Alison

by Elvis Costello
Loading sheet music
Building your awesome sheet music
1
Play in Kid Mode

Other arrangements of Alison

Pick a learning view.

Lyrics

Oh, it’s so (A)fun ny to be see ing you af ter (E)so long, girl.

And with the (A)way you look, I un der stand that (G#m7)you are not im (C#m)pressed.

But I heard you let that lit tle (C#m)friend of mine I’ll bet take off your par ty dress.

I’m not I gon na get could (G#m7)too sen ti (C#m)men tal (B)like those (A)oth er stick ly y en tines, say.

I ’cause I don’t know if you are (C#m)lov ing the some light, bod y.

’cause I (D)on ly know it is n’t mine.

way.

(A)Al

i son,

I (A)know this (B)world is (G#m)kill (G#7)ing (C#m)you.

Oh, (A)Al

i son,

my aim is true.

(A)fun ny to Well, I see you got a (E)hus band now.

And Did he (A)leave your pret ty fin gers ly ing (G#m7)in the wed ding (C#m)cake?

But You used to hold him right tle (C#m)in your hand.

I’ll bet he took all he could take.

Some times I wish that I could (G#m7)stop you from (C#m)talk ing (B)when I (A)hear the sil ly things that you say.

I ’cause think some bod y you ter (C#m)put out the big light, bod y.

’cause I (D)can’t ly stand to see you this way.

(A)Al

i son,

I (A)know this (B)world is (G#m)kill (G#7)ing (C#m)you.

Oh, (A)Al

i son,

my aim is true.

My (B)aim is true.

My (B)aim is true.

Alison — Classic Piano Sheet Music

1 person has learned this song

Read "Alison" by Elvis Costello in classic piano notation — both hands, real chords + notes, in the published key of E. Engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML; click any note to jump there as the score follows along at 92 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “Alison

Is this the same engraved sheet music a piano teacher would print for "Alison"?
Yes — the score is rendered server-side from the publisher MusicXML using Verovio (the same engine RISM and OpenScore use). Standard piano notation, treble + bass staves, real chord symbols, key signature E. Print-quality and identical to what you'd see in a printed piano book.
What key is "Alison" by Elvis Costello played in?
Alison is arranged in the key of E on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "Alison"?
The arrangement plays at 92 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "Alison" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "Alison"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "Alison"?
"Alison" was originally performed by Elvis Costello. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What chords are used in "Alison"?
This arrangement uses 11 chords: A, B, B7, Bsus4, C#m, D, E, F#m, +3 more.
What other songs by Elvis Costello can I play here?
Try "EVERYDAY I WRITE THE BOOK", "She", "PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Is this the same notation a piano teacher would hand me?
Yes — "Alison" is rendered at engraver quality (the Verovio engine, the same toolkit RISM and OpenScore editions use) from the original publisher MusicXML. You get standard piano notation: treble + bass clefs, key signature E, time signature, beams, dynamics — everything a printed sheet music book would have. Great for piano students learning to read music properly.
What's the difference between Sheet Music and the other modes here?
Sheet Music is the "classic" view — the one your piano teacher uses. Other modes (Beginner, Fall Down, Simple Sheet, Lead Sheet) trade real notation for color-coded notes and falling shapes to help absolute beginners. Use Sheet Music once you're ready to read both hands at once from real notation.
Can I practice from this view at my own pace?
Yes — slow the tempo from 92 BPM down (or up) without changing the pitch. The score scrolls in time and the currently playing note is highlighted, so you can drill a tough bar at half speed and bump it up once it feels comfortable.
Why can I click a note in the score?
Every notehead is interactive. Click and the audio jumps to that moment so you can drill a specific phrase or bar instead of replaying from the top. The currently playing note is highlighted as the music advances so your eye never loses its place.
Can I download the sheet music as a PDF?
Yes — Sheet Music PDF is one of the download formats for this song. The engraved score prints page-perfect on A4 / Letter so you can practice from paper as well as on screen.

More songs you might like