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Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter

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Written by Carole King & Elvis Costello
[Intro]
   Dm     E(x2)
[Verse 1]
She said, Amwhat is it that I've Gdone that you want me to be Fpunished
As she Amwoke up one day to Gfind he had started to Fvanish
If you overhear Gvoices
DmPerhaps you should not be Glistening
DmTwitch the vigilant Flace,
Make a sly, sour Gface,
Set the scandalous Asus4whisperingA  
[Chorus]
EmShe's out on her own with the Drest of her Ariches
As the Emkids paint him out of their reDfrigerator Apictures
She Dmpicks up the bills
Pays Emoff the babysitter
'Cause Feverybody knows burnt Fsugar is so DmbitterE  
[Instrumental]
   Dm     E(x3)
[Bridge]
BmOnce there was a Em7time
BmBefore he turned Em7strange
AmShe thought they would be together Cfor more than a lifetime
BmLook at him Em7now
BmMy, how things have Em7changed
FHe could tear the sweetheart out of Emany girl
BmOn just a E7whim
And Cturn it from a candy to a Amcaramel
Then Bmmake her hate the silly way she Emused to feel
And Cmaj7say, I know nothing Fmaj7about Fhim
[Instrumental]
   Dm     E(x2)
[Verse 2]
Now what's Amleft of the birthday Gcake is very beautifully Ffrosted
An absent Amfather picks up the Gphone to find the number's unFlisted
And while the kids are disGtracted
DmThey don't notice she's Gnervous at Dmall
But how long it will Ftake
Not to make a misGtake
When a gentleman Asus4comes to Acall
[Chorus 2]
EmShe's out on her own with the Drest of her Ariches
As the Emkids tear down their reDfrigerator Apictures
They Dmalready know how a Emwoman may advance
From a Fpretty picture hat to a Emsupermarket trance
But Dmif he's unkind he Emmight as well forget her
'Cause Feverybody knows
burnt Fsugar is so DmbitterE  
Burnt Dmsugar Eis so DmbitterE  
Burnt DmsugarE  
[Outro]
Dm   E

All chords in this song (15)

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Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter

by Elvis Costello

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Asus4

Em7

Cmaj7

Fmaj7

Written by Carole King & Elvis Costello

[Intro]

Dm E

(x2)

[Verse 1]

Am G F

She said, what is it that I've done that you want me to be punished

Am G F

As she woke up one day to find he had started to vanish

If you overhear voices

Dm G

Perhaps you should not be listening

Dm F

Twitch the vigilant lace,

Make a sly, sour face,

Asus4 A

Set the scandalous whispering

[Chorus]

Em D A

She's out on her own with the rest of her riches

Em D A

As the kids paint him out of their refrigerator pictures

She picks up the bills

Pays off the babysitter

F F Dm E

'Cause everybody knows burnt sugar is so bitter

[Instrumental]

Dm E

(x3)

[Bridge]

Bm Em7

Once there was a time

Bm Em7

Before he turned strange

Am C

She thought they would be together for more than a lifetime

Bm Em7

Look at him now

Bm Em7

My, how things have changed

F Em

He could tear the sweetheart out of any girl

Bm E7

On just a whim

C Am

And turn it from a candy to a caramel

Bm Em

Then make her hate the silly way she used to feel

Cmaj7 Fmaj7 F

And say, I know nothing about him

[Instrumental]

Dm E

(x2)

[Verse 2]

Am G F

Now what's left of the birthday cake is very beautifully frosted

Am G F

An absent father picks up the phone to find the number's unlisted

And while the kids are distracted

Dm G Dm

They don't notice she's nervous at all

But how long it will take

Not to make a mistake

Asus4 A

When a gentleman comes to call

[Chorus 2]

Em D A

She's out on her own with the rest of her riches

Em D A

As the kids tear down their refrigerator pictures

Dm Em

They already know how a woman may advance

F Em

From a pretty picture hat to a supermarket trance

Dm Em

But if he's unkind he might as well forget her

'Cause everybody knows

F Dm E

burnt sugar is so bitter

Dm E Dm E

Burnt sugar is so bitter

Dm E

Burnt sugar

[Outro]

Dm E

About Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter Chords by Elvis Costello

Learn how to play Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter by Elvis Costello with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter chords”, “Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter guitar chords”, or “Elvis Costello Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter chords and for experienced players who want accurate Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include Dm, E, Am, G, F, Asus4.

FAQ — Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter by Elvis Costello

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What key is "Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter" in?

The chords for "Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter" show the original chord names (including Dm, E, Am, G, F, Asus4). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.