Alison

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.

Alison Written by Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Nick Lowe Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar John McFee - guitar Sean Hopper - keyboards Johnny Ciambotti - bass Mickey Shine - drums Recorded late 1976-early 1977, Pathway Studios, London Released May 27, 1977 Albums My Aim Is True, 1977 Viva England, 1982 (Spain) Singles Alison, 1977 Alison, 1978 (Germany/Holland) Less Than Zero, 1985 (12" single) Accidents Will Happen (US "Hall of Fame" 3" CD single), 1989 Collections Stiff Box Set No. 2, 1981 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, Volume 1, 2003 The Best Of Elvis Costello The First 10 Years, 2007 Soundtracks Metroland, 1998 Easy Listening: Music Inspired By The ITV Series Big Bad World, 1999 Get Over It: Music From The Miramax Motion Picture, 2001 Various Artists collections Heroes & Cowards, 1978 (Italy) Win-Centive '80: The McRock Album, 1980 (Canada) New Rock Champions, 1981 (Italy) New Wave Disco d'Ouro, 1981 (Portugal) Happy Rock: O Maximo Da New Wave, 1981 (Portugal) The Stiff Records Box Set, 1992 That Loving Feeling Volume VI, 1993 A Hard Night's Day, 1997 On The Wave, 1997 (Spain) Greatest Pop Ballads, 1999 Modern Rock: The 70's, 1999 - Burning Hearts: The New Sad Songs, 2000 Oor 1971-1980: 10 Jaar Popmuziek, 2001 The Love Album: Classics, 2002 Simply Acoustic, 2002 New Woman 2002 Vol. 2 (The Autumn Collection), 2002 The Best Chillout Ever, 2002 I'm Not In Love, 2002 - Chill Out In Ibiza 5: Dusk Till Dawn Ibiza 2003, 2003 Natural Acoustic, 2003 The Essential Acoustic Album, 2004 Acoustic 80s, 2004 Rock Spirit - The Golden Age: 1967-1979, 2005 ...With Love: 18 Romantic Classics, 2005 20th Century Masters: Best of Love, Vol. 2, 2007 Promos 4 Track Sampler From My Aim Is True, 1977 (Australia) Excerpts From Stiff's Greatest Hits, 1978 (excerpt only) Our Aim Is True, 1978 UK Elvis Costello, 2002 Length 3:24 First known performance:  July 21, 1977, Manchester, England      (1814 known performances, 3 as a snippet) Alternate versions Alison (US Version) Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Nick Lowe Released 1977 Singles Alison, 1977 (US) Watching The Detectives, 1977 (US) Alison (US/Canada "Hall of Fame" reissue), 1981 Collections Singles, Volume 1, 2003 Length 3:05 Note This remix adds synth-strings, background singers and echo. Alison (Live 1977) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded August 7, 1977, London, England Released September 11, 2007 Albums My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007 Length 3:33 Alison (Soundcheck 1977) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded August 7, 1977, London, England Released September 11, 2007 Albums My Aim Is True: Deluxe Edition, 2007 Length 3:25 Alison (Live 1978) Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by Nick Lowe Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Bruce Thomas - bass Pete Thomas - drums Recorded June 4, 1978, Los Angeles, CA Released January 5, 1979 Albums Almost New, 1982 Armed Forces (Rykodisc/Demon reissue), 1993 Armed Forces (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002 Singles Live At Hollywood High (bonus single with Armed Forces LP), 1979 Collections 2½ Years, 1993 Length 3:08 Alison (Live 1990) Performed by Elvis Costello Produced by John Hanlon Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Neil Young - vocal Recorded October 26, 1990, Mountain View, CA Released November 18, 1997 Various Artists collections The Bridge School Concerts Vol. One, 1997 Downloads The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 2, 2006 (iTunes) Length 3:19 Alison / Living A Little, Laughing A Little / Tracks Of My Tears / Tears Of A Clown / No More Tearstained Make-Up / Clowntime Is Over (Live 1996) Performed by Costello & Nieve Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Recorded May 22, 1996, New York, NY Released December 3, 1996 Albums Costello & Nieve, 1996 Promos Live At The Supper Club, New York, 1996 Length 6:16 Alison (Live 1999) Performed by Elvis Costello (with Steve Nieve) Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Recorded July 25, 1999, Rome, NY Released October 19, 1999 Various Artists collections Woodstock 99, 1999 Videos Woodstock 99 (DVD), 1999 Length 2:52 Alison / Suspicious Minds (Live 2004) Performed by Elvis Costello & The Imposters Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Steve Nieve - keyboards Davey Faragher - bass, background vocal Pete Thomas - drums Recorded September 17, 2004, Hi-Tone Cafe, Memphis, TN Released April 19, 2005 Videos Club Date: Live In Memphis, 2005 Alison / Tracks Of My Tears (Live 2006) Performed by Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint featuring The Imposters, Anthony "AB" Brown & The Crescent City Horns Horn arrangement Elvis Costello Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar Allen Toussaint - Hammond B3 organ Steve Nieve - piano Davey Faragher - bass Pete Thomas - drums Anthony "AB" Brown - guitar Amadee Castenell - flute Brian "Breeze" Cayolle - saxophone Joe "Foxx" Smith - trumpet Sam "Big Sam" Williams - trombone Recorded July 3, 2006, Montreal, QC, Canada Released December 5, 2006 Videos Hot As A Pistol, Keen As A Blade, 2006

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.

Translation

• Alison (français)

Internal links

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

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: My Aim Is True
• Wikipedia