Créditos
Artistas intérpretes
Elvis Costello
Voces
The Little Hand Of Concrete
Guitarra acústica
Mickey Curry
Batería
Jerry Scheff
Bajo eléctrico
T-Bone Wolk
Acordeón
Mitchell Froom
Órgano Hammond
COMPOSICIÓN Y LETRA
Declan Patrick MacManus
Composición
Producción e ingeniería
J. Henry Burnett
Producción
Declan Macmanus
Producción
Larry Kalman Hirsch
Producción
David Miner
Ayudante de producción
William Jackson
Asistente de ingeniería de grabación
David Dominguez Alhert
Asistente de ingeniería de grabación
Letra
He thought he was the king of America
Where they pour Coca-Cola just like vintage wine
Now, I try hard not to become hysterical
But, I'm not sure if I am laughin' or cryin'
I wish that I could push a button
And, talk in the past, and not the present tense
And, watch this hurting feeling
Disappear like it was common sense
It was a fine idea at the time
Now, it's a brilliant mistake
She said that she was workin' for the ABC News
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
Her perfume was unspeakable, it lingered in the air
Like her artificial laughter, her mementos of affairs
"Oh" I said "I see you know him
Isn't that very fortunate for you?"
She showed me his callin' card
He came third or fourth, and there were more than one or two
He was a fine idea at this time
Now he's a brilliant mistake
He thought he was the king of America
But, it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
The words of love in whispers, and the acts of love in screams
I wish that I could push a button
And, talk in the past and not the present-tense
And, watch this lovin' feeling
Disappear like it was common sense
I was a fine idea at the time
Now, I'm a brilliant mistake (Now, I'm a brilliant mistake)
I was a fine idea at the time
Now, I'm a brilliant mistake (Now, I'm a brilliant mistake)
Written by: Declan Patrick MacManus

