Pidgin English Chords
Pidgin English by Elvis Costello is a more advanced guitar song played in the key of D. It uses the chords D, D7, G, C, A7, A, Bm, Em and Em7. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
Intro: D D7 G D D7 G
D D7 G D
There's a young girl with her old man who's too sick to mention
D D7 G D
She'll be turning twenty seven as she draws her widow's pension
D D7 G D
But he couldn't catch a common cold he couldn't get arrested
D D7
Too terrified to answer back
G D7
Too tired to have resisted
G C
Many hands make light work
G
Shorthand makes life easy
C
When he's out on night work
G
Make sure no one sees me
D
It all ends up in a slanging match with body talk and bruises
A7
A change is better than a rest
Silly beggars can't be choosers
G D
One of a thousand pities you can't categorize
G A Bm
There are ten commandments of love
G D
When will you realize
There are ten commandments of love
A G Em Em7
I believe, I trust, I promise, I wish love's just a throwaway kiss
D
In this Pidgin English
If you're so wise use your lips and your eyes
C
Take it to the bridge she sighs
D D7 G D
You go cheep cheep cheep between bulls-eyes and bluster
D D7
Stiff as your poker face
G D
Keener than mustard
D D7 G D
From your own back yard to the land of exotica
D D7 G D7
From the truth society to neurotic erotica
G C
Silence is golden
G
Money talks diamonds and ermine
G C
There's a word in Spanish
G
Italian and German
D
In sign language, morse code, semaphore and gibberish
A7
Have you forgotten how to say it
In your Pidgin English?
**Chorus