The previous transcription of this song seems to have been copied from the
Elvis Costello page at this site and simply transposed to start in C.
(Note the copied mispelling of "Reeperbahn" as "Reeperbarn".) Sondre's
version, however, starts in E. Here is an accurate transcription, where the
chord changes better follow the rhythm of the song.

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship or research.#
#----------------------------------------------------------------------------#

Song title:      Human Hands
Original Album:  Imperial Bedroom (Elvis Costello)
Other Album:     Dan In Real Life (Soundtrack) (Sondre Lerche)

Words and Music by Elvis Costello
Copyright © 1982 Columbia Records
Published by 

Transcribed by Gavin Chart (contactus@gartfrets.net)


NOTES:
Sondre Lerche recorded a cover-version of this song for the soundtrack to the
film "Dan In Real Life".


VERSE:
          E                                 B
I've been talking to the wall and it's been answering me
C#m          Ab
  Oh darling how I miss you
    A                          E             F#m
I'm just the mere shadow of my former selfishness
                       B7
I crave the silhouette of your kiss

     E                          B
With only the blue light of the TV on
C#m                       Ab           
  Lip-reading threats and false alarms
          A                     E
There's a boy somewhere holding hands with himself
      F#m                     B7
And a girl in a window on the Reeperbahn


CHORUS:
    A             Bbdim      E               C#m 
Whenever I put my foot in my mouth and you begin to doubt
                       F#
That it's you that I'm dreaming about
     Am                    A
Do I have to draw you a diagram?
Bbdim      E               F#m                  C#m
All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands


[play a flanged B7sus4 and E11 as follows:]

V - downstrum
A - upstrum


   B7sus4          E11
   V A  V A   V A  V A
|--2-/--2-/---2-/--2-/--|
|--5-/--5-/---5-/--3-/--|
|--2-/--2-/---2-/--1-/--|
|--4-/--4-/---4-/--2-/--|
|--2-/--2-/---2-/--0-/--|
|--2-/--2-/---2-/--0-/--|


VERSE:
         E                       B
With the kings and queens of the dance hall craze
C#m                        Ab
  Checkmate in three moves in your heyday
        A                          E        F#m
But the girls don't listen to your lines anymore
                   B7
Now you're part of someone else


VERSE:
       E                     B                      C#m
On the factory floor and you still say "Where's the action?"
        Ab          A
Now you manufacture happiness
        E                     F#m            B7
And get sold on the cheap for someone's satisfaction


[repeat CHORUS]

[repeat "flange"]


VERSE:
E                        B
All you toy soldiers and   scaremongers
C#m                          Ab
Are you living in this world sometimes I wonder
     A                   E                 F#m                   B7
In between saying you've seen too much and saying you've seen it all before


VERSE:
E                     B
Tighter and tighter I hold you tightly
C#m          Ab                 A
  You know I love you more than slightly
  E                 F#m               B7
Although I've never said it like this before


[repeat CHORUS]

Bbdim      E               F#m                  C#m
All I ever want is just to fall into your human hands


[repeat "flange"]

[end]


CHORDS:
E     022100
B     x24442
C#m   x46654
Ab    466544
A     x02220 or 577655
F#m   242222
B7    x2120x
Bbdim x4535x
Am    x02210