Basement Kiss lyrics - Elvis Costello

Lucy Grace can't show her face
Down in the North End Road, for in Belgravia
Rumors have been whispered and suggestions have been made

Did you sell your friends out when the heat got too intense?
You say you need the danger, but it's only a pretense
You say you need the money, but everybody knows
You can always fall back on your inheritance.

Did you bruise your arms on his false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise your lips on that basement kiss?

Who's that peeking 'round the door?
You can't come here no more, will you go home again?
She used to sit alone for hours,
Spends her evening watering dried flowers

When your Mother came to stay and finally went to bed
Lucy Grace was in the front room shooting through your head
She tried to take your breath away
But gave you something else instead

Did you bruise your arms on his false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise your lips on that basement kiss?

That Tuesday at the function
In her Audrey Hepburn hat
It doesn't suit her much, but she'll get over that
She'll be pale and feign indifference as they're handing out the prizes
Spilling Daddy's words of wisdom
And her ugly sister's tranquilizers

Why were you so tardy putting up your guard?
When you bruise so easy and you try so hard

Did you bruise your arms on his false alarms?
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so snide?
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss
Did you bruise your lips on that basement kiss?