We're all going on a summer holiday
Vigilante's coming out to follow me.
Heard somebody say they're out to collar me.
Anybody wanna swallow me?
It takes two to tumble. It takes two to tango.
Speak up; don't mumble if you're in the combo.
On the beat, on the beat.
Till a man comes along and he says,
'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ.'
See your friends in the state their in.
See your friends getting under their skin.
See your friends getting taken in.
Well, if you only knew the things you do to me.
I'd do anything to confuse the enemy.
There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me.
Take it easy. I think you're bending me.
I've been a bad boy with the standard leader.
My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva.
On the beat, on the upbeat.
Till a man comes along and he says,
'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ.'
See your friends walking down the street.
See your friends never quite complete.
See your friends getting under their feet.
Oh, I don't want to disease you,
but I'm no good with machinery.
Oh, I don't wanna freeze you.
Stop looking at the scenery.
I keep thinking about your mother.
Oh, I don't wanna lick them.
I don't wanna be a lover.
I just wanna be your victim.
I don't go out much at night.
I don't go out much at all.
Did you think you were the only one
who was waiting for a call
On the beat, on the upbeat.
Till a man comes along and he says,
'Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?
Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ.'
See your friends treat me like a stranger.
See your friends despite all the arrangements.
See your friends Nothing here has changed.
Just the beat.
Pump It Up lyrics - Elvis Costello
I've been on tenterhooks
ending in dirty looks,
list'ning to the Muzak,
thinking 'bout this 'n' that.
She said that's that.
I don't wanna chitter-chat.
Turn it down a little bit
or turn it down flat.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Down in the pleasure centre,
hell bent or heaven sent,
listen to the propaganda,
listen to the latest slander.
There's nothing underhand
that she wouldn't understand.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
She's been a bad girl.
She's like a chemical.
Though you try to stop it,
she's like a narcotic.
You wanna torture her.
You wanna talk to her.
All the things you bought for her,
putting up your temp'rature.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
Out in the fashion show,
down in the bargain bin,
you put your passion out
under the pressure pin.
Fall into submission,
hit-and-run transmission.
No use wishing now for any other sin.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
ending in dirty looks,
list'ning to the Muzak,
thinking 'bout this 'n' that.
She said that's that.
I don't wanna chitter-chat.
Turn it down a little bit
or turn it down flat.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Down in the pleasure centre,
hell bent or heaven sent,
listen to the propaganda,
listen to the latest slander.
There's nothing underhand
that she wouldn't understand.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
She's been a bad girl.
She's like a chemical.
Though you try to stop it,
she's like a narcotic.
You wanna torture her.
You wanna talk to her.
All the things you bought for her,
putting up your temp'rature.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
Out in the fashion show,
down in the bargain bin,
you put your passion out
under the pressure pin.
Fall into submission,
hit-and-run transmission.
No use wishing now for any other sin.
Pump it up until you can feel it.
Pump it up when you don't really need it.
Little Triggers lyrics - Elvis Costello
Little triggers that you pull with your tongue.
Little triggers. I don't wanna be hung up, strung up,
when you don't call up.
Little sniggers on your lips.
Little triggers in your grip.
Little triggers. My hand on your hip.
Thinkin' all about those censored sequences,
worryin' about the consequences,
waiting until I come to my senses.
Better put it all in present tenses.
Worryin' about the common decency
when it is only a question of frequency
when you say O.K. But I gotta cheek to be
sayin' you're tired of me when you don't even weaken these
Little triggers. I don't wanna be hung up, strung up,
when you don't call up.
Little sniggers on your lips.
Little triggers in your grip.
Little triggers. My hand on your hip.
Thinkin' all about those censored sequences,
worryin' about the consequences,
waiting until I come to my senses.
Better put it all in present tenses.
Worryin' about the common decency
when it is only a question of frequency
when you say O.K. But I gotta cheek to be
sayin' you're tired of me when you don't even weaken these
You Belong To Me lyrics - Elvis Costello
What are you girls gonna tell your mother?
I don't want to hear another word about young lovers
or hiding your boyfriend in the cupboard.
She's been to see the doctor, so you hope that she recovers.
You act dumb.
You say you're so numb.
You say you don't come
under his thumb.
Don't wanna be a goody-goody.
I don't want just anybody.
No, I don't want anybody
saying 'You belong to me. You belong to me.'
Your eyes are absent, your mouth is silent;
pumping like a fire hydrant.
Things you see are getting hard to swallow.
You're easily led, but you're much too scared to follow.
You've been warned.
You're going to get torn.
No uniform is gonna keep you warm.
I don't want to hear another word about young lovers
or hiding your boyfriend in the cupboard.
She's been to see the doctor, so you hope that she recovers.
You act dumb.
You say you're so numb.
You say you don't come
under his thumb.
Don't wanna be a goody-goody.
I don't want just anybody.
No, I don't want anybody
saying 'You belong to me. You belong to me.'
Your eyes are absent, your mouth is silent;
pumping like a fire hydrant.
Things you see are getting hard to swallow.
You're easily led, but you're much too scared to follow.
You've been warned.
You're going to get torn.
No uniform is gonna keep you warm.
Hand In Hand lyrics - Elvis Costello
No, don't ask me to apologise.
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
You say 'Why don't you be a man about it,
like they do in the grown-up movies?'
But when it comes to the other way around,
you say you just wanna use me. Oh,
you sit and you wonder whether
it's gonna be syndicated.
You sit with your knees together.
All the time your breath is baited.
Hand in Hand.
No, don't ask me to apologise.
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
Don't you know I got the bully boys out
changing someone's facial design,
sitting with my toy room lout,
polishing my precious china
Don't you know I'm an animal?
But don't you know I can't stand up steady?
But you can't show me any kind of hell
that I don't know already.
Hand in Hand.
No, don't ask me to apologise.
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
Hand in hand, hand in hand, hand in hand...
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
You say 'Why don't you be a man about it,
like they do in the grown-up movies?'
But when it comes to the other way around,
you say you just wanna use me. Oh,
you sit and you wonder whether
it's gonna be syndicated.
You sit with your knees together.
All the time your breath is baited.
Hand in Hand.
No, don't ask me to apologise.
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
Don't you know I got the bully boys out
changing someone's facial design,
sitting with my toy room lout,
polishing my precious china
Don't you know I'm an animal?
But don't you know I can't stand up steady?
But you can't show me any kind of hell
that I don't know already.
Hand in Hand.
No, don't ask me to apologise.
I won't ask you to forgive me.
If I'm gonna go down,
you're gonna come with me
Hand in hand, hand in hand, hand in hand...
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea lyrics - Elvis Costello
Photographs of fancy tricks to get your kicks at sixty-six
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Everybody's got new orders
Be a nice girl and kiss the warders
Now the teacher is away
All the kids begin to play
Men come screaming, dressed in white coats
Shake you very gently by the throat
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Photographs of fancy tricks to get your kicks at sixty-six
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Everybody's got new orders
Be a nice girl and kiss the warders
Now the teacher is away
All the kids begin to play
Men come screaming, dressed in white coats
Shake you very gently by the throat
One's named Gus, one's named Alfie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Photographs of fancy tricks to get your kicks at sixty-six
He thinks of all the lips that he licks
And all the girls that he's going to fix
She gave a little flirt, gave herself a little cuddle
But there's no place here for the mini-skirt waddle
Capital punishment, she's last year's model
They call her Natasha when she looks like Elsie
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Oh no it does not move me
Even though I've seen the movie
I don't want to check your pulse
I don't want nobody else
I don't want to go to Chelsea
Lip Service lyrics - Elvis Costello
You left the motor running.
But I know you're so attractive.
Getting in some sharp practice.
You better not do anything reckless.
But everybody is going through the motions.
Everybody is going through the motions.
Are you really only going through the motions?
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
Don't make any sudden movements.
These are dangerous amusements.
When did you become so choosy?
Don't act like you're above me;
just look at your shoes.
[Repeat bridge and chorus]
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
But if you change your mind
you can send a little letter to me
But I know you're so attractive.
Getting in some sharp practice.
You better not do anything reckless.
But everybody is going through the motions.
Everybody is going through the motions.
Are you really only going through the motions?
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
Lip service is all you'll ever get from me.
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
Don't make any sudden movements.
These are dangerous amusements.
When did you become so choosy?
Don't act like you're above me;
just look at your shoes.
[Repeat bridge and chorus]
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
But if you change your mind
you can send it a letter to me
But if you change your mind
you can send a little letter to me
Living In Paradise lyrics - Elvis Costello
I don't like those other guys looking at your curves
I don't like you walking round with physical jerks
Everything they say and do is getting on my nerves
Soon they will be lucky to be picking up the perks
'Cause when they pull the shutters down
and throw up in the dark,
they'll find that all the dogs outside
bite much worse than they bark.
[Chorus:]
Here we are living in paradise,
living in luxury.
Oh, the thrill is here but it won't last long
You better have your fun before it moves along
And you're already looking for another,
fool like me.
I call you Betty Felon 'cause you are a pretty villain
And I think that I should tell them that you'd
make a pretty killing
'Cause meanwhile up in heaven they are waiting at the gate
saying 'We'd always knew you'd make it,
didn't think you'd come this late'.
And now it's much too dangerous to stop what you've begun
When everyone in paradise carries a gun
[Chorus]
Later in the evening when arrangements are made,
I'll be at the keyhole outside your bedroom door.
'Cause I'm the first to know whenever the plans are laid
that never go further than floor to floor.
You think that I don't know the boy that you're touching,
but I'll be at the video and I will be watching
[Chorus]
I don't like you walking round with physical jerks
Everything they say and do is getting on my nerves
Soon they will be lucky to be picking up the perks
'Cause when they pull the shutters down
and throw up in the dark,
they'll find that all the dogs outside
bite much worse than they bark.
[Chorus:]
Here we are living in paradise,
living in luxury.
Oh, the thrill is here but it won't last long
You better have your fun before it moves along
And you're already looking for another,
fool like me.
I call you Betty Felon 'cause you are a pretty villain
And I think that I should tell them that you'd
make a pretty killing
'Cause meanwhile up in heaven they are waiting at the gate
saying 'We'd always knew you'd make it,
didn't think you'd come this late'.
And now it's much too dangerous to stop what you've begun
When everyone in paradise carries a gun
[Chorus]
Later in the evening when arrangements are made,
I'll be at the keyhole outside your bedroom door.
'Cause I'm the first to know whenever the plans are laid
that never go further than floor to floor.
You think that I don't know the boy that you're touching,
but I'll be at the video and I will be watching
[Chorus]
Lipstick Vogue lyrics - Elvis Costello
Don't say you love me when it's just a rumour
Don't say a word if there is any doubt.
Sometimes I think that love is just a tumour;
you've got to cut it out.
You say you're sorry for the things that you've done.
You say you're sorry but you know you don't mean it.
I wouldn't worry. I had so much fun.
Sometimes I almost feel just like a human being
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
oh yeah.
Get to the slot machine almost dead on arrival
Just hit me one more time with that live wire
Maybe they told you you were only a girl in a million
You say I've got not feelings;
this is a good way to kill them.
Select the control and then insert the token
You wanna throw me away but I'm not broken.
You've got a lot to say. Well I'm not joking.
There are some words they don't allow to be spoken.
Sometimes I almost feel just like a human being
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
Don't say a word if there is any doubt.
Sometimes I think that love is just a tumour;
you've got to cut it out.
You say you're sorry for the things that you've done.
You say you're sorry but you know you don't mean it.
I wouldn't worry. I had so much fun.
Sometimes I almost feel just like a human being
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
oh yeah.
Get to the slot machine almost dead on arrival
Just hit me one more time with that live wire
Maybe they told you you were only a girl in a million
You say I've got not feelings;
this is a good way to kill them.
Select the control and then insert the token
You wanna throw me away but I'm not broken.
You've got a lot to say. Well I'm not joking.
There are some words they don't allow to be spoken.
Sometimes I almost feel just like a human being
It's you
not just another mouth in the lipstick vogue
Night Rally lyrics - Elvis Costello
I would send out for assistance but there's someone on the signal wire
And the corporation logo is flashing on and off in the sky
They're putting all your names in the forbidden book
I know what they're doing but I don't want to look
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny
Wait until they've got you running to the
Night rally, night rally, night rally
Everybody's singing with their hand on their heart
About deeds done in the darkest hours
That's just the sort of catchy little melody
To get you singing in the showers
Oh, I know that I'm ungrateful
I've got it lying on a plate
And I'm not buying my share of souvenirs
You can stand to attention
You can pray to your uncle
Only get that chicken out of here
Everyone gets armbands and 3-D glasses
Some are in the back room
And they're taking those night classes
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny
Wait until they've got you running to the
Night rally, night rally, night rally
And the corporation logo is flashing on and off in the sky
They're putting all your names in the forbidden book
I know what they're doing but I don't want to look
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny
Wait until they've got you running to the
Night rally, night rally, night rally
Everybody's singing with their hand on their heart
About deeds done in the darkest hours
That's just the sort of catchy little melody
To get you singing in the showers
Oh, I know that I'm ungrateful
I've got it lying on a plate
And I'm not buying my share of souvenirs
You can stand to attention
You can pray to your uncle
Only get that chicken out of here
Everyone gets armbands and 3-D glasses
Some are in the back room
And they're taking those night classes
You think they're so dumb, you think they're so funny
Wait until they've got you running to the
Night rally, night rally, night rally
Radio Radio lyrics - Elvis Costello
I was tuning in the shine on the light night dial
doing anything my radio advised
with every one of those late night stations
playing songs bringing tears to me eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
when the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe.
They really think we're getting out of control.
[Chorus:]
Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason.
So you had better do as you are told.
You better listen to the radio.
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.
I wanna bite that hand so badly.
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me.
Some of my friends sit around every evening
and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
and the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut up;
they don't wanna hear about it.
It's only inches on the reel-to-reel.
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel
[Chorus]
Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio...
doing anything my radio advised
with every one of those late night stations
playing songs bringing tears to me eyes
I was seriously thinking about hiding the receiver
when the switch broke 'cause it's old
They're saying things that I can hardly believe.
They really think we're getting out of control.
[Chorus:]
Radio is a sound salvation
Radio is cleaning up the nation
They say you better listen to the voice of reason
But they don't give you any choice
'cause they think that it's treason.
