G F G F
G F G F


[Verse 1]
   G                           D
He thought he was the King of America
      C                             G       D
Where they pour Coca Cola just like vintage wine
    G                          D
Now I try hard not to become hysterical
            C                        G  D
But I'm not sure if I am laughing or crying

[Verse 2]
  C
I wish that I could push a button
C                                F         C
And talk in the past and not the  present tense

And watch this hurtin' feeling disappear
            F         Em
Like it was  common sense

[Chorus]
G          F      G          F
  It was a fine idea at the time
G            Em C D
  Now it's a brilliant mistake

[Bridge]
G C
G Am
G C
C Em Am G

[Verse 3]
    G                                 D
She said that she was working for the ABC News
          C                       G               D
It was as much of the alphabet as she knew how to use
    G                           D
Her perfume was unspeakable, it lingered in the air
         C                            G            D
Like her artificial laughter like her mementos of affairs

[Verse 4]
 C
"Oh" I said "I see you know him"
C                  F                 C
  "Isn't that very fortunate for you"
     
And she showed me his calling card
                                      F                 Em
He came third or fourth and there were more than one or two

[Chorus]
G          F     G          F
  He was a fine idea at the time
G            Em  C  D
  Now he's a brilliant mistake

[Bridge]
G C
G Am
G C
C Em Am G

[Verse 5]
   G                           D
He thought he was the King of America
    C                          G      D
But it was just a boulevard of broken dreams
  G                                   D
A trick they do with mirrors and with chemicals
    C
The words of love in whispers
        G              D
And the axe of love in screams

[Verse 6]
  C
I wish that I could push a button
C                               F          C
And talk in the past and not the present tense

And watch this lovin' feeling disappear
            F         Em
Like it was  common sense

[Chorus]
G         F     G          F
  I was a fine idea at the time
G           Em C D
  Now I'm a brilliant mistake

[Outro]
G C
G Am
G C
C Em Am G