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20% Amnesia Lyrics by Elvis Costello

Brutal Youth

1994

[Verse 1]
"What is your destiny?" The policewoman said (20% amnesia)
The word that she wanted was "destination" I'm afraid (20% amnesia)
This is your future boy, this is your fate (20% amnesia)
And you're obsolete and they can't afford to educate you (20% amnesia)
[Pre-Chorus]
In his bedtime boot boy jersey
Ringing up some fantasy tart
Give me strength or give me mercy
Life intimidates art
[Chorus]
Give me strength or give me mercy
Don't let me lose heart
From rage to anaesthesia
20% amnesia
[Verse 2]
Were you passed out on the sofa? (20% amnesia)
Justice was bartered by a drunken oaf (20% amnesia)
This is all your glorious country thinks of your life (20% amnesia)
Strip Jack Naked with a Stanley knife (20% amnesia)
[Pre-Chorus]
So the German queen went home again
But she couldn't find forgiveness
They made a fist of her hand of friendship
But it's only business
[Chorus]
Give me strength or give me mercy
Don't let me lose heart
From rage to anaesthesia
20% amnesia
[Bridge]
The wine you drink has never seen a grape
And now your sci-fi suit has lost its shape
But it's a dangerous game that comedy plays
Sometimes it tells you the truth, sometimes it delays it
[Verse 3]
Think back, think back if you still can
When the trumpet sounded and the world began
Somebody said "we must have won"
So they started burying the bogeyman
Mister Gorbachev came cap in hand (20% amnesia)
From a bankrupt land to a bankrupt land (20% amnesia)
Mister Gorbachev and some other fella (20% amnesia)
Were taken to a show called "Cinderella" (20% amnesia)
It wasn't an accident, it wasn't a mystery (20% amnesia)
It was calculated and the rest is history (20% amnesia)
[Pre-Chorus]
You don't have to listen to me
That's the triumph of free will
There are promises to break
And dreams to kill
[Chorus]
Give me strength or give me mercy
Don't let me lose heart
From rage to anaesthesia
20% amnesia
Credits
Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello

About “20% Amnesia” by Elvis Costello

Read the complete lyrics to "20% Amnesia" by Elvis Costello from the album "Brutal Youth " in 1994. 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.

"20% Amnesia" is performed by Elvis Costello. from the album "Brutal Youth " in 1994 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 "20% Amnesia", explore more songs by Elvis Costello 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

"20% Amnesia" is credited to Elvis Costello. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"20% Amnesia" appears on "Brutal Youth " in 1994.

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