Human Hands

The previous transcription of this song seems to have been copied from the

Elvis Costello page at this site and simply transposed to start in C.

(Note the copied mispelling of "Reeperbahn" as "Reeperbarn".) Sondre's

version, however, starts in E. Here is an accurate transcription, where the

chord changes better follow the rhythm of the song.

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------#

#This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the #

#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship or research.#

#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Song title: Human Hands

Original Album: Imperial Bedroom (Elvis Costello)

Other Album: Dan In Real Life (Soundtrack) (Sondre Lerche)

Words and Music by Elvis Costello

Copyright © 1982 Columbia Records

Published by

Transcribed by Gavin Chart (contactus@gartfrets.net)

NOTES:

Sondre Lerche recorded a cover-version of this song for the soundtrack to the

film "Dan In Real Life".

VERSE:

I've been talking to the wall and it's been answering me

Oh darling how I miss you

I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness

I crave the silhouette of your kiss

With only the blue light of the TV on

Lip-reading threats and false alarms

There's a boy somewhere holding hands with himself

And a girl in a window on the Reeperbahn

CHORUS:

Whenever I put my foot in my mouth and you begin to doubt

That it's you that I'm dreaming about

Do I have to draw you a diagram?

All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands

[play a flanged B7sus4 and E11 as follows:]

V - downstrum

A - upstrum

V A V A V A V A

VERSE:

With the kings and queens of the dance hall craze

Checkmate in three moves in your heyday

But the girls don't listen to your lines anymore

Now you're part of someone else

VERSE:

On the factory floor and you still say "Where's the action?"

Now you manufacture happiness

And get sold on the cheap for someone's satisfaction

[repeat CHORUS]

[repeat "flange"]

VERSE:

All you toy soldiers and scaremongers

Are you living in this world sometimes I wonder

In between saying you've seen too much and saying you've seen it all before

VERSE:

Tighter and tighter I hold you tightly

You know I love you more than slightly

Although I've never said it like this before

[repeat CHORUS]

All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands

[repeat "flange"]

[end]

CHORDS:

E 022100

B x24442

C#m x46654

Ab 466544

A x02220 or 577655

F#m 242222

B7 x2120x

Bbdim x4535x

Am x02210