So you had better do as you are told.
You better listen to the radio.
I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.
I wanna bite that hand so badly.
I want to make them wish they'd never seen me.
Some of my friends sit around every evening
and they worry about the times ahead
But everybody else is overwhelmed by indifference
and the promise of an early bed
You either shut up or get cut up;
they don't wanna hear about it.
It's only inches on the reel-to-reel.
And the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools
tryin' to anaesthetise the way that you feel
[Chorus]
Wonderful radio
Marvelous radio
Wonderful radio
Radio, radio...
Big Tears lyrics - Elvis Costello
Everyone is busy with the regular routine
The sniper just takes his aim
Everyone is window shopping, no one is amazed
Even if he hit you, you'd still think it's just a graze
You go to a movie, you go to a show
You think that you're living, you don't really know
Big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
Oh, you talk about the new boss automatic clause
But of course they make it all up for you
Always fascinated by the weird edge of town
Come home disappointed every time they put you down
Laughing with the old boys, saying that it's all noise
I suppose big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
All the buttons of my overcoat
They have fallen off one by one
You wouldn't even like me if you'd never had a drink
You wouldn't even like me if you never stopped to think
Standing in the shadow, turning wives to widows
Don't you know big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
Tell me, me or yous been taken in
Tell me, tell me, tell me
The sniper just takes his aim
Everyone is window shopping, no one is amazed
Even if he hit you, you'd still think it's just a graze
You go to a movie, you go to a show
You think that you're living, you don't really know
Big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
Oh, you talk about the new boss automatic clause
But of course they make it all up for you
Always fascinated by the weird edge of town
Come home disappointed every time they put you down
Laughing with the old boys, saying that it's all noise
I suppose big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
All the buttons of my overcoat
They have fallen off one by one
You wouldn't even like me if you'd never had a drink
You wouldn't even like me if you never stopped to think
Standing in the shadow, turning wives to widows
Don't you know big tears mean nothing
You can count them as they fall
Big tears mean nothing
When you're lying in your coffin
Tell me who's been taken in
Tell me, me or yous been taken in
Tell me, tell me, tell me
Crawling To The U.S.A. lyrics - Elvis Costello
I thought I would go to the sea and shrink down very tiny
And slide inside the telephone wire that runs under the briny
Till I found there is a way of crawling to the U.S.A.
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
Saw it late one night on a secret channel
It's farther on along the tunnel
It's way beyond the final station
That's the one they never mention
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
You don't have to pay them that much
You had better bring your lunch
It's undercover, around the houses
Up your skirt and down your trousers
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
She said, "I catch you taking liberties and they do not impress me
Attach me to your credit card and then you can undress me
Everybody is on their knees except the Russians and the Chinese
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
And slide inside the telephone wire that runs under the briny
Till I found there is a way of crawling to the U.S.A.
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
Saw it late one night on a secret channel
It's farther on along the tunnel
It's way beyond the final station
That's the one they never mention
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
You don't have to pay them that much
You had better bring your lunch
It's undercover, around the houses
Up your skirt and down your trousers
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
She said, "I catch you taking liberties and they do not impress me
Attach me to your credit card and then you can undress me
Everybody is on their knees except the Russians and the Chinese
You had better not go too far
There's one way out, there's only one way
Leave your mother and your father
Crawling to the U.S.A.
Running Out Of Angels lyrics - Elvis Costello
They say they're running out of angels
They say I'm running out of time
Oh you don't have to be lucky
It is easier than trying, now they're bringing down a
Hammer on anything that sells
I suppose you're a winner
Because they're running out of angels
And all the lies upon the tongues of all the girls upon the rails
Will ruin any man who moved too soon
All except the one who seems to know more than she tells
You know she looks just like an angel
but she sings so out of tune
They say they're running out of angels
They say I'm running out of time
Oh you don't have to be lucky
It is easier than trying, now they're bringing down a
Hammer on anything that sells
I suppose you're a winner
Because they're running out of angels
Oh
They say I'm running out of time
Oh you don't have to be lucky
It is easier than trying, now they're bringing down a
Hammer on anything that sells
I suppose you're a winner
Because they're running out of angels
And all the lies upon the tongues of all the girls upon the rails
Will ruin any man who moved too soon
All except the one who seems to know more than she tells
You know she looks just like an angel
but she sings so out of tune
They say they're running out of angels
They say I'm running out of time
Oh you don't have to be lucky
It is easier than trying, now they're bringing down a
Hammer on anything that sells
I suppose you're a winner
Because they're running out of angels
Oh
Green Shirt lyrics - Elvis Costello
There's a smart young woman on a light blue screen
Who comes into my house every night.
And she takes all the red, yellow, orange and green
And she turns them into black and white.
But you tease, and you flirt
And you shine all the buttons on your green shirt
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
Better cut off all identifying labels
Before they put you on the torture table
'Cause somewhere in the "Quizling Clinic"
There's a shorthand typist taking seconds over minutes
She's listening in to the Venus line
She's picking out names
I hope none of them are mine
But you tease, and you flirt...
Never said I was a stool pigeon
I never said I was a diplomat
Everybody is under suspicion
But you don't wanna hear about that
'Cause you tease, and you flirt...
Better send a begging letter to the big investigation
Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?
You tease, and you flirt...
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
Who comes into my house every night.
And she takes all the red, yellow, orange and green
And she turns them into black and white.
But you tease, and you flirt
And you shine all the buttons on your green shirt
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
Better cut off all identifying labels
Before they put you on the torture table
'Cause somewhere in the "Quizling Clinic"
There's a shorthand typist taking seconds over minutes
She's listening in to the Venus line
She's picking out names
I hope none of them are mine
But you tease, and you flirt...
Never said I was a stool pigeon
I never said I was a diplomat
Everybody is under suspicion
But you don't wanna hear about that
'Cause you tease, and you flirt...
Better send a begging letter to the big investigation
Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?
You tease, and you flirt...
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
You can please yourself but somebody's gonna get it
Big Boys lyrics - Elvis Costello
I am starting to function
In the usual way
Everything is so provocative
Very very, temporary
I shall walk (I shall walk)
Out of this place (out of this place)
I shall walk
Out on you
'Cause you go silly
If she's willing
Trying so hard to be like the big boys
So you take her to the pictures
Trying to become a fixture
Inch by inch trying to reach her
All the way through the second feature
Worrying about your physical fitness
Tell me how you got this sickness, Oh ohhhh..
I was caught in the suction
By a face like a truncheon
I was down upon one knee
Stroking her vanity
I was stuck on a hammerhead
I came alive and left for dead
As my face returned to red
Choking on my pride and pity
We can talk (we can talk)
Until your face is blue (till your face is blue)
We can talk but she'll get to you
After you've been loved and hated
By the ones you've watched and waited
Found that they were overrated
She'll be the one - when the party's over
She'll be the one - when the girls have gone home
She'll be the one - that you'll wish you'd held onto
She'll be the one - but it's too late for you to
She'll be the one - who knows all your history
She'll be the one -
So you can cross her off your list
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
To be like the big boys, oh.
In the usual way
Everything is so provocative
Very very, temporary
I shall walk (I shall walk)
Out of this place (out of this place)
I shall walk
Out on you
'Cause you go silly
If she's willing
Trying so hard to be like the big boys
So you take her to the pictures
Trying to become a fixture
Inch by inch trying to reach her
All the way through the second feature
Worrying about your physical fitness
Tell me how you got this sickness, Oh ohhhh..
I was caught in the suction
By a face like a truncheon
I was down upon one knee
Stroking her vanity
I was stuck on a hammerhead
I came alive and left for dead
As my face returned to red
Choking on my pride and pity
We can talk (we can talk)
Until your face is blue (till your face is blue)
We can talk but she'll get to you
After you've been loved and hated
By the ones you've watched and waited
Found that they were overrated
She'll be the one - when the party's over
She'll be the one - when the girls have gone home
She'll be the one - that you'll wish you'd held onto
She'll be the one - but it's too late for you to
She'll be the one - who knows all your history
She'll be the one -
So you can cross her off your list
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
And you try so hard
To be like the big boys, oh.
Welcome To The Working Week lyrics - Elvis Costello
Now that your picture's in the paper being rhythmically admired
and you can have anyone that you have ever desired,
all you gotta tell me now is why, why, why, why.
Welcome to the workin' week.
Oh I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.
Welcome to the workin' week.
You gotta do it till you're through it so you better get to it.
All of your family had to kill to survive,
and they're still waitin' for their big day to arrive.
But if they knew how I felt they'd bury me alive.
Welcome to the workin' week.
Oh I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.
Welcome to the workin' week.
You gotta do it till you're through it so you better get to it.
I hear you sayin', "Hey, the city's all right
when you only read about it in books.
Spend all your money gettin' so convinced
that you never even bother to look.
Sometimes I wonder if we're livin' in the same land,
Why d'you wanna be my friend when I feel like a juggler
running out of hands?
Welcome to the workin' week, oh, welcome to the working week.
and you can have anyone that you have ever desired,
all you gotta tell me now is why, why, why, why.
Welcome to the workin' week.
Oh I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.
Welcome to the workin' week.
You gotta do it till you're through it so you better get to it.
All of your family had to kill to survive,
and they're still waitin' for their big day to arrive.
But if they knew how I felt they'd bury me alive.
Welcome to the workin' week.
Oh I know it don't thrill you, I hope it don't kill you.
Welcome to the workin' week.
You gotta do it till you're through it so you better get to it.
I hear you sayin', "Hey, the city's all right
when you only read about it in books.
Spend all your money gettin' so convinced
that you never even bother to look.
Sometimes I wonder if we're livin' in the same land,
Why d'you wanna be my friend when I feel like a juggler
running out of hands?
Welcome to the workin' week, oh, welcome to the working week.
Miracle Man lyrics - Elvis Costello
You never asked me what I wanted. You only asked me why.
I never thought that so much trouble was restin' on my reply,
I could say it was the nights when I was lonely
and you were the only one who'd come.
I could tell you that I like your sensitivity,
when you know it's the way that you walk.
[Chorus]:
Why do you have to say that there's always someone
who can do it better than I can?
But don't you think that I know that walking on the water
won't make me a miracle man?
Baby's gotta have the things she wants.
You know she's gotta have the things she loves.
She's got a ten-inch bamboo cigarette holder
and her black patent leather gloves.
And I'm doing everything just tryin' to please her,
even crawling around on all fours.
Oh, I thought by now that it was gonna be easy,
but she still seems to want for more.
[Chorus]
I hear they're givin' you a bad reputation
just because you've never been denied.
You try to say you've done it all before.
Baby, you know that you just get tired.
Yet everybody loves you so much, girl.
I just don't know how you stand the strain.
Oh, I, I'm the one who's here tonight,
and I don't wanna do it all in vain.
[Chorus]
I never thought that so much trouble was restin' on my reply,
I could say it was the nights when I was lonely
and you were the only one who'd come.
I could tell you that I like your sensitivity,
when you know it's the way that you walk.
[Chorus]:
Why do you have to say that there's always someone
who can do it better than I can?
But don't you think that I know that walking on the water
won't make me a miracle man?
Baby's gotta have the things she wants.
You know she's gotta have the things she loves.
She's got a ten-inch bamboo cigarette holder
and her black patent leather gloves.
And I'm doing everything just tryin' to please her,
even crawling around on all fours.
Oh, I thought by now that it was gonna be easy,
but she still seems to want for more.
[Chorus]
I hear they're givin' you a bad reputation
just because you've never been denied.
You try to say you've done it all before.
Baby, you know that you just get tired.
Yet everybody loves you so much, girl.
I just don't know how you stand the strain.
Oh, I, I'm the one who's here tonight,
and I don't wanna do it all in vain.
[Chorus]
No Dancing lyrics - Elvis Costello
Oh I know that she
Has made a fool of him
Like girls have done so many nights before
Time and time again
Life is so strange
I don't know why
But somebody, somebody has to cry
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
Now he's telling her
Every little thing he's done
Once he glanced at the jackets of some paperbacks
Now he's read every one
He's such a drag
He's not insane
It's just that everybody
Has to feel his pain
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
He's getting down on his knees
He finds that the girl is not so easy to please
Oh oh, after all, his nights were just a paper striptease
She's caught it like some disease
If he says no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing on my own
She can't even speak to him
He can't face her now
He says "Even though I wanna shake your hand
All I ever do is bow.
So now you see
How can it be.
Why can't you give me anythin' but sympathy?"
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing on my own
Has made a fool of him
Like girls have done so many nights before
Time and time again
Life is so strange
I don't know why
But somebody, somebody has to cry
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
Now he's telling her
Every little thing he's done
Once he glanced at the jackets of some paperbacks
Now he's read every one
He's such a drag
He's not insane
It's just that everybody
Has to feel his pain
There's gonna be no dancing when they get home
He's getting down on his knees
He finds that the girl is not so easy to please
Oh oh, after all, his nights were just a paper striptease
She's caught it like some disease
If he says no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing on my own
She can't even speak to him
He can't face her now
He says "Even though I wanna shake your hand
All I ever do is bow.
So now you see
How can it be.
Why can't you give me anythin' but sympathy?"
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing
There's gonna be no dancing on my own
Blame It On Cain lyrics - Elvis Costello
Once upon a time, I had a little money.
Government burglars took it long
before I could mail it to you.
Still, you are the only one.
Now I can't let it slip away.
So if the man with the ticker tape,
he tries to take it,
well this is what I'm gonna say.
[Chorus:]
Blame it on Cain.
Don't blame it on me.
Oh, oh, it's nobody's fault,
but we need somebody to burn.
Well if I was a saint with
a silver cup
and the money got low
we could always heat it up
or trade it in.
But then the radio that heaven will be wired to your purse.
And then you can run down the wave band,
coast to coast, hand in hand.
Bad to worse, curse for curse,
don't be dissatisfied.
So you're not satisfied.
[Chorus]
I think I've lived a little too long
on the outskirts of town
I think I'm going insane
from talking to myself for so long.
Oh but I've never been accused.
When they step on your face,
you wear that good look grin.
I gotta break out one weekend
if I do somebody in.
But every single time
I feel a little stronger,
they tell me it's a crime.
Well how much longer?
[Chorus]
Government burglars took it long
before I could mail it to you.
