The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
My brave, my brave, my brave face
I've been living in style,
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life,
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back
I've been doing the rounds
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands,
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm going to get back
Ever since you went away
I've had this sentimental inclination
Not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed,
I want to go bury my head
In your pillow
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife,
I've been breaking up
Dirty dishes and throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
Meant for you
As I clear away another
Untouched t.v. dinner
From the table, I laid for two
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
I've been living in style,
Unaccustomed as I am
To the luxury life,
I've been hitting the town
And it didn't hit back
I've been doing the rounds
Unaccustomed as I am
To the time on my hands,
Now I don't have to tell anybody
When I'm going to get back
Ever since you went away
I've had this sentimental inclination
Not to change a single thing
As I pull the sheet back on the bed,
I want to go bury my head
In your pillow
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife,
I've been breaking up
Dirty dishes and throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to
Compose a 'baby will you please come home' note
Meant for you
As I clear away another
Untouched t.v. dinner
From the table, I laid for two
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
And take me to that place
Where I can't find my brave face,
Where I can't find my brave face,
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My brave face
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
My Brave Face Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney Elvis Costello
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This was Co-Written by Elvis Costello. Elvis made Paul pull out his Hofner bass for this one, and even though Paul didn't like to record with it (It was hard to keep in tune) he did.
Released as a forerunner to "Flowers In The Dirt" which arrived one month later, "My Brave Face" and the B-side "Flying to My Home" are written by Paul and Elvis Costello and were actually recorded back in September 1987.
This time the 12", CD, and cassette single all feature the same extra tracks ... "I'm Gonna Be A Wheel Someday" and "Ain't That A Shame" destined for the CHOBA B album.
A promo video is shot on 10th and 11th April 1989 at Strawberry Fields in Liverpool, whereby Paul and his backing musicians are filmed in Black and White in a performance shoot. When the video is released, it includes some old home movie clips which Paul purchased at the 1986 Sotheby's auction. There is plenty of great Beatles memorabilia shown, and at one time one can see Elvis in the studio with Paul. At the same time Paul prepared a colour version of the shoot, which is subsequently released as "The Making of My Brave Face". The video's concept: An asian man selling Beatles memorabilia on TV, which he had stolen from Paul's warehouse. (Viewers can see Paul's Sgt. Pepper's outfit).
The single was released in a picture sleeve with the photograph taken by Richard Haughton. The 12" has a stiff VERY pink inner sleeve, and the label is the "new" parlophone label.