I have to give a lot of credit to Elvis Costello.  His collaborations always surprise me.  And in this case, both he and guitarist Bill Frisell do wonders to an already avant-romantic work in Charles Mingus’ staple, Weird Nightmare.

Lyrics

Weird nightmare
You haunt my every dream
Weird nightmare
Tell me what’s your scheme?

Can it be that you’re a part
Of a lonely broken heart?

Weird nightmare
Why must you torment me?
Weird nightmare
Pain and misery

In a heart that’s loved and lost
Take away the grief you’ve caused

Can’t sleep at night
Twist, turn in fright
With the fear that I’ll live it all again
In my dreams

You’re there to haunt me
When you say she doesn’t want me
I’ve been hurt
Do you know what that means?

Weird nightmare
Take away this dream you’ve born
Weird nightmare
Mend a heart that’s torn

That has paid the price of love
A thousand fold
Bring me a love
With a heart of gold…

Weird nightmare