Still, you are the only one.
Now I can't let it slip away.
So if the man with the ticker tape,
he tries to take it,
well this is what I'm gonna say.
[Chorus:]
Blame it on Cain.
Don't blame it on me.
Oh, oh, it's nobody's fault,
but we need somebody to burn.
Well if I was a saint with
a silver cup
and the money got low
we could always heat it up
or trade it in.
But then the radio that heaven will be wired to your purse.
And then you can run down the wave band,
coast to coast, hand in hand.
Bad to worse, curse for curse,
don't be dissatisfied.
So you're not satisfied.
[Chorus]
I think I've lived a little too long
on the outskirts of town
I think I'm going insane
from talking to myself for so long.
Oh but I've never been accused.
When they step on your face,
you wear that good look grin.
I gotta break out one weekend
if I do somebody in.
But every single time
I feel a little stronger,
they tell me it's a crime.
Well how much longer?
[Chorus]
Alison lyrics - Elvis Costello
Oh it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl.
And with the way you look I understand
that you are not impressed.
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
take off your party dress.
I'm not going to get too sentimental
like those other sticky valentines,
'cause I don't know if you've been loving somebody.
I only know it isn't mine.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
Well I see you've got a husband now.
Did he leave your pretty fingers lying
in the wedding cake?
You used to hold him right in your hand.
I'll bet he took all he could take.
Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking
when I hear the silly things that you say.
I think somebody better put out the big light,
cause I can't stand to see you this way.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
My aim is true.
And with the way you look I understand
that you are not impressed.
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
take off your party dress.
I'm not going to get too sentimental
like those other sticky valentines,
'cause I don't know if you've been loving somebody.
I only know it isn't mine.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
Well I see you've got a husband now.
Did he leave your pretty fingers lying
in the wedding cake?
You used to hold him right in your hand.
I'll bet he took all he could take.
Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking
when I hear the silly things that you say.
I think somebody better put out the big light,
cause I can't stand to see you this way.
Alison, I know this world is killing you.
Oh, Alison, my aim is true.
My aim is true.
Sneaky Feelings lyrics - Elvis Costello
Now everybody's breakin' up somebody else's home,
before somebody else starts breaking up their own.
I get you in my dreams.
You should hear the things you say.
I's not that it's so much fun,
but it's safer that way.
Sneaky feeling, sneaky feelings,
you can't let those kind of feeling show.
I'd like to get right through the way I feel for you,
but I've still got a long way to go.
Why don't we call it a day, and we can both confess.
You can force me to use a little tenderness.
White lies, alibis, anything but say that it's true.
Now we could sit like lovers, staring in each other's eyes,
but the magic of the moment might become too much for you.
Sneaky feeling, sneaky feelings,
you can't let those kind of feeling show.
I'd like to get right through the way I feel for you,
before somebody else starts breaking up their own.
I get you in my dreams.
You should hear the things you say.
I's not that it's so much fun,
but it's safer that way.
Sneaky feeling, sneaky feelings,
you can't let those kind of feeling show.
I'd like to get right through the way I feel for you,
but I've still got a long way to go.
Why don't we call it a day, and we can both confess.
You can force me to use a little tenderness.
White lies, alibis, anything but say that it's true.
Now we could sit like lovers, staring in each other's eyes,
but the magic of the moment might become too much for you.
Sneaky feeling, sneaky feelings,
you can't let those kind of feeling show.
I'd like to get right through the way I feel for you,
(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes lyrics - Elvis Costello
Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain,
that's when I knew that I could not refuse.
And I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
I was watching while you're dancing away.
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway.
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it.
Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh why's that)
Cause she's feeling so abused. (oh that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust, (oh I'm so sad)
but it's so hard to refuse.
How can you say that I'm too old,
when the angels have stolen my red shoes.
Oh, I said "I'm so happy, I could die."
She said "Drop dead," then left with another guy.
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance.
Ever since you got me punctured this has been my sentence.
Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain,
that's when I knew that I could not refuse.
And I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
I was watching while you're dancing away.
Our love got fractured in the echo and sway.
How come everybody wants to be your friend?
You know that it still hurts me just to say it.
Oh, I know that she's disgusted (oh why's that)
Cause she's feeling so abused. (oh that's too bad)
She gets tired of the lust, (oh I'm so sad)
but it's so hard to refuse.
How can you say that I'm too old,
when the angels have stolen my red shoes.
Oh, I said "I'm so happy, I could die."
She said "Drop dead," then left with another guy.
That's what you get if you go chasing after vengeance.
Ever since you got me punctured this has been my sentence.
Oh I used to be disgusted
and now I try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Red shoes, the angels wanna wear my red shoes.
Less Than Zero lyrics - Elvis Costello
Calling Mister Oswald with the swastika tattoo,
there is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo,
carving "v" for vandal on the guilty boy's head.
When he's had enough of that maybe you'll take him to bed
to teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead.
[Chorus:]
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won't detect it,
no your father won't know.
they think that I've got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.
Oswald and his sister are doing it again.
They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen.
They've got a thousand variations: every service with a smile.
They're gonna take a little break, and they'll be back after a while.
well I hear that South America is coming into style.
[Chorus]
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law.
He said he heard about a couple living in the USA.
He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet.
Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away.
[Chorus]
there is a vacancy waiting in the English voodoo,
carving "v" for vandal on the guilty boy's head.
When he's had enough of that maybe you'll take him to bed
to teach him he's alive before he wishes he was dead.
[Chorus:]
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won't detect it,
no your father won't know.
they think that I've got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.
Oswald and his sister are doing it again.
They've got the finest home movies that you have ever seen.
They've got a thousand variations: every service with a smile.
They're gonna take a little break, and they'll be back after a while.
well I hear that South America is coming into style.
[Chorus]
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald said he had an understanding with the law.
He said he heard about a couple living in the USA.
He said they traded in their baby for a Chevrolet.
Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away.
[Chorus]
Mystery Dance lyrics - Elvis Costello
Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill.
He jumped out the window cause he couldn't sit still.
Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
He said "Don't bury me cause I'm not dead yet".
[Chorus:]
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance.
I wanna know about the mystery dance.
Why don't you show me,
'cause I've tried and I've tried,
and I'm still mystified.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.
Well I remember when the lights went out
and I was tryin' to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
so both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it.
[Chorus]
Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
tryin' to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine.
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean.
[Chorus]
He jumped out the window cause he couldn't sit still.
Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
He said "Don't bury me cause I'm not dead yet".
[Chorus:]
Why don't you tell me 'bout the mystery dance.
I wanna know about the mystery dance.
Why don't you show me,
'cause I've tried and I've tried,
and I'm still mystified.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.
I can't do it anymore and I'm not satisfied.
Well I remember when the lights went out
and I was tryin' to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
so both of us were willing, but we didn't know how to do it.
[Chorus]
Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
tryin' to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine.
But what's the use of looking when you don't know what they mean.
[Chorus]
Pay It Back lyrics - Elvis Costello
Stop thief; you're gonna come to grief
if you don't take a little more care.
You're gonna get more than the family plan
from this one shoestring affair.
I may be crazy but I can't contemplate
being trapped between the doctor and the magistrate.
[Chorus:]
One of these days I'm gonna pay it back, pay it back,
one of these days.
One of these days I'm gonna pay it back, pay it back,
one of these days.
And then they told me I could be somebody
if I didn't let too much get in my way.
And I tried so hard just to be myself,
but I keep on fading away.
Until the lights went out, I didn't know what to do.
If I could fool myself, then maybe I'd fool you too.
[Chorus]
I wouldn't say that I was raised on romance.
Let's not get stuck in the past.
I love you more than everything in the world.
I don't expect that will last.
They told me everything was guaranteed.
Somebody somewhere must've lied to me.
[Chorus].
if you don't take a little more care.
You're gonna get more than the family plan
from this one shoestring affair.
I may be crazy but I can't contemplate
being trapped between the doctor and the magistrate.
[Chorus:]
One of these days I'm gonna pay it back, pay it back,
one of these days.
One of these days I'm gonna pay it back, pay it back,
one of these days.
And then they told me I could be somebody
if I didn't let too much get in my way.
And I tried so hard just to be myself,
but I keep on fading away.
Until the lights went out, I didn't know what to do.
If I could fool myself, then maybe I'd fool you too.
[Chorus]
I wouldn't say that I was raised on romance.
Let's not get stuck in the past.
I love you more than everything in the world.
I don't expect that will last.
They told me everything was guaranteed.
Somebody somewhere must've lied to me.
[Chorus].
I'm Not Angry lyrics - Elvis Costello
You're upstairs with the boyfriend while I'm left here to listen.
I hear you calling his name, I hear the stutter of ignition.
I could hear you whispering as I crept by your door.
So you found some other joker who could please you more.
[Chorus:]
I'm not angry, I'm not angry anymore.
I'm not angry, I'm not angry anymore.
Ooh, I know what you're doin'.
I know where you've been.
I know where, but I don't care,
'cause there's no such thing as an original sin.
I've got this camera click, click, clickin' in my head.
I got you talking with your hands, got you smiling with your legs.
Spent all my time in a vanity factory,
wonderin' when they're gonna come and take it all back.
[Chorus]
I hear you calling his name, I hear the stutter of ignition.
I could hear you whispering as I crept by your door.
So you found some other joker who could please you more.
[Chorus:]
I'm not angry, I'm not angry anymore.
I'm not angry, I'm not angry anymore.
Ooh, I know what you're doin'.
I know where you've been.
I know where, but I don't care,
'cause there's no such thing as an original sin.
I've got this camera click, click, clickin' in my head.
I got you talking with your hands, got you smiling with your legs.
Spent all my time in a vanity factory,
wonderin' when they're gonna come and take it all back.
[Chorus]
Waiting For The End Of The World lyrics - Elvis Costello
The man from the television crawled into the train.
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time.
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment,
so they'll probably pull his hands off
when they find out his name.
And then they shut down the power all along the line,
and we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine.
They got to touching all the girls were to scared to call out.
Nobody was saying anything at all.
We were waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world.
Dear Lord I sincerely hope you're coming
'cause you really started something.
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again.
We got to the station about twenty minutes later.
The legendary hitchhiker says that he knows where it's at.
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that,
with his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes,
his suntan lotion and his castanets.
He was waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world.
Dear Lord I sincerely hope you're coming
'cause you really started something.
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
all got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah.
Hiding from a scandal in the national press,
they had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress.
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach,
but don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach.
I wonder who he's gonna stick it in this time.
Everyone was looking for a little entertainment,
so they'll probably pull his hands off
when they find out his name.
And then they shut down the power all along the line,
and we got stuck in the tunnel where no lights shine.
They got to touching all the girls were to scared to call out.
Nobody was saying anything at all.
We were waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world.
Dear Lord I sincerely hope you're coming
'cause you really started something.
Things got back to normal as the train began to roll again.
We got to the station about twenty minutes later.
The legendary hitchhiker says that he knows where it's at.
Now he'd like to go to Spain or somewhere like that,
with his two-tone Bible and his funny cigarettes,
his suntan lotion and his castanets.
He was waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world,
waiting for the end of the world.
Dear Lord I sincerely hope you're coming
'cause you really started something.
And then the bride, the groom, the congregation and the priest
all got onto the train when we were three stations east, yeah.
Hiding from a scandal in the national press,
they had been trying to get married since they stole the wedding dress.
You may see them drowning as you stroll along the beach,
but don't throw out the lifeline till they're clean out of reach.
Watching The Detectives lyrics - Elvis Costello
Nice girls not one with a defect,
cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct.
Red dogs under illegal legs.
She looks so good that he gets down and begs.
[Chorus:]
She is watching the detectives.
"ooh, he's so cute!"
She is watching the detectives
when they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.
They beat him up until the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Long shot of that jumping sign,
Visible shivers running down my spine.
Cut the baby taking off her clothes.
Close-up of the sign that says,"We never close"
You snatch a tune, you a match a cigarette,
She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet.
I don't know how much more of this I can take.
She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake.
[Chorus]
You think you're alone until you realize you're in it.
Now fear is here to stay. Love is here for a visit.
They call it instant justice when it's past the legal limit.
Someone's scratching at the window. I wonder who is it?
The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents
who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance.
Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay,
it only took my little fingers to blow you away.
Just like watching the detectives.
Don't get cute!"
It's just like watching the detectives.
I get so angry when the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Watching the detectives.
It's just like watching the detectives.
cellophane shrink-wrapped, so correct.
Red dogs under illegal legs.
She looks so good that he gets down and begs.
[Chorus:]
She is watching the detectives.
"ooh, he's so cute!"
She is watching the detectives
when they shoot, shoot, shoot, shoot.
They beat him up until the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Long shot of that jumping sign,
Visible shivers running down my spine.
Cut the baby taking off her clothes.
Close-up of the sign that says,"We never close"
You snatch a tune, you a match a cigarette,
She pulls the eyes out with a face like a magnet.
I don't know how much more of this I can take.
She's filing her nails while they're dragging the lake.
[Chorus]
You think you're alone until you realize you're in it.
Now fear is here to stay. Love is here for a visit.
They call it instant justice when it's past the legal limit.
Someone's scratching at the window. I wonder who is it?
The detectives come to check if you belong to the parents
who are ready to hear the worst about their daughter's disappearance.
Though it nearly took a miracle to get you to stay,
it only took my little fingers to blow you away.
Just like watching the detectives.
Don't get cute!"
It's just like watching the detectives.
I get so angry when the teardrops start,
but he can't be wounded 'cause he's got no heart.
Watching the detectives.
It's just like watching the detectives.
Radio Sweetheart lyrics - Elvis Costello
My head is spinning and my legs are weak
Goose step dancing, can't hear myself speak
Hope in the eyes of the ugly girls
That settle for the lies of the last chancers
When slow motion drunks pick wallflower dancers
You come here looking for the ride to glory
Go back home with a hard luck story
I can hardly wait around until the weekend comes to town
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Hide your love, hide your love
Though we are so far apart
You've got to hide your love
'Cause that's the way the whole thing started
I wish we had never parted
When it's late and the night gets colder
Don't lay your head on any other shoulder
Some hire themselves out for a good time
But you and I, we have been sold
So I keep on saying...
