Tramp the Dirt Down chords by
Elvis Costello
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Key: E minor

Intro 1

Verse 1
G G 
 
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
I saw a newspaper picture
Am Am 
 
C C 
 
G G 
 
from the political campaign
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
G G 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
A woman was kissing a child,
Am Am 
 
C C 
 
G G 
 
who was obviously in pain
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
She spills with compassion,
G G 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
C C 
 
as that young child's face
G G 
 
In her hands she grips
Bm Bm 
 
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
G G 
 
Can you imagine all that
C#dim C#dim 
 
greed    and avarice
C C 
 
Coming down on that child's lips

Verse 2
G G 
 
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
Well I hope I don't die too soon
G G 
 
C C 
 
G G 
 
I pray the Lord my soul to save
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
Yes I'll be a good boy,
G G 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
C C 
 
I'm trying so hard to behave
G G 
 
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
Because there's one thing I know,
I'd like to live
C C 
 
G G 
 
Long enough to savor
C C 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
That's when they finally put
G G 
 
you in the ground
C C 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
I'll stand on your grave and
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
D D 
 
tramp the dirt down

Verse 3
G G 
 
Em Em 
 
When England was the whore
D D 
 
of the world
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
Margaret was her madam
And the future looked
as bright and as clear
G G 
 
As the black tarmacadam
D D 
 
G G 
 
Well I hope that she sleeps well at night,
C C 
 
Isn't haunted by every tiny detail
Am Am 
 
When she held that lovely
face in her hands
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
All she thought of was betrayal

Interlude 1

Verse 4
G G 
 
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
And now the cynical ones
G G 
 
D D 
 
C C 
 
Say that it all ends the same
G G 
 
in the long run
D D 
 
G G 
 
Try telling that to the desperate
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
father
C C 
 
Who just squeezed the life
G G 
 
from his only son
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
G G 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
And how it's only voices in your  head
C C 
 
G G 
 
And dreams you've never dreamt
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
Try telling him the subtle
C#dim C#dim 
 
difference
C C 
 
G G 
 
Between justice and contempt

Verse 5
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
A A 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
Try telling me  she isn't angry
C C 
 
G G 
 
With this pitiful discontent
D D 
 
G G 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
When they flaunt it in your face
A A 
 
C C 
 
G G 
 
As you line up for punishment
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
And then expect you to
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
say thank    you
C C 
 
G G 
 
Straighten up, look proud and pleased
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
Because you've only got the symptoms,
C C 
 
G G 
 
You haven't got the whole disease
D D 
 
Just like a school

Verse 6
Em Em 
 
boy,
D D 
 
Whose head's like a tin-can
C#dim C#dim 
 
C C 
 
Em Em 
 
C C 
 
Filled   Filled up with dreams
G G 
 
then poured down the drain
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
Try telling that to the boys
C#dim C#dim 
 
on both sides,
C C 
 
G G 
 
Being blown to bits or beaten and maimed
C C 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
Who takes all the glory
Am Am 
 
D D 
 
and none of the shame
G G 
 
Well I hope you live

Verse 7
A A 
 
Em Em 
 
Em Em 
 
long now,
G G 
 
C C 
 
G G 
 
I pray the Lord your soul to keep
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
A A 
 
G G 
 
I think I'll be going
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
Em Em 
 
before
C C 
 
D D 
 
G G 
 
We fold our arms and start to weep
D D 
 
Em Em 
 
D D 
 
C#dim C#dim 
 
I never thought for a moment
C C 
 
G G 
 
That human life could be so cheap
C C 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
But when they finally put
G G 
 
you in the ground
C C 
 
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
They'll stand there laugh
G G 
 
Am Am 
 
G G 
 
ing and tramp the dirt down

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