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This Sad Burlesque Lyrics by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet

The Juliet Letters

1993

[Verse 1]
I write in hope by the time you get this letter
We may live to see a change for the better
Or are we so devoted to these wretched selfish motives
When the cold facts and figures all add up
They cannot contradict this sad burlesque
[Chorus]
This sad burlesque
With miserable failures making entertainment of our fate
Laughter cannot dignify or elevate
This sad burlesque
[Bridge]
Now can they recall being young and idealistic
Before wading knee-deep in hogwash and arithmetic
The pitying smirk
The argument that runs like clockwork
Will run down eventually and splutter to a stop
[Verse 3]
P.S. Well by now you know the worst of it
And we've heard all the alibis that they've rehearsed
The smug predictions
If it's not a contradiction
Please have faith in human nature
And have mercy on the creatures in this sad burlesque
[Chorus]
This sad burlesque
With miserable failures making entertainment of our fate
Laughter cannot dignify or elevate
This sad burlesque

About “This Sad Burlesque” by Elvis Costello

Read the complete lyrics to "This Sad Burlesque" by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet from the album "The Juliet Letters " in 1993. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop, Rock.

"This Sad Burlesque" is performed by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet. from the album "The Juliet Letters " in 1993 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "This Sad Burlesque", explore more songs by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"This Sad Burlesque" is credited to Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"This Sad Burlesque" appears on "The Juliet Letters " in 1993.

Visit the Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet artist page at /artist/elvis-costello for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.