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Hide your love, hide your love
Though we are so far apart
You've got to hide your love
'Cause that's the way the whole thing started
I wish we had never parted
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Goose step dancing, can't hear myself speak
Hope in the eyes of the ugly girls
That settle for the lies of the last chancers
When slow motion drunks pick wallflower dancers
You come here looking for the ride to glory
Go back home with a hard luck story
I can hardly wait around until the weekend comes to town
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Hide your love, hide your love
Though we are so far apart
You've got to hide your love
'Cause that's the way the whole thing started
I wish we had never parted
When it's late and the night gets colder
Don't lay your head on any other shoulder
Some hire themselves out for a good time
But you and I, we have been sold
So I keep on saying...
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Hide your love, hide your love
Though we are so far apart
You've got to hide your love
'Cause that's the way the whole thing started
I wish we had never parted
Play one more for my radio sweetheart
Stranger In The House lyrics - Elvis Costello
This never was one of the great romances
But I thought you'd always have those young girl's eyes
But now they look in tired and bitter glances
At the ghost of a man who walks 'round in my disguise
I get the feeling that I don't belong here
But there's no welcome in the window anyway
And I look down for a number on my keychain
'Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday
There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
And now you say you've got no expectations
But I know you also miss those carefree days
And for all the angry words that passed between us
You still don't understand me when I say
There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
But I thought you'd always have those young girl's eyes
But now they look in tired and bitter glances
At the ghost of a man who walks 'round in my disguise
I get the feeling that I don't belong here
But there's no welcome in the window anyway
And I look down for a number on my keychain
'Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday
There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
And now you say you've got no expectations
But I know you also miss those carefree days
And for all the angry words that passed between us
You still don't understand me when I say
There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face
But everybody says he's taken my place
There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see
But everybody says he looks like me
Imagination (Is A Powerful Deceiver) lyrics - Elvis Costello
So you're trying to make connection, you heard whispers in the hall
She'll be out again this evening, when you come around to call
So, you dodge the lady-killer, who came creepin' 'cross the floor
Then you caught up in a whirlwind, you got blown right out the door
Oh, yes it was a whirlwind, sweet romance was on your side
If you wanna dance on my face, you must tell me why you lied
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I see a look of recognition, so well hidden in your eye
And your peepshow regulations, they just don't seem to apply,
Well, did I see you in the circus, in the ring without a hand
Now you think that you can curse us, steal the show and stop the band
Oh, you can follow your dreams, oh but please don't lead me on,
If you wanna bleed in my face, you were here and now you're gone
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
She'll be out again this evening, when you come around to call
So, you dodge the lady-killer, who came creepin' 'cross the floor
Then you caught up in a whirlwind, you got blown right out the door
Oh, yes it was a whirlwind, sweet romance was on your side
If you wanna dance on my face, you must tell me why you lied
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I see a look of recognition, so well hidden in your eye
And your peepshow regulations, they just don't seem to apply,
Well, did I see you in the circus, in the ring without a hand
Now you think that you can curse us, steal the show and stop the band
Oh, you can follow your dreams, oh but please don't lead me on,
If you wanna bleed in my face, you were here and now you're gone
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
Cheap Reward lyrics - Elvis Costello
Oh, well, I feel so loose tonight I might fall to pieces
So be prepared to sweep me out the door
And I might be horizontal by the time the music ceases
So I think I'll get acquainted with the floor
Oh, I was trying to get away from the things that I always do
Hello, floorboards once again - how are you?
Lip Service - well, that's all you'll ever get from me
Well, how could you believe I'll take you seriously?
With your cheap rewards, your blackmail, and your comical rage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
All the sign posts on this road that point one way
Don't act like you're above me, just look at your shoes
I'll turn the light out now 'cause there's nothing more to say
And it's all been lost before so there's nothing to lose
Oh, but you could say that you love me very painlessly
I would've done the same for you, oh, but you said to me:
Lip service - well, that's all you'll ever get from me
Well, how could you believe I'd take you seriously?
With your cheap rewards, your blackmail, and your comical rage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
So be prepared to sweep me out the door
And I might be horizontal by the time the music ceases
So I think I'll get acquainted with the floor
Oh, I was trying to get away from the things that I always do
Hello, floorboards once again - how are you?
Lip Service - well, that's all you'll ever get from me
Well, how could you believe I'll take you seriously?
With your cheap rewards, your blackmail, and your comical rage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
All the sign posts on this road that point one way
Don't act like you're above me, just look at your shoes
I'll turn the light out now 'cause there's nothing more to say
And it's all been lost before so there's nothing to lose
Oh, but you could say that you love me very painlessly
I would've done the same for you, oh, but you said to me:
Lip service - well, that's all you'll ever get from me
Well, how could you believe I'd take you seriously?
With your cheap rewards, your blackmail, and your comical rage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
Just remember you'll only be the boss so long as you pay my wage
Jump Up lyrics - Elvis Costello
Everybody's talking like they can't sit down
And looking like they can't stand up
It must be the lastest style
And they've seen a lot of things that you never see
Back on the mile up to the hanging tree
Some people can't keep their fingers clean
Just clicking their heels to the beat of the scene
Trying to keep careen until the first edition of last night's obituries
Jump up - hold on tight
Can't trust the promise or a guarantee
'Cause the man 'round the curve says that he's never heard
Of you or me
No tombstone would ever surprise me
When I'm locked in a room about half the size of a matchbox
Got holes in my socks
They match the ones that I got in my feet
I put my feet in the holes in the street and somebody paved me over
I was a statue standing on the corner
Tell me, how else can a boy get to see those pretty pleats?
Candidate talkin' on the radio from the "Cheaters Jamboree"
It must be their lastest fool
'Cause it's a two-horse race and he changed his bets
Like it was just another brand of cigarettes
Some people judge and they just guess the rest
They can't understand that don't mean that you're blessed
They ought to catch the Express Next Stop No Where
That way you can forget
Jump up - hold on tight
Can't trust the promise or a guarantee
'Cause the man 'round the curve says that he's never heard
Of you or me
And looking like they can't stand up
It must be the lastest style
And they've seen a lot of things that you never see
Back on the mile up to the hanging tree
Some people can't keep their fingers clean
Just clicking their heels to the beat of the scene
Trying to keep careen until the first edition of last night's obituries
Jump up - hold on tight
Can't trust the promise or a guarantee
'Cause the man 'round the curve says that he's never heard
Of you or me
No tombstone would ever surprise me
When I'm locked in a room about half the size of a matchbox
Got holes in my socks
They match the ones that I got in my feet
I put my feet in the holes in the street and somebody paved me over
I was a statue standing on the corner
Tell me, how else can a boy get to see those pretty pleats?
Candidate talkin' on the radio from the "Cheaters Jamboree"
It must be their lastest fool
'Cause it's a two-horse race and he changed his bets
Like it was just another brand of cigarettes
Some people judge and they just guess the rest
They can't understand that don't mean that you're blessed
They ought to catch the Express Next Stop No Where
That way you can forget
Jump up - hold on tight
Can't trust the promise or a guarantee
'Cause the man 'round the curve says that he's never heard
Of you or me
Wave A White Flag lyrics - Elvis Costello
Take off your shoes, hang up your wings
Stack up the chairs, roll up the rug
Savor the things that sobriety brings
Drain in the last from a jug
But when I hit the bottle, there's no tellin' what I'll do
'Cause something deep inside me wants to turn you black and blue
I can't resist you, I can't wait
To twist your loving arms till you capitulate
Beat me in the kitchen, and I'll beat you in the hall
There's nothing I love better than a free for all
To take your pretty neck and see which way it bends
But when it is all over we will still be friends
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Oh, was it all right, or was it okay
I'll make it all up to you someday
Oh, but you didn't have to laugh that way
Oh, no, you didn't have to laugh that way
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Gee, baby, hope you don't murder me
Stack up the chairs, roll up the rug
Savor the things that sobriety brings
Drain in the last from a jug
But when I hit the bottle, there's no tellin' what I'll do
'Cause something deep inside me wants to turn you black and blue
I can't resist you, I can't wait
To twist your loving arms till you capitulate
Beat me in the kitchen, and I'll beat you in the hall
There's nothing I love better than a free for all
To take your pretty neck and see which way it bends
But when it is all over we will still be friends
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Oh, was it all right, or was it okay
I'll make it all up to you someday
Oh, but you didn't have to laugh that way
Oh, no, you didn't have to laugh that way
Wave a white flag, put away the pistol
Too many people just can't get kissed
But if there's nothin' I can do to make amends, baby
Hope you don't murder me
Gee, baby, hope you don't murder me
Poison Moon lyrics - Elvis Costello
Cut loose in a nightmare, cast off in my dreams
If home is anywhere that I can hang my hat
Then it's coming apart at the seams
My luck is hanging upside down
I try to hold on tight
But money's rolling out of town
And love slips right out of sight
And these bones, they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
You look in the mirror
I'm sorry, but it can't be replaced
You're thrown straight out in that cruel parade
Buttoned down and laced
It starts like fascination, it ends up like a trance
You've gotta use your imagination on some of that magazine romance
And these bones - they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
If home is anywhere that I can hang my hat
Then it's coming apart at the seams
My luck is hanging upside down
I try to hold on tight
But money's rolling out of town
And love slips right out of sight
And these bones, they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
You look in the mirror
I'm sorry, but it can't be replaced
You're thrown straight out in that cruel parade
Buttoned down and laced
It starts like fascination, it ends up like a trance
You've gotta use your imagination on some of that magazine romance
And these bones - they don't look so good to me
Jokers talk and they all disagree
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
One day soon, I will laugh right in the face of the poison moon
Abandoned Masquerade lyrics - Elvis Costello
The glitter on a paint and plaster face
Is covering desire and disgrace
We could be lovers
But no one suspects at all
Once you're inside that costume ball
And now I'm sitting here before the mirror
I have the skill still to disguise my tears
Then as the magic starts to fade
I find myself abandoning the masquerade
Even though you're suffering
You try to hide it
And pretend you're so nonchalant
You can cry a pool of tears
And sit beside it
Then perhaps you'll know what you want
I hope you never feel this much despair
Or know the meaning of that empty chair
As the illusions that we made all fade away
In this abandoned masquerade
Is covering desire and disgrace
We could be lovers
But no one suspects at all
Once you're inside that costume ball
And now I'm sitting here before the mirror
I have the skill still to disguise my tears
Then as the magic starts to fade
I find myself abandoning the masquerade
Even though you're suffering
You try to hide it
And pretend you're so nonchalant
You can cry a pool of tears
And sit beside it
Then perhaps you'll know what you want
I hope you never feel this much despair
Or know the meaning of that empty chair
As the illusions that we made all fade away
In this abandoned masquerade
April 5th lyrics - Elvis Costello (with Rosanne Cash & Kris Kristofferson)
You want love
But it's never deep enough
You want life
But it's never long enough
You want peace
Like it's something you can buy
You want time
But you're content to watch it fly
I'm not afraid
And I refuse to be
I can't fall
There's nothing to stop me
You believe in dreams
In a dream forsaken land
You believe the heart
Is the measure of a man
It's an old love story
And I swear to God it's true
You believe in me
And I believe in you
I'm not afraid
And I refuse to be
I can't fall
There's nothing to stop me
You want imagination
But you cannot pretend
You need air
But you won't even break a window
You want space
For some pretty stars to lend
You want free will
Or something like it that you can bend
I can't think
It's getting hard to do
You can't fail
There's nothing to stop you
It's an old love story
And I swear to God it's true
You believe in me
And I believe in you
But it's never deep enough
You want life
But it's never long enough
You want peace
Like it's something you can buy
You want time
But you're content to watch it fly
I'm not afraid
And I refuse to be
I can't fall
There's nothing to stop me
You believe in dreams
In a dream forsaken land
You believe the heart
Is the measure of a man
It's an old love story
And I swear to God it's true
You believe in me
And I believe in you
I'm not afraid
And I refuse to be
I can't fall
There's nothing to stop me
You want imagination
But you cannot pretend
You need air
But you won't even break a window
You want space
For some pretty stars to lend
You want free will
Or something like it that you can bend
I can't think
It's getting hard to do
You can't fail
There's nothing to stop you
It's an old love story
And I swear to God it's true
You believe in me
And I believe in you
Back On My Feet lyrics - Elvis Costello
How many days does the wet weather lack?
I wanna go where the clouds when they roll back
Reveal a man in an old mack
Living on a park bench
Sitting on his own
Cut to the rain as it rolls down the glass
But then she leaves through the lightning and thunder
You see a man going under
This is how it happens
This is what he said
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
Focus in on the breath of a man
Takes a brown paper bag from his knapsack
Between his whispers and wisecracks
He's looking for the wishing
Screaming at the sky
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
"I'll be fine again,
Be all right without you
I'll stand up again
Kick off the puzzlement, too"
Cut back again to a girl walking by
To the beat of her old shoes and rolled socks
Climb on an invisible soapbox
Laughing at the traffic
Shouting at the word
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
"I'll be fine again,
Be all right without you
I'll stand up again
Kick off the puzzlement, too"
Seeing life through the eyes of a man
As he lives and he dies by a simple titan
Well there you go, though you trying hard to know
When he's there on his legs
Sees the kinks where the people all go
Things start to fade as he pulls down the shade
And the picture made is in glorious cinemascope
I wanna go where the clouds when they roll back
Reveal a man in an old mack
Living on a park bench
Sitting on his own
Cut to the rain as it rolls down the glass
But then she leaves through the lightning and thunder
You see a man going under
This is how it happens
This is what he said
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
Focus in on the breath of a man
Takes a brown paper bag from his knapsack
Between his whispers and wisecracks
He's looking for the wishing
Screaming at the sky
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
"I'll be fine again,
Be all right without you
I'll stand up again
Kick off the puzzlement, too"
Cut back again to a girl walking by
To the beat of her old shoes and rolled socks
Climb on an invisible soapbox
Laughing at the traffic
Shouting at the word
"I don't need love
Temptation is sweet
Give me your hand
Till I'm back on my feet
You're always telling me
About my misery
I'll see things you'll never see
Don't pity me"
"I'll be fine again,
Be all right without you
I'll stand up again
Kick off the puzzlement, too"
Seeing life through the eyes of a man
As he lives and he dies by a simple titan
Well there you go, though you trying hard to know
When he's there on his legs
Sees the kinks where the people all go
Things start to fade as he pulls down the shade
And the picture made is in glorious cinemascope
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?
