From: schnitzi@cs.ucf.edu (Mark Schnitzius)
Subject: Re: REQ: I want you - Elvis Costello
Organization: University of Central Florida
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1992 03:40:13 GMT

scrotch@milton.u.washington.edu (Lou Ciphre) writes:

>anyone have lyrics and chords/tab for "I want you" by Elvis Costello?

>i've only heard it once and don't even know what album it's on.

>- Lou

I'm in a particularly generous mood today....

Song:   I Want You
Artist: Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Album:  Blood and Chocolate

Cool song.  Starts out, intentionally I think, with sappy,
cliched lyrics and a simple melody.  He does one verse of this
then hits a bizarre sounding chord as a transition into
the rest of the song, which is a haunting (almost twisted)
sort of love/hate song.  Truly one of my favorite songs.
Here's the best I can figure it out.  Corrections are always
welcomed and encouraged.

The intro:

A     E    A                               E
Oh my baby baby I love you more than I can tell
  A                          D 
I don't think I can live without you
      A           E     A
And I know that I never will
A     E    A                                  E
Oh my baby baby I want you so it scares me to death
  A                         D
I can't say any more than I love you
           A         E        F#
Everything else is a waste of breath

<Bizarre chord:  B7 is my best guess, but it doesn't
sound exactly right.>

Em     G         C                B7                Em
I want you.  You had your fun you don't get well no more.
  G               C              B7              <bizarre chord again>
I want you.  Your fingernails go dragging down the wall.
   B7      C       B7
Be careful darling you might fall.
<continue same chord progression>
I want you.  I woke up and one of us was crying.
I want you.  You said 'Young man I do believe you're dying'.
I want you.  If you need a second opinion as you seem to
             do these days.
I want you.  You can look in my eyes and you can count the ways.
I want you.  Did you mean to tell me but seem to forget?
I want you.  Since when were you so generous and inarticulate?
I want you.  It's the stupid details that my heart is aching for.
I want you.  It's the way your shoulders shake and what 
             they're shaking for
I want you.  It's knowing that he knows you now after only guessing
I want you.  It's the thought of him undressing you or you undressing
I want you.  He tossed some tattered compliment your way.
I want you.  And you were fool enough to love it when he said
I want you. <two note solo>
I want you.  The truth can't hurt you it's just like the dark.
It scares you witless but in time you see things clear and stark.
I want you.  Go on and hurt me then we'll let it drop.
I want you.  I'm afraid I won't know where to stop.
I want you.  I'm not ashamed to say I cried for you.
I want you.  I want to know the things you did that we do too.
I want you.  I want to hear he pleases you more than I do.
I want you.  I might as well be useless for all it means to you.
I want you.  Did you call his name out as he held you down?
I want you.  Oh no my darling, not with that clown.
I want you.
I want you.  You had your fun you don't get well no more.
I want you.  No one who wants you could want you more.
I want you.  I want you.
I want you.  Every night when I go off to bed and when I wake up.
I want you.  I'm gonna say it once again til I instill it.
I'm gon', gon' feel this way until you kill it.
I want you.  I want you.  I want you.


Mark Schnitzius
schnitzi@eola.cs.ucf.edu
Univ. of Central Florida