with anne sofie von otter get happy!! goodbye cruel world imperial bedroom king of america kojak variety laurel canyon mighty like a rose my aim is true north notting hill painted from memory punch the clock spike the delivery man the family man the juliet letters the wedding singer this year's model trust until the end of the world when i was cruel x-files: songs in the key of x Click here to view All Albums and Song Lyrics of Elvis Costello!