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?
Bright Blue Times lyrics - Elvis Costello
Alone in the crowd
Simply taking up space
You would never admit to tears
Till they're rolling down your face
[Chorus:]
One day, love, long from now
Maybe you'll leave that we
Live in bright blue times
Alone in the dark
There's a voice in your head
You would never admit your name
Could be someone else instead
[Chorus]
Simply taking up space
You would never admit to tears
Till they're rolling down your face
[Chorus:]
One day, love, long from now
Maybe you'll leave that we
Live in bright blue times
Alone in the dark
There's a voice in your head
You would never admit your name
Could be someone else instead
[Chorus]
Brilliant Disguise lyrics - Elvis Costello
I hold you in my arms
There's a band playing
What are those words whispered, baby
Just as you turn away?
Well I saw you last night
Out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what I got in this
New thing I found
So tell me what I see
When I look into your eyes
Is that you, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
I heard someone call your name
Underneath my willow
I saw something tucked in shame
Underneath your pillow
Well I tried so hard, baby
But I just can't see
What a woman like you
Is doing with me
So tell me who I see
When I look into your eyes
Is that you, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
Now look at me, baby
Struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart
When out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim
I walk this world in wealth
I wanna know it's you I don't trust
'Cause I damn sure don't trust myself
Now you play the lovin' woman
I play the faithful man
Just don't look too close
Into the palm of my hand
When we stood at the altar
The gypsy swore our future looked right
But in the wee, wee hours, maybe baby,
The gypsy lied
So when you look at me
You better look hard and look twice
Is that me, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on a man
Who doubts what he's sure of
There's a band playing
What are those words whispered, baby
Just as you turn away?
Well I saw you last night
Out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what I got in this
New thing I found
So tell me what I see
When I look into your eyes
Is that you, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
I heard someone call your name
Underneath my willow
I saw something tucked in shame
Underneath your pillow
Well I tried so hard, baby
But I just can't see
What a woman like you
Is doing with me
So tell me who I see
When I look into your eyes
Is that you, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
Now look at me, baby
Struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart
When out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim
I walk this world in wealth
I wanna know it's you I don't trust
'Cause I damn sure don't trust myself
Now you play the lovin' woman
I play the faithful man
Just don't look too close
Into the palm of my hand
When we stood at the altar
The gypsy swore our future looked right
But in the wee, wee hours, maybe baby,
The gypsy lied
So when you look at me
You better look hard and look twice
Is that me, baby
Or just a brilliant disguise?
Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on a man
Who doubts what he's sure of
Burnt Sugar Is So Bitter lyrics - Elvis Costello
She says what has her daddy done
That you want him to be punished
When she woke up one day to find
That he was starting to vanish
But _if you hope_ (?) to hear voices
You know you should not be listening
Push the vigilant lips
Make a slice of her face
Said the scandalous whispering
She's not on her own with the rest of her riches
As the kids tear down the refrigerator pictures
She picks up the bills and pays the babysitter
'Cause everybody knows burnt sugar is so bitter
And once there was a time
Before you turned strange
She thought they'd be together
For more than a lifetime
Look at them now
My, how things have changed
He can tell his sweetheart
Out of any girl on just a whiff
And turn it from a candy to a caramel
And make her hate the silouette she used to feel
And say "I know nothing about you."
Now what's left of the birthday cake
Smeared and beautifully frosted
An absent father picks up the phone
To find the number's unlisted
While the kids are distracted
She'll notice _she's nervous at all_ (?)
But how long will it take
Not to make a mistake
When a gentleman comes to call
She's not on her own with the rest of her riches
As the kids tear down their refrigerator pictures
They already know how a woman may advance
From a pretty picture hat to a supermarket trance
Where it is unkind, she might as well forget it
'Cause everybody knows burnt sugar is so bitter
Burnt sugar is so bitter
Burnt sugar
Burnt sugar
Burnt sugar
That you want him to be punished
When she woke up one day to find
That he was starting to vanish
But _if you hope_ (?) to hear voices
You know you should not be listening
Push the vigilant lips
Make a slice of her face
Said the scandalous whispering
She's not on her own with the rest of her riches
As the kids tear down the refrigerator pictures
She picks up the bills and pays the babysitter
'Cause everybody knows burnt sugar is so bitter
And once there was a time
Before you turned strange
She thought they'd be together
For more than a lifetime
Look at them now
My, how things have changed
He can tell his sweetheart
Out of any girl on just a whiff
And turn it from a candy to a caramel
And make her hate the silouette she used to feel
And say "I know nothing about you."
Now what's left of the birthday cake
Smeared and beautifully frosted
An absent father picks up the phone
To find the number's unlisted
While the kids are distracted
She'll notice _she's nervous at all_ (?)
But how long will it take
Not to make a mistake
When a gentleman comes to call
She's not on her own with the rest of her riches
As the kids tear down their refrigerator pictures
They already know how a woman may advance
From a pretty picture hat to a supermarket trance
Where it is unkind, she might as well forget it
'Cause everybody knows burnt sugar is so bitter
Burnt sugar is so bitter
Burnt sugar
Burnt sugar
Burnt sugar
Come Away, Death lyrics - Elvis Costello
Come away, come away, death
And in sad Cyprus let me be laid
Fie away, fie away, breath
I am slain by a fair cruel maid
My shroud of white stuck all with you
O prepare it
My part of death no one so true
Did share it
Come away, come away, death
Not a flower, not a flower, sweet
On my black coffin let there be strewn
Not a friend, not a friend, greet
My poor corpse where my bones shall be thrown
A thousand thousand sighs to say
Lay me over
Sad true lover never find my grave
To weep there
Come away, come away, death
And in sad Cyprus let me be laid
Fie away, fie away, breath
I am slain by a fair cruel maid
My shroud of white stuck all with you
O prepare it
My part of death no one so true
Did share it
Come away, come away, death
Not a flower, not a flower, sweet
On my black coffin let there be strewn
Not a friend, not a friend, greet
My poor corpse where my bones shall be thrown
A thousand thousand sighs to say
Lay me over
Sad true lover never find my grave
To weep there
Come away, come away, death
Couldn't You Keep That To Yourself lyrics - Elvis Costello
The tiny slip at midnight
A little sip at noon
You're tired and torn approaching dawn
My penitent buffoon
Wouldn't you think I'd know by now
I shouldn't have entertained it
Couldn't you keep that to yourself
You cried for my forgiveness
You say it sets you free
You summon dear the shameful tears
That spill all over me
Wouldn't you think I'd know by now
I shouldn't have entertained it
Couldn't you keep that to yourself
The penny rides at evening tide
The vain requests
The blush of the night
And the blooming bush
Where you failed every test
What should I believe of you?
What should I forget
Am I innocent yet
Is it the wife you would have beaten
Is it the child you couldn't bear?
I fear you have mistaken me
For somebody who cares
The sophisticated victim
That you skilfully request
You can hide behind your wishes
You can hide behind despair
And all the wretched syndroms
That carry away the blame
Couldn't you keep you keep that to yourself
And wouldn't you shouldn't you couldn't you
Keep that to yourself
A little sip at noon
You're tired and torn approaching dawn
My penitent buffoon
Wouldn't you think I'd know by now
I shouldn't have entertained it
Couldn't you keep that to yourself
You cried for my forgiveness
You say it sets you free
You summon dear the shameful tears
That spill all over me
Wouldn't you think I'd know by now
I shouldn't have entertained it
Couldn't you keep that to yourself
The penny rides at evening tide
The vain requests
The blush of the night
And the blooming bush
Where you failed every test
What should I believe of you?
What should I forget
Am I innocent yet
Is it the wife you would have beaten
Is it the child you couldn't bear?
I fear you have mistaken me
For somebody who cares
The sophisticated victim
That you skilfully request
You can hide behind your wishes
You can hide behind despair
And all the wretched syndroms
That carry away the blame
Couldn't you keep you keep that to yourself
And wouldn't you shouldn't you couldn't you
Keep that to yourself
Dirty Rotten Shame lyrics - Elvis Costello
I recall the good old days
But thankfully, they've gone
Now the ponies all are broken nags
That stumble as they groan
And throw the jockeys from their throne
When there are pitches left to dodge
And lions left to tame
But it's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
It's a dirty rotten shame
That when you're frivolous and strong
It isn't youth, its fearlessness
That has been wasted on the young
The cruel are in the cradle
And the bishop's in the bag
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
Now I find life a millionaire
That brags for rags and jewels
A snarling pup is wild enough
But as his anger proves
He's left to sharpen useless tools
That tear and graze and finer phrase
But few are worth the name
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
It's a dirty rotten shame
And that is not an idle boast
When all your courage and your strength
Will leave you as you need it most
When there are lamps to dampen
And cauliflowers to flip
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
But thankfully, they've gone
Now the ponies all are broken nags
That stumble as they groan
And throw the jockeys from their throne
When there are pitches left to dodge
And lions left to tame
But it's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
It's a dirty rotten shame
That when you're frivolous and strong
It isn't youth, its fearlessness
That has been wasted on the young
The cruel are in the cradle
And the bishop's in the bag
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
Now I find life a millionaire
That brags for rags and jewels
A snarling pup is wild enough
But as his anger proves
He's left to sharpen useless tools
That tear and graze and finer phrase
But few are worth the name
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
It's a dirty rotten shame
And that is not an idle boast
When all your courage and your strength
Will leave you as you need it most
When there are lamps to dampen
And cauliflowers to flip
It's nothing but a dirty rotten shame
Don't Be Careless Love lyrics - Elvis Costello
Burn the midnight lamp
Down until the dawn
I'll keep watch
Until I'm sure you're coming home
Shadows play
And flicker on the bedroom wall
They turn into a bad dream overnight
Something could be terribly wrong
Don't be careless love
Don't be careless love
Don't be, don't be careless
In my dream you're running nowhere
Every step you've taken turns to glue
Walking down a spiral staircase
Failing through, failing through
Don't be careless love
Be careless love
The lamp burns down and out
I'm getting pretty tired of this
I feel so bad
Something might be going amiss
I won't be there
So look out for yourself
You're getting in deep whatever you do
Don't let me go back to sleep
Don't be careless love
Don't be careless love
Don't be, don't be careless
Saw your face in the morning paper
Saw your body rolled up in a rug
Chopped up into two little pieces
By some thug
Don't be careless love
Be careless love
But in the morning light
When I wake up again
You're by my side
And that's the way it's always been
But in the dark
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Don't be careless love
Down until the dawn
I'll keep watch
Until I'm sure you're coming home
Shadows play
And flicker on the bedroom wall
They turn into a bad dream overnight
Something could be terribly wrong
Don't be careless love
Don't be careless love
Don't be, don't be careless
In my dream you're running nowhere
Every step you've taken turns to glue
Walking down a spiral staircase
Failing through, failing through
Don't be careless love
Be careless love
The lamp burns down and out
I'm getting pretty tired of this
I feel so bad
Something might be going amiss
I won't be there
So look out for yourself
You're getting in deep whatever you do
Don't let me go back to sleep
Don't be careless love
Don't be careless love
Don't be, don't be careless
Saw your face in the morning paper
Saw your body rolled up in a rug
Chopped up into two little pieces
By some thug
Don't be careless love
Be careless love
But in the morning light
When I wake up again
You're by my side
And that's the way it's always been
But in the dark
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Your mind plays funny tricks on you
Don't be careless love
Fake Tin Star lyrics - Elvis Costello
Things these days are better by far,
A horse can out run a motor car,
If the wheels are rubber and the rails are steel
That beast can outrun any automobile
Here's the story of progress and all the bullets they spent
On a sheet hung up in a circus tent
There's a lantern shining - it's pointing the way
This kind man has probably had his day
But they keep him around with his last vain hope
For selling tickets while spinning a rope.
They brought him down off the vanishing trail
But nobody these days wants to hear his tale
So he spends his nights leaning up at the bar
The real gone cowboy with the fake tin star.
Up on the screen there's a boy half his age
They pay him 20 times his weekly wage
For dodging phony bullets and catching blunt blades
For blowing up horses and kissing young maids.
Children cheer
Women throw flowers
Men just glower
Up at the screen
But they don't know
Just what it means
Vengeance and dreams.
Girls just swoon at the mention of him
With his face all powdered and his immaculate brim
And his hair pommaded and his fingernails clean
While old men whisper "Just look at him preen"
And outside muttering through a cheap cigar
There's a real gone cowboy with a fake tin star.
A horse can out run a motor car,
If the wheels are rubber and the rails are steel
That beast can outrun any automobile
Here's the story of progress and all the bullets they spent
On a sheet hung up in a circus tent
There's a lantern shining - it's pointing the way
This kind man has probably had his day
But they keep him around with his last vain hope
For selling tickets while spinning a rope.
They brought him down off the vanishing trail
But nobody these days wants to hear his tale
So he spends his nights leaning up at the bar
The real gone cowboy with the fake tin star.
Up on the screen there's a boy half his age
They pay him 20 times his weekly wage
For dodging phony bullets and catching blunt blades
For blowing up horses and kissing young maids.
Children cheer
Women throw flowers
Men just glower
Up at the screen
But they don't know
Just what it means
Vengeance and dreams.
Girls just swoon at the mention of him
With his face all powdered and his immaculate brim
And his hair pommaded and his fingernails clean
While old men whisper "Just look at him preen"
And outside muttering through a cheap cigar
There's a real gone cowboy with a fake tin star.
