Pretty Words Chords
Pretty Words by Elvis Costello is a more advanced guitar song played in the key of G. It uses the chords G, D, Em, F, C, D7, Bm, C#m, E6, Bb and F#m. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.
G
I ask you nicely
D Em F C
Get my face slapped under wraps
G
What's going on precisely
D Em
Is there something wrong perhaps?
C D7 G
Surprise, surprise (surprise, surprise)
D C D7 G D Em D
It's more like a booby trap than a booby prize
G D Em F C
Civil disobedience from a soldier with a dirty rifle
G D Em
You're loosening all the screws that hold the hinges of my life
C D7 G
Fat cats and army brats
C D7 G D Em F C
Hep cats in dog tag pawing over girly mags
G F Bm C#m D E6
Pretty words don't mean much anymore
G Bb Em F#m
I don't mean to be mean much anymore
G C
All I see are snapshots, bigshots, tender spots
(1) mug shots, machine slots
(2) machine slots, mug shots
'Till you don't know what's what
Em F C
You don't know what you got
G D Em F C
Curious women running after curious men
G
Curiosity didn't kill the cat
D Em
It was a poisoned pen
C D7 G D
But there's not much choice (it's Hobson's choice)
C D7 G D Em D
Between a cruel mouth and a jealous voice
G
Got back to London
D Em
Picked a paper from the man
G
No words of consolation
D Em
Just cartoons and titter tatter
C D7 G
Well well, fancy that
C D7 G C
Millions murdered for a kiss me quick hat
G
No backbone, blood and guts
D Em F
Better keep your big mouth shut
**Chorus
F C G
You don't know what you got . . . .