Other arrangements of Oliver's Army
Pick a learning view.
1. Don’t start me talk ing;
I could (E)talk all night.
My mind goes sleep walk ing while I’m (C#7)put ting the world to right.
Called ca reers (B)in for ma tion.
Have you got your self an oc cu pa tion.
(D)here to (E)stay.
(A)Ol i ver’s ar my are (D)on their (E)way.
And (A)I would (F#m)rath er be (A)an y where (D)else but (E)here to (A)day.
2. There was a check point Char lie, he did n’t (E)crack a smile.
But it’s no laugh ing par ty when you’ve been (C#7)on mur der mile.
On ly takes one (B)itch y trig ger, one more wid ow, one white nig ger.
(A)Ol i ver’s ar my is (D)here to (E)stay.
(D)on their (E)way.
And (A)I would (F#m)rath er be (A)an y where (D)else but (E)here to (A)day.
Hong Kong is (F#)up for grabs;
Lon don is (D#)full of Ar abs.
We could be in (F#)Pal es tine, (E)o ver run by a (F#)Chi nese line with the (E)boys from the Mer sey and the (F#)Thames and the Tyne.
But there’s no dan ger.
It’s a pro (F#)fes sion al ca (B)reer, though it could be ar ranged with (E)just a word from Mis ter Church ill’s ear.
If you’re out of luck or out of work we could send you to Jo (F#)han nes (B)burg.
(B)Ol i ver’s ar my is (E)here to (F#)stay.
(B)Ol i ver’s ar my are (E)on their (F#)way.
And (B)I would (G#m)rath er be (B)an y where (E)else but (F#)here to (B)day.
And (B)I would (G#m)rath er be (B)an y where (E)else but (F#)here to (B)day.
And (B)I would (G#m)rath er be (B)an y where (E)else but (F#)here to (B)day.
Oh, oh, oh, (E)oh,
(F#)oh, oh, oh, (B)oh,
Oh, oh, oh, (E)oh,
(F#)oh, oh, oh,
Oliver's Army — Piano Accompaniment (Falling Notes)
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Free piano accompaniment for "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello in falling-notes (Synthesia) style. Watch the chord notes fall as you sing or play your instrument over the backing. Adjustable key + tempo. Original key A, 144 BPM.
Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (A) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.
Try other practice modes:
About “Oliver's Army”
- Why does the accompaniment for "Oliver's Army" show falling notes?
- Falling Notes makes each chord visual — colored notes drop onto the keyboard so you can FEEL the rhythm of the backing before each entry. Singers find it easier to lock in with the piano's groove when they see the chord notes land instead of just hearing them.
- What key is the piano accompaniment for "Oliver's Army" by Elvis Costello in?
- The backing track is in A at 144 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
- Can I sing over "Oliver's Army" with this accompaniment?
- Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
- Is this a karaoke version of "Oliver's Army"?
- Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "Oliver's Army", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
- Can I use "Oliver's Army" as a backing track for my instrument?
- Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
- Can I download the accompaniment for "Oliver's Army"?
- Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
- Who wrote "Oliver's Army"?
- "Oliver's Army" was originally performed by Elvis Costello. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
- What other backing tracks by Elvis Costello are available?
- Other accompaniments by Elvis Costello: "God Give Me Strength", "She", "Shipbuilding". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
- Can I use "Oliver's Army" as a backing track for singing?
- Yes — this is the piano accompaniment for Oliver's Army by Elvis Costello, with the chord notes falling visually so you can see exactly when each chord lands. Original key is A; transpose live to fit your voice.
- How is this different from the bar-sheet accompaniment?
- Same audio backing — different visualization. Falling notes show each chord note dropping in real time (like Synthesia), which makes the chord rhythm easier to feel. Use whichever view helps you stay on the beat.
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