Fire Suite 1 lyrics - Elvis Costello
I remember that dance
On the roof of my car
When St. Lucy's mad torch
Took away our best bar
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sat like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the heat
Came the fire
Ember glow lagered ash
I was pissed as a fart
Stricken some dumb plum numb
We was broken at heart
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sat like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the light
Came the fire
On the roof of my car
When St. Lucy's mad torch
Took away our best bar
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sat like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the heat
Came the fire
Ember glow lagered ash
I was pissed as a fart
Stricken some dumb plum numb
We was broken at heart
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sat like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the light
Came the fire
Fire Suite 3 lyrics - Elvis Costello
That all could gather
That we could marry
Still
Faces absent
That she could see this
As if time hovered
That he'd caress him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
Shouts from brilliant corners
Word 'n tears confused
Sparks long sky bound
Long sky bound
Had I been wiser
And not so bleedin'
Still geezer poet
Wine cross the lips flow
Love through eyes goes
That he'd embrace him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
That all could gather
That we could marry
Still
Faces absent
That she could see this
As if time hovered
That he'd caress him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
Set by the bar so tender
That we could marry
Still
Faces absent
That she could see this
As if time hovered
That he'd caress him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
Shouts from brilliant corners
Word 'n tears confused
Sparks long sky bound
Long sky bound
Had I been wiser
And not so bleedin'
Still geezer poet
Wine cross the lips flow
Love through eyes goes
That he'd embrace him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
That all could gather
That we could marry
Still
Faces absent
That she could see this
As if time hovered
That he'd caress him
That jars and lads and Carol Ann were
Set by the bar so tender
Fire Suite Reprise lyrics - Elvis Costello
Now you've heard our refrain
And this story must end
'Cause the stars can't stay up
They can only descend
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sit like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the heat
Came the fire
Timber tender
Tender will you remember
Grim sender I can't pretend
So I'll Surrender
Will you remember
And this story must end
'Cause the stars can't stay up
They can only descend
Say we drank
And we prayed
Some just sit like a choir
Came the smoke
In the night
Came the heat
Came the fire
Timber tender
Tender will you remember
Grim sender I can't pretend
So I'll Surrender
Will you remember
I Can't Turn It Off lyrics - Elvis Costello
Basement babies strangling saxophones
They got twisted motives, they got eyes of stone
But it's a terminal condition that is tattered through and through
It's not that they don't need you
They're too mixed up to choose
Broken noses hung up on the wall
Back-slapping drinkers cheer the championship brawl
And they're so punch drunk they don't understand the word defeat
They can take you out and shoot you
They can't confiscate that beat
Steam engineer breaks down in the newsreel
He's seen the future of the diesel wheel
Listen to the hammers falling in the breaker's yard
When you're used to the glamour it comes at you twice as hard
Sometimes I think that I have had enough
Sometimes I scare myself I get enough
But you know that I can't turn it off
Young girl rehearses all her blackmail faces
She's looking for a love that lasts
She'd never break the heart of any aces
And she's learning pretty fast
I've seen those clowns running all over town
Trying to satisfy all of their carnival desires
You start out looking for your own melody
They end up in the closing time choirs
All you lucky people crying in your beer
When it comes down to silence not even tears
You're in real trouble between the two
When it comes down to me
When it comes down to you
But it must be something you're allowed to keep
In between the longest pantomimes
'Cos it's very easy to let love fall asleep
When you are worrying about hard times
Sometimes I think that I have had enough
Sometimes I scare myself I get enough
But you know that I can't turn it off
But you know that I can't turn it off
They got twisted motives, they got eyes of stone
But it's a terminal condition that is tattered through and through
It's not that they don't need you
They're too mixed up to choose
Broken noses hung up on the wall
Back-slapping drinkers cheer the championship brawl
And they're so punch drunk they don't understand the word defeat
They can take you out and shoot you
They can't confiscate that beat
Steam engineer breaks down in the newsreel
He's seen the future of the diesel wheel
Listen to the hammers falling in the breaker's yard
When you're used to the glamour it comes at you twice as hard
Sometimes I think that I have had enough
Sometimes I scare myself I get enough
But you know that I can't turn it off
Young girl rehearses all her blackmail faces
She's looking for a love that lasts
She'd never break the heart of any aces
And she's learning pretty fast
I've seen those clowns running all over town
Trying to satisfy all of their carnival desires
You start out looking for your own melody
They end up in the closing time choirs
All you lucky people crying in your beer
When it comes down to silence not even tears
You're in real trouble between the two
When it comes down to me
When it comes down to you
But it must be something you're allowed to keep
In between the longest pantomimes
'Cos it's very easy to let love fall asleep
When you are worrying about hard times
Sometimes I think that I have had enough
Sometimes I scare myself I get enough
But you know that I can't turn it off
But you know that I can't turn it off
I Dreamed Of My Old Lover Last Night lyrics - Elvis Costello
I dreamed of my old lover last night
I wonder if I spoke out loud
And if by chance my lover overheard
He put my face back in the crowd
His eyes were clear and gentle then
He kissed the troubles from my brow
I long to fall to sleep again
And I wonder how he would look now
Would our kids grow sullen or grow strong?
Would their limbs bronze in solitude and sun?
I like the way it feels but then
I rarely dream of anyone
I the songs of shame and the tales of dread
Where they seal the lovers' lips with lead
And all the vines wind through their eyes
Oh but no one knows this passion now
Oh no one knows this passion now
So I keep this fancy to myself
I keep my lipstick twisted tight
I long to fall to sleep again
I dreamed of my old lover last night
I long to fall to sleep again
'Cause I dreamed of my old lover last night
I wonder if I spoke out loud
And if by chance my lover overheard
He put my face back in the crowd
His eyes were clear and gentle then
He kissed the troubles from my brow
I long to fall to sleep again
And I wonder how he would look now
Would our kids grow sullen or grow strong?
Would their limbs bronze in solitude and sun?
I like the way it feels but then
I rarely dream of anyone
I the songs of shame and the tales of dread
Where they seal the lovers' lips with lead
And all the vines wind through their eyes
Oh but no one knows this passion now
Oh no one knows this passion now
So I keep this fancy to myself
I keep my lipstick twisted tight
I long to fall to sleep again
I dreamed of my old lover last night
I long to fall to sleep again
'Cause I dreamed of my old lover last night
I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself lyrics - Elvis Costello
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through
I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you, it's a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you, I just don't know what to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to beat all the pain
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
Baby, if your new love ever turns you down
Come back, I will be around
Just waiting for you, I don't know what else to do
Don't know what else to do
I don't know what else to do
I'm still so crazy for you
Oh, oh, oh
I just don't know what to do with myself
I'm so used to doing everything with you
Planning everything for two
And now that we're through
I just don't know what to do with my time
I'm so lonesome for you, it's a crime
Going to a movie only makes me sad
Parties make me feel as bad
When I'm not with you, I just don't know what to do
Like a summer rose needs the sun and rain
I need your sweet love to beat all the pain
I just don't know what to do with myself
I just don't know what to do with myself
Baby, if your new love ever turns you down
Come back, I will be around
Just waiting for you, I don't know what else to do
Don't know what else to do
I don't know what else to do
I'm still so crazy for you
Oh, oh, oh
I Throw My Toys Around lyrics - Elvis Costello
I've got no time for fairy stories
I'm not a little girl
So you can leave me all alone
And turn off the lights as well
If you were frightened
Then listen:
But I don't think you'd like it
Such a nice kid
Nobody's lookin' now
I throw my toys around
Somebody's bein' very bad
I wonder who it can be
Somebody's goin' to get in trouble
I know it isn't me
I'm just a little angel
But you don't know what I've done
When your back's turned
Nobody's lookin' now
I throw my toys around
Pick up those building blocks
Chop off the baby's locks
Swing dolly by the hair
Put down that teddy bear
Slam dunk that happy clown
I throw my toys around
I've got no time for bedtime stories
I'm not a little child
Everything makes me furious
And everything makes me wild
If you were frightened
Then whistle:
And they'll come runnin' to you
As you boo-hoo
Nobody's looking now
I throw my toys around
I throw my toys around
[repeat and fade]
I'm not a little girl
So you can leave me all alone
And turn off the lights as well
If you were frightened
Then listen:
But I don't think you'd like it
Such a nice kid
Nobody's lookin' now
I throw my toys around
Somebody's bein' very bad
I wonder who it can be
Somebody's goin' to get in trouble
I know it isn't me
I'm just a little angel
But you don't know what I've done
When your back's turned
Nobody's lookin' now
I throw my toys around
Pick up those building blocks
Chop off the baby's locks
Swing dolly by the hair
Put down that teddy bear
Slam dunk that happy clown
I throw my toys around
I've got no time for bedtime stories
I'm not a little child
Everything makes me furious
And everything makes me wild
If you were frightened
Then whistle:
And they'll come runnin' to you
As you boo-hoo
Nobody's looking now
I throw my toys around
I throw my toys around
[repeat and fade]
I'll Never Fall In Love Again lyrics - Elvis Costello
What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
What do you get when you kiss a girl
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, she'll never phone you
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
Don't tell me what it's all about
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of those chains those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you give your heart
You get it all broken up and battered
That's what you get, a heart that's shattered
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
Out of those chains those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
What do you get when you kiss a girl
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia
After you do, she'll never phone you
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
Don't tell me what it's all about
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out
Out of those chains those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you give your heart
You get it all broken up and battered
That's what you get, a heart that's shattered
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
Out of those chains those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow
So for at least until tomorrow
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
I'll never fall in love again
Less Than Zero (Dallas Version) lyrics - Elvis Costello
Jenny takes her clothes off in succession,
While her husband rides a bumper in the President's procession.
She's sees him on the screen as she looks up from giving head.
When he's had enough of that her lover throws her on the bed
to teach her she's alive and suddenly he's dead.
[Chorus:]
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won't detect it,
no your father won't know.
they think that I've got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.
Calling Mister Oswald, calling anyone at the scene,
If you were taking home movies there's a chance you might have seen him.
They've got a thousand variations, every witness in a file.
Jenny puts on some coffee and she comes back with a smile.
She says, "I hear that South America is coming into style."
[Chorus]
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald thought he had an understanding with the law.
She's got rubies on her fingers, Jenny turns and looks away.
Her mind upon a basement out of the USA.
She says, "Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away."
While her husband rides a bumper in the President's procession.
She's sees him on the screen as she looks up from giving head.
When he's had enough of that her lover throws her on the bed
to teach her she's alive and suddenly he's dead.
[Chorus:]
Turn up the TV. No one listening will suspect,
even your mother won't detect it,
no your father won't know.
they think that I've got no respect
but everything means less than zero.
Hey, ooh hey, hey, ooh hey.
Calling Mister Oswald, calling anyone at the scene,
If you were taking home movies there's a chance you might have seen him.
They've got a thousand variations, every witness in a file.
Jenny puts on some coffee and she comes back with a smile.
She says, "I hear that South America is coming into style."
[Chorus]
A pistol was still smoking, a man lay on the floor.
Mister Oswald thought he had an understanding with the law.
She's got rubies on her fingers, Jenny turns and looks away.
Her mind upon a basement out of the USA.
She says, "Let's talk about the future now we've put the past away."
Lesson In Cruelty lyrics - Elvis Costello
Here's a thought to dwell upon,
Daddy's girl is almost gone
Now there's just a vain princess
'Her Ruthlessness'
Tearing up the nursery
Stars more used to glittering
Pictured in the guttering
Faces caught about to laugh
Torn in half
Slipping through your fingers
See them scatter
Maybe it doesn't matter
But I still really want to pick pieces up
You can't fool me
With this lesson in cruelty
It's not as if I was asking time to stop
In violent blue
Like roses red
She laughed as she tore off his head
The hours she gazed on her former champion
Now it's just a frame of sellotape and torn wallpaper
As she rips his pretty face to bits
[Chorus]
It's too much too soon or so it seems
To put away these childish dreams
You'll find out soon enough that worship can be tough
Love is just a name to celebrate a vision
Or confetti littered with regrets.
See it scatter...
Dear heart to good to waste
But if some hot-head should claim it
Don't rush to his embrace
And it remains to say...
I'll love you just the same, whatever your decision
As you put the paper to the flame
(It's a lesson in cruelty)
Daddy's girl is almost gone
Now there's just a vain princess
'Her Ruthlessness'
Tearing up the nursery
Stars more used to glittering
Pictured in the guttering
Faces caught about to laugh
Torn in half
Slipping through your fingers
See them scatter
Maybe it doesn't matter
But I still really want to pick pieces up
You can't fool me
With this lesson in cruelty
It's not as if I was asking time to stop
In violent blue
Like roses red
She laughed as she tore off his head
The hours she gazed on her former champion
Now it's just a frame of sellotape and torn wallpaper
As she rips his pretty face to bits
[Chorus]
It's too much too soon or so it seems
To put away these childish dreams
You'll find out soon enough that worship can be tough
Love is just a name to celebrate a vision
Or confetti littered with regrets.
See it scatter...
Dear heart to good to waste
But if some hot-head should claim it
Don't rush to his embrace
And it remains to say...
I'll love you just the same, whatever your decision
As you put the paper to the flame
(It's a lesson in cruelty)
Life Shrinks lyrics - Elvis Costello
Shall I wear a buttonhole to jog your memory?
So you'll recall the promise
That I swore you made to me when we were younger
You look sorry for yourself but what about?
I'm some idea you're not without a doubt
So you can put away that tongue
I don't know who I'm trying to kid
I'll find another name for you
I'll try to put the blame on you
For everything we did
Life shrinks and before you know it
You have forgotten all the cuts and bruises
Just be thankful we were only fighting for buttons
And you know by now who loses
You're only half awake because you never go to bed
And when he hears about it
You know then the both of you's is dead and that's a promise
You'll be sorry because I won't tell you again
You'll stick like that one day
And if you don't believe me go and ask St. Thomas
I don't know where it's going to stop
Spend your whole time trying to stay
From breaking down or running away
Or trying to keep up
So you'll recall the promise
That I swore you made to me when we were younger
You look sorry for yourself but what about?
I'm some idea you're not without a doubt
So you can put away that tongue
I don't know who I'm trying to kid
I'll find another name for you
I'll try to put the blame on you
For everything we did
Life shrinks and before you know it
You have forgotten all the cuts and bruises
Just be thankful we were only fighting for buttons
And you know by now who loses
You're only half awake because you never go to bed
And when he hears about it
You know then the both of you's is dead and that's a promise
You'll be sorry because I won't tell you again
You'll stick like that one day
And if you don't believe me go and ask St. Thomas
I don't know where it's going to stop
Spend your whole time trying to stay
From breaking down or running away
Or trying to keep up
Long Journey Home lyrics - Elvis Costello
If on every ocean the ship is a throne
And for each mast cut down another sapling is grown
Then I could believe that I'm bound to find
A better life than I left behind
But as you ascend the ladder
Look out below where you tread
For the colors bled as they overflowed
Red, white and blue
Green, white and gold
So I had to leave from my country of birth
As for each child grown tall
Another lies in the earth
And for every rail we laid in the loam
There's a thousand miles of the long journey home
But as you ascend the ladder
Look out below where you tread
For the colors bled as they overflowed
Red, white and blue
Green, white and gold
And for each mast cut down another sapling is grown
Then I could believe that I'm bound to find
A better life than I left behind
But as you ascend the ladder
Look out below where you tread
For the colors bled as they overflowed
Red, white and blue
Green, white and gold
So I had to leave from my country of birth
As for each child grown tall
Another lies in the earth
And for every rail we laid in the loam
There's a thousand miles of the long journey home
But as you ascend the ladder
Look out below where you tread
For the colors bled as they overflowed
Red, white and blue
Green, white and gold
Lost In The Stars lyrics - Elvis Costello
Before Lord God made the sea and the land
He held all the stars in the palm of his hand
And they ran through his fingers like grains of sand
And one little star fall alone
Then the Lord God hunted through the wild night air
For the little dark star in the wind down there
And he stated and promised he'd take special care
So it wouldn't get lost again
Now, man don't mind if the stars grow dim
And the clouds blow over and darken him
So long as the Lord God's watching over him
Keeping track how it all goes on
But I've been walking through the night and the day
Till my eyes get weary and my hair turns grey
And sometimes it seems maybe God's gone away
Forgetting the promise that we heard him say
And we're lost out here in the stars
Little stars, big stars
Blowing through the night
And we're lost out here in the stars
Little stars, big stars
Blowing through the night
And we're lost out here in the stars
He held all the stars in the palm of his hand
And they ran through his fingers like grains of sand
And one little star fall alone
Then the Lord God hunted through the wild night air
For the little dark star in the wind down there
And he stated and promised he'd take special care
So it wouldn't get lost again
Now, man don't mind if the stars grow dim
And the clouds blow over and darken him
So long as the Lord God's watching over him
Keeping track how it all goes on
But I've been walking through the night and the day
Till my eyes get weary and my hair turns grey
And sometimes it seems maybe God's gone away
Forgetting the promise that we heard him say
And we're lost out here in the stars
Little stars, big stars
Blowing through the night
And we're lost out here in the stars
Little stars, big stars
Blowing through the night
And we're lost out here in the stars
Lovers That Never Were lyrics - Elvis Costello
I have always needed somebody, girl
But I close the doors to keep out the world
But for you
I would be here all alone
Locked in a photograph
All of the clocks have run down
Lover beware
We'll be the lovers that never were
I hang patiently on every word you send
Will we ever be much more than just friends?
As for you
You sit there playing this game
You keep me waiting
When all of the clocks have run down
All over the world
We'll be the lovers that never were
For as long as the sun shines
In somebody's eyes
I believe in you, baby
So don't tell me lies
For as long as the trees
Throw down blossoms and leaves
I know there will be
A parade of unpainted dreams
And I know, dear
How much it's going to hurt
If you still refuse to get your hands dirty
So you
You must tell me something...I love you
Say goodbye or anything
All of the clocks have run down
Time's at an end
If we can't be lovers we'll never be friends
For as long as the sun shines
In somebody's eyes
I believe in you, baby
So don't tell me lies
For as long as the trees
Throw down blossoms and leaves
I know there will be
A parade of unpainted dreams
But I close the doors to keep out the world
But for you
I would be here all alone
Locked in a photograph
All of the clocks have run down
Lover beware
We'll be the lovers that never were
I hang patiently on every word you send
Will we ever be much more than just friends?
As for you
You sit there playing this game
You keep me waiting
When all of the clocks have run down
All over the world
We'll be the lovers that never were
For as long as the sun shines
In somebody's eyes
I believe in you, baby
So don't tell me lies
For as long as the trees
Throw down blossoms and leaves
I know there will be
A parade of unpainted dreams
And I know, dear
How much it's going to hurt
If you still refuse to get your hands dirty
So you
You must tell me something...I love you
Say goodbye or anything
All of the clocks have run down
Time's at an end
If we can't be lovers we'll never be friends
For as long as the sun shines
In somebody's eyes
I believe in you, baby
So don't tell me lies
For as long as the trees
Throw down blossoms and leaves
I know there will be
A parade of unpainted dreams
Mischievous Ghost lyrics - Elvis Costello
She came dancing right before my eyes
She said she'd came to warn me
Before it dawned on me
I went walking on the blank hillside
Where the sunset falls
Where the sunset dies
She gave me love, she told me lies
That most mischievous ghost
She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise.
He started to whistle, they bought him a flute
He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute
He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful
Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full
They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight
As he drew on their days resurrected his nights
He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze
"There you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy"
With scandal and shame they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never [trying/dying] to be a mischievous ghost
They dug him up quick with a polish and lick
They powdered him up till he only looked sick
The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause
But his dancing was not quite as lively of course
These are the rewards immortality affords
Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss
[Harrington slacks/Harrods in slacks] and tormental laments
Of going away and not being missed
With scandal and shame they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never dying to be a mischievous ghost
With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos
Singing his songs of the battles we lose
And [when/will] you come home again so we can murder you
What would you do if they took his word
With forty-eight million to join in the toast
Move over my darling
Mischievous ghost
Mischievous ghost
She said she'd came to warn me
Before it dawned on me
I went walking on the blank hillside
Where the sunset falls
Where the sunset dies
She gave me love, she told me lies
That most mischievous ghost
She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise.
He started to whistle, they bought him a flute
He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute
He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful
Busted a button, they bought him a suitcase full
They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight
As he drew on their days resurrected his nights
He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze
"There you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy"
With scandal and shame they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never [trying/dying] to be a mischievous ghost
They dug him up quick with a polish and lick
They powdered him up till he only looked sick
The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause
But his dancing was not quite as lively of course
These are the rewards immortality affords
Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss
[Harrington slacks/Harrods in slacks] and tormental laments
Of going away and not being missed
With scandal and shame they slandered his name
They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast
Disappointed that he passed away peacefully
Never dying to be a mischievous ghost
With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos
Singing his songs of the battles we lose
And [when/will] you come home again so we can murder you
What would you do if they took his word
With forty-eight million to join in the toast
Move over my darling
Mischievous ghost
Mischievous ghost
Miss Mary lyrics - Elvis Costello
Angels announce with trumpets
Crown you with jewels and stars
Hercules lives
Next door to Venus and Mars
Beside your pretty blue shoulder
something may trouble Jerome
Now that you're up with your friends
I know you'll never come home
Singing so babe, I know this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
I walk in their brilliant parade
Banish the primitive gloom
Now I know where I can find you
Hung up in some Frenchman's room
Pitiful Magdalena for all to see
Must have been beautiful
So just show a little mercy to me
Hey babe, I sing this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
There at the foot of your staircase
I stood to take in the scene
All the ashes of roses
The veined steps of marble
Purple, gold and green
Oh I wish you were my queen
They only want to possess you
Lock you away in a vault
Such a heavenly vision
And dress you up in blue
I guess it's not their fault
I know this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
So babe, I sing this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
Crown you with jewels and stars
Hercules lives
Next door to Venus and Mars
Beside your pretty blue shoulder
something may trouble Jerome
Now that you're up with your friends
I know you'll never come home
Singing so babe, I know this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
I walk in their brilliant parade
Banish the primitive gloom
Now I know where I can find you
Hung up in some Frenchman's room
Pitiful Magdalena for all to see
Must have been beautiful
So just show a little mercy to me
Hey babe, I sing this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
There at the foot of your staircase
I stood to take in the scene
All the ashes of roses
The veined steps of marble
Purple, gold and green
Oh I wish you were my queen
They only want to possess you
Lock you away in a vault
Such a heavenly vision
And dress you up in blue
I guess it's not their fault
I know this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
So babe, I sing this song
Miss Mary I'm nothing without you
Everything I've done is wrong
Miss Mary I try not to doubt you
Mistress And Maid lyrics - Elvis Costello
She said, "Come in, my dear,
You're looking tired tonight
Your bath is drawn, let me loosen your tie
And fix you your usual drink"
He settles back
Takes a magazine
Kicks off his shoes
As he studies the form
Of every appealing soubrette
But where are the flowers that he used to bring?
Every endearing remark
Reminds her of passionate promises
That he only made in the dark
In her bed
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, look at me
I'm afraid
See what it's come to
I'm just your mistress and maid
The wine is warm
But the dinner is cold
The look in his eye tells her it won't be long
Till the girls on the page come to life
And they'll get the flowers that he used to bring
With every endearing remark
And all of the passionate promises
He'll never fulfil in the dark
In their bed
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, now that I'm not afraid.
See what it's come to
I'm not your mistress and maid
See what it's come to
I'm not your mistress and maid
You're looking tired tonight
Your bath is drawn, let me loosen your tie
And fix you your usual drink"
He settles back
Takes a magazine
Kicks off his shoes
As he studies the form
Of every appealing soubrette
But where are the flowers that he used to bring?
Every endearing remark
Reminds her of passionate promises
That he only made in the dark
In her bed
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, look at me
I'm afraid
See what it's come to
I'm just your mistress and maid
The wine is warm
But the dinner is cold
The look in his eye tells her it won't be long
Till the girls on the page come to life
And they'll get the flowers that he used to bring
With every endearing remark
And all of the passionate promises
He'll never fulfil in the dark
In their bed
She wants to shout at the back of his head
Look at me, look at me, now that I'm not afraid.
See what it's come to
I'm not your mistress and maid
See what it's come to
I'm not your mistress and maid
My Brave Face lyrics - Elvis Costello
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 gonna get back
Ever since you went away I've had the 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
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife
I been breaking up dirty dishes
And been throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to compose a "Baby, would you please come home" note meant for you
As I clear away another untouched TV dinner from the table I made for two
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
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 gonna get back
Ever since you went away I've had the 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
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face
I've been living a lie
Unaccustomed as I am
To the work of a housewife
I been breaking up dirty dishes
And been throwing them away
Ever since you left I have been trying to compose a "Baby, would you please come home" note meant for you
As I clear away another untouched TV dinner from the table I made for two
Now that I'm alone again
I can't stop breaking down again
The simplest things set me off again
Take me to that place
Where I can find my brave face
Where I can find my brave face
My brave, my brave, my brave face
My Dark Life lyrics - Elvis Costello
She says nobody wants to believe
You're the same as everyone.
What makes me unique? My Dark Life.
There was a kink in the world
Sent that statue tumbling
An invitation east
So we can watch it all crumbling
She came off like light and so softly she spoke:
"You don't know, no you don't know about my dark life"
And you think you're a guest, you're a tourist at best
Peering into the corners of your dark life
Now that you tear your dreams from consumptive ballerinas
She'd stand on tiptoes for you in a grey and tattered tutu
She stays where she is because of voyeurs like these
With an accusative look that says My Dark Life.
Robber men await you then in each beguiling alley
To shake you and to pierce you and remind you of
My Dark Life.
Enter the pious elite, in their preening finery
And bang the tambourine
They're dining on rice paper scenery
See how the villain attracts envious glances from everyone
She's waitressing by day
It doesn't bring in much money now
And his strong concealed arms set off bells and alarms
In the strangest locations of My Dark Life
But the fantasy slipped as he tipped her in cigarettes
She tries to smile very graciously when she wants to kill him
Now the victory is sweet, you'll get down on your knees
It's the perfect position for kissing western leather
So they came from Ugly Texas and from Nameless Tennessee
From Peculiar Missouri and from places closer to me.
All the cream of heartless England, cheered the carnival is over
There are remnants of red army bandsmen
Played "America The Beautiful"
You're the same as everyone.
What makes me unique? My Dark Life.
There was a kink in the world
Sent that statue tumbling
An invitation east
So we can watch it all crumbling
She came off like light and so softly she spoke:
"You don't know, no you don't know about my dark life"
And you think you're a guest, you're a tourist at best
Peering into the corners of your dark life
Now that you tear your dreams from consumptive ballerinas
She'd stand on tiptoes for you in a grey and tattered tutu
She stays where she is because of voyeurs like these
With an accusative look that says My Dark Life.
Robber men await you then in each beguiling alley
To shake you and to pierce you and remind you of
My Dark Life.
Enter the pious elite, in their preening finery
And bang the tambourine
They're dining on rice paper scenery
See how the villain attracts envious glances from everyone
She's waitressing by day
It doesn't bring in much money now
And his strong concealed arms set off bells and alarms
In the strangest locations of My Dark Life
But the fantasy slipped as he tipped her in cigarettes
She tries to smile very graciously when she wants to kill him
Now the victory is sweet, you'll get down on your knees
It's the perfect position for kissing western leather
So they came from Ugly Texas and from Nameless Tennessee
From Peculiar Missouri and from places closer to me.
All the cream of heartless England, cheered the carnival is over
There are remnants of red army bandsmen
Played "America The Beautiful"
My Mood Swings lyrics - Elvis Costello
She was smitten from the first
By a curious fellow
She said I love the way you talk
And with a a flounce she announces
I love the way that you pronounce it: "Marshmallow"
So she liked to sing along
To her favourite song
From the year that she was born
She had mysterious affairs [?]
And promptly work out what her age is [?]
[Chorus:]
So speak to me
Just like you should
And then you can say those wicked things
And if you want
We'll make it good
Before my mood swings
Well he looked like one of those
Who would take off his clothes
Like he would peel a tangerine
Don't ****** know what truly blind is [?]
Once you have found out what your sign is
[Chorus]
By a curious fellow
She said I love the way you talk
And with a a flounce she announces
I love the way that you pronounce it: "Marshmallow"
So she liked to sing along
To her favourite song
From the year that she was born
She had mysterious affairs [?]
And promptly work out what her age is [?]
[Chorus:]
So speak to me
Just like you should
And then you can say those wicked things
And if you want
We'll make it good
Before my mood swings
Well he looked like one of those
Who would take off his clothes
Like he would peel a tangerine
Don't ****** know what truly blind is [?]
Once you have found out what your sign is
[Chorus]
O, Mistress Mine lyrics - Elvis Costello
O, mistress mine
Where are you roaming?
O, stay and hear
Your true love's coming
That can save both high and low
Trip no further pretty sweeting
Journeys end in lovers meeting
Every wise man's son doth know
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Trip no further pretty sweeting
Journeys end in lovers meeting
Every wise man's son doth know
What is love?
'Tis not hereafter
Present mirth
Hath present laughter
What's to come is still unsure
In delay there lies no plenty
Then come kiss me sweet and twenty
It's a stuff will not endure
Where are you roaming?
O, stay and hear
Your true love's coming
That can save both high and low
Trip no further pretty sweeting
Journeys end in lovers meeting
Every wise man's son doth know
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Trip no further pretty sweeting
Journeys end in lovers meeting
Every wise man's son doth know
What is love?
'Tis not hereafter
Present mirth
Hath present laughter
What's to come is still unsure
In delay there lies no plenty
Then come kiss me sweet and twenty
It's a stuff will not endure
Oh Well lyrics - Elvis Costello
The ink is running
The words are taught
I'm sitting helpless with my paper and charts
I had to follow my passion
Oh well
I don't get paid that much for all I deserve
To waste a sentence or shatter my nerves
I had to follow my passion
Oh well
Sometimes I long to run outside
I'd give it all up but it's my pride
Oh well
Oh well
I had a dream once or so I thought
I'd be a pilot or an astronaut
I had a dream like that until I found
Even an astronaut goes into the ground
Life is just passing us bye-bye
Oh well
Oh well
Oh well
The words are taught
I'm sitting helpless with my paper and charts
I had to follow my passion
Oh well
I don't get paid that much for all I deserve
To waste a sentence or shatter my nerves
I had to follow my passion
Oh well
Sometimes I long to run outside
I'd give it all up but it's my pride
Oh well
Oh well
I had a dream once or so I thought
I'd be a pilot or an astronaut
I had a dream like that until I found
Even an astronaut goes into the ground
Life is just passing us bye-bye
Oh well
Oh well
Oh well
Party Party lyrics - Elvis Costello
We're gonna drink enough tonight to drown the average army
By New Year's Day the next door neighbour will be goin' barmy
The milkman arrives at midday with his usual wisecrack
Who knows a girl with Wednesday legs so when's they gonna snap?
[Chorus:]
Why does everybody have to be so hale and hearty
Can't they see we're tryin' to have a party party party party
The last thing I remember I was talkin' to some fellas
Then she said she'd have a word for me with her good-looking mate
And handed me a pint-pot filled with Advocaat and Tizer
And I woke in the flowerbeds of fear (beer?) and fertilizer
[Chorus]
So shift yourself and shake your bod
You got bullet proof insurance from fire, flood and Act of God
You got to learn from your mistakes
When you got a face like last week's Cornflakes
The doors and the window frames are by Pablo Picasso
The party decorations owned by Michelangelo
The fine music that you hear is by Stravinsky
With overall design by Leonardo daVinci
[Chorus]
So shift yourself and shake your bod
You got bullet proof insurance from fire, flood and Act of God
You got to learn from your mistakes
When you got a face like last week's Cornflakes
Two boys are upstairs in your bed
Three girls are downstairs crying
The Alka Seltzer in the glass is roaring like a lion
You think you've aged ten years tonight and still never been kissed
So you overdose on aftershave and try to slash your wrist
[Chorus and fade]
By New Year's Day the next door neighbour will be goin' barmy
The milkman arrives at midday with his usual wisecrack
Who knows a girl with Wednesday legs so when's they gonna snap?
[Chorus:]
Why does everybody have to be so hale and hearty
Can't they see we're tryin' to have a party party party party
The last thing I remember I was talkin' to some fellas
Then she said she'd have a word for me with her good-looking mate
And handed me a pint-pot filled with Advocaat and Tizer
And I woke in the flowerbeds of fear (beer?) and fertilizer
[Chorus]
So shift yourself and shake your bod
You got bullet proof insurance from fire, flood and Act of God
You got to learn from your mistakes
When you got a face like last week's Cornflakes
The doors and the window frames are by Pablo Picasso
The party decorations owned by Michelangelo
The fine music that you hear is by Stravinsky
With overall design by Leonardo daVinci
[Chorus]
So shift yourself and shake your bod
You got bullet proof insurance from fire, flood and Act of God
You got to learn from your mistakes
When you got a face like last week's Cornflakes
Two boys are upstairs in your bed
Three girls are downstairs crying
The Alka Seltzer in the glass is roaring like a lion
You think you've aged ten years tonight and still never been kissed
So you overdose on aftershave and try to slash your wrist
[Chorus and fade]
Passionate Fight lyrics - Elvis Costello
Obscure the late afternoon with a drape
Don't let him follow her latest escape
Or the fanfare of taxis that needlessly played
As a forty watt bulb burns a hole in the shade
Then they got into a passionate fight
Now she's lost in the shadows thrown over at twilight
At the Empire Hotel they first came face to face
Pieces would fall off all over the place
And there in the debris they'd laugh and recline
Tell me my dear are you more or less mine
Then they got into a passionate fight
She says now this isn't love it's what you do in spite of it
And I can't go on with it night after night after night
Camphor and cigarettes perfume the scandal
Now he's counting the hinges and watching the door handle
As he hangs the clothes on the back of the door
Perfectly matching outfits that she wore
Women come quietly and some remain with their pity
But others know the pain of the passion of fight
Though the chance they will win is impossibly slight
He cowers before them so invitingly
And in the long run they'll be chastised and hated
Or walk out frustrated or humiliated
That is the pointless delight of a passionate fight
This isn't love what you do in spite of it
I can't go on night after night after night after night after night after night...
Don't let him follow her latest escape
Or the fanfare of taxis that needlessly played
As a forty watt bulb burns a hole in the shade
Then they got into a passionate fight
Now she's lost in the shadows thrown over at twilight
At the Empire Hotel they first came face to face
Pieces would fall off all over the place
And there in the debris they'd laugh and recline
Tell me my dear are you more or less mine
Then they got into a passionate fight
She says now this isn't love it's what you do in spite of it
And I can't go on with it night after night after night
Camphor and cigarettes perfume the scandal
Now he's counting the hinges and watching the door handle
As he hangs the clothes on the back of the door
Perfectly matching outfits that she wore
Women come quietly and some remain with their pity
But others know the pain of the passion of fight
Though the chance they will win is impossibly slight
He cowers before them so invitingly
And in the long run they'll be chastised and hated
Or walk out frustrated or humiliated
That is the pointless delight of a passionate fight
This isn't love what you do in spite of it
I can't go on night after night after night after night after night after night...
Punishing Kiss lyrics - Elvis Costello
I favour a good punishing kiss
It helps pass the lonely afternoons
Another stiff drink
Wipe off that lipstick
For when you reach a certain age
All the most villainous men
Can be found on Channel Ten
And I make them dance
In attendance
We will be back
In a minute or two
And he will punish that girl
Oh I forget the reason
Just look at me I'm lost in a social whirl
She was never so witty
Always struggling to be full of fun
On weekdays from midday to one
In a little black cocktail dress everyone hates
She'll be saving the world in-between fashion plates
I know what she gets up to in the back of that black limousine
And I find myself shouting at the screen
I think that it's time to turn over
They say it's harmless I know
A hundred and ten percent certain virtually real
If you need something to feel
Then favour a good punishing kiss
It helps chase the wasted afternoons
The flowers and the pearls
The long lost relations
That love sick tom boy comes in bloom
All the pointless heartache
That seems to belong in my blue bloom
Can't stand the suspense
The endless embraces
When each episode
Lends the silly pretence
Say I can turn away
When I will never miss
It starts with a joke
And ends with a punishing kiss
It helps pass the lonely afternoons
Another stiff drink
Wipe off that lipstick
For when you reach a certain age
All the most villainous men
Can be found on Channel Ten
And I make them dance
In attendance
We will be back
In a minute or two
And he will punish that girl
Oh I forget the reason
Just look at me I'm lost in a social whirl
She was never so witty
Always struggling to be full of fun
On weekdays from midday to one
In a little black cocktail dress everyone hates
She'll be saving the world in-between fashion plates
I know what she gets up to in the back of that black limousine
And I find myself shouting at the screen
I think that it's time to turn over
They say it's harmless I know
A hundred and ten percent certain virtually real
If you need something to feel
Then favour a good punishing kiss
It helps chase the wasted afternoons
The flowers and the pearls
The long lost relations
That love sick tom boy comes in bloom
All the pointless heartache
That seems to belong in my blue bloom
Can't stand the suspense
The endless embraces
When each episode
Lends the silly pretence
Say I can turn away
When I will never miss
It starts with a joke
And ends with a punishing kiss
Put Your Big Toe In The Milk Of Human Kindness lyrics - Elvis Costello
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Have you ever seen the like of this mankind?
If a boy or girl is cute, we simply shoot to starry heights
Any maybe, any might
But always so capricious, in the face of wonder we're suspicious
And though we came from frogs and fishes
Our taste is far from fine
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Have you ever seen the like of this mankind?
You take the Himalayas, you'll take Manhattan's finest mountain top
He wouldn't change his whiskey sour for any bitter crop
But always so contrary, from Father Christmas to the Virgin Mary
And though the moments of belief
Fly by before you find if you'd just unhand your mind
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
But always so contrary, from Father Christmas to the Virgin Mary
And though the moments of belief
Fly by before you find if you'd just unhand your mind
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Have you ever seen the like of this mankind?
If a boy or girl is cute, we simply shoot to starry heights
Any maybe, any might
But always so capricious, in the face of wonder we're suspicious
And though we came from frogs and fishes
Our taste is far from fine
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Have you ever seen the like of this mankind?
You take the Himalayas, you'll take Manhattan's finest mountain top
He wouldn't change his whiskey sour for any bitter crop
But always so contrary, from Father Christmas to the Virgin Mary
And though the moments of belief
Fly by before you find if you'd just unhand your mind
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
But always so contrary, from Father Christmas to the Virgin Mary
And though the moments of belief
Fly by before you find if you'd just unhand your mind
Put your big toe in the milk of human kindness
Shadow And Jimmy lyrics - Elvis Costello
Shadow and Jimmy were always yesterday's news
Jimmy's a bowler, Shadow rents out his green bowling shoes
Late Friday night when the bars are all shuttered and dark
He shadows back Jimmy to the lot in the lost trailer park
For shadow and Jimmy all the weekends end up the same
If it's Saturday night, then it must be the hockey game
After cold beer and barbecued ribs the night is complete
With wrestling stories and elegant bones
That are tired of walking and on their way home
[Chorus:]
And they talk about the women
And they look at the girls
They'll never know the ways of the world
They've got a mouthful of much obliged
And a handful of gimme
And the love for each other
Of Shadow and Jimmy
For Shadow and Jimmy now the story is told
There's nothing to hold on to and no one to hold
Men without women are like fish without
water to swim in
With their eyes bugging out
They flop on the beach
And look up at the girls
Who are just out of reach
Jimmy's a bowler, Shadow rents out his green bowling shoes
Late Friday night when the bars are all shuttered and dark
He shadows back Jimmy to the lot in the lost trailer park
For shadow and Jimmy all the weekends end up the same
If it's Saturday night, then it must be the hockey game
After cold beer and barbecued ribs the night is complete
With wrestling stories and elegant bones
That are tired of walking and on their way home
[Chorus:]
And they talk about the women
And they look at the girls
They'll never know the ways of the world
They've got a mouthful of much obliged
And a handful of gimme
And the love for each other
Of Shadow and Jimmy
For Shadow and Jimmy now the story is told
There's nothing to hold on to and no one to hold
Men without women are like fish without
water to swim in
With their eyes bugging out
They flop on the beach
And look up at the girls
Who are just out of reach
She (Tous Les Visages De L'Amour) lyrics - Elvis Costello
(originally by Charles Aznavour)
She
May be the face I can't forget
A trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song that summer sings
May be the chill that autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day.
She
May be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell
She may be the mirror of my dreams
A smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem
Inside her shell
She who always seems so happy in a crowd
Whose eyes can be so private and so proud
No one's allowed to see them when they cry
She may be the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows of the past
That I'll remember till the day I die
She
May be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I'm alive
The one I'll care for through the rough and ready years
Me I'll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be
The meaning of my life is
She, she, she
She
May be the face I can't forget
A trace of pleasure or regret
May be my treasure or the price I have to pay
She may be the song that summer sings
May be the chill that autumn brings
May be a hundred different things
Within the measure of a day.
She
May be the beauty or the beast
May be the famine or the feast
May turn each day into a heaven or a hell
She may be the mirror of my dreams
A smile reflected in a stream
She may not be what she may seem
Inside her shell
She who always seems so happy in a crowd
Whose eyes can be so private and so proud
No one's allowed to see them when they cry
She may be the love that cannot hope to last
May come to me from shadows of the past
That I'll remember till the day I die
She
May be the reason I survive
The why and wherefore I'm alive
The one I'll care for through the rough and ready years
Me I'll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I've got to be
The meaning of my life is
She, she, she
Soul For Hire (45 Alibis Version) lyrics - Elvis Costello
Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
Fool I was that thought that
You fight fire with fire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
Speaking for myself I couldn't
Take the fame, the fees, the boredom
For whorin' in the practice of the law
I make my case, stop and stutter
Soul comes unglued from the uppers
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping
I see every human kind
And still the truth is distant
I hear every evil men do and desire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
When it's time to give protection to
The ones who need it most
The good and desperate
I get distracted from my job
(Streams of vagrant piles of paper
One of the verdicts
Jump out of a window for no escape ?)
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping
Hang my head and shut my eyes
And still the truth is distant
I see every evil men do and desire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
When it's time to give protection to
The ones who need it most
The good and desperate
I get distracted from my job
Streams of vagrant piles of paper
A hand to hold for the dopers and kiddie rapers
Corrupt in every twisted grudge
and that is just the judge
Hang my head and shut my eyes
I can't see justice twisted
Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
What kind of justice is this?
Fool I was that thought that
You fight fire with fire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
Speaking for myself I couldn't
Take the fame, the fees, the boredom
For whorin' in the practice of the law
I make my case, stop and stutter
Soul comes unglued from the uppers
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping
I see every human kind
And still the truth is distant
I hear every evil men do and desire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
When it's time to give protection to
The ones who need it most
The good and desperate
I get distracted from my job
(Streams of vagrant piles of paper
One of the verdicts
Jump out of a window for no escape ?)
Blood is seeping in the hole
A mother's eye is weeping
Hang my head and shut