Elvis Costello
Lyric guide

Mischievous Ghost

Read Mischievous Ghost lyrics by Elvis Costello on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.

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Page type: lyric reference Artist: Elvis Costello Canonical path: /elvis-costello/mischievous-ghost Related lyric paths: 6 Video embedded: yes
Lyrics

Mischievous Ghost

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She came dancing right before my eyes

She said she'd came to warn me

Before it dawned on me

I went walking on the blank hillside

Where the sunset falls

Where the sunset dies

She gave me love, she told me lies

That most mischievous ghost

She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise.

He started to whistle, they bought him a flute

He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute

He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful

Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full

They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight

As he drew on their days resurrected his nights

He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze

"There you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy"

With scandal and shame they slandered his name

They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast

Disappointed that he passed away peacefully

Never [trying/dying] to be a mischievous ghost

They dug him up quick with a polish and lick

They powdered him up till he only looked sick

The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause

But his dancing was not quite as lively of course

These are the rewards immortality affords

Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss

[Harrington slacks/Harrods in slacks] and tormental laments

Of going away and not being missed

With scandal and shame they slandered his name

They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast

Disappointed that he passed away peacefully

Never dying to be a mischievous ghost

With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos

Singing his songs of the battles we lose

And [when/will] you come home again so we can murder you

What would you do if they took his word

With forty-eight million to join in the toast

Move over my darling

Mischievous ghost

Mischievous ghost

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Who performs "Mischievous Ghost"?

Elvis Costello performs "Mischievous Ghost", and this lyric page sits inside the Elvis Costello catalog on LyroVerse.

Are there related songs to explore after "Mischievous Ghost"?

Yes. The related section below points to All This Useless Beauty and Beautiful with a short reason for opening each page next.

Where can I find more songs by Elvis Costello?

Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Elvis Costello's lyric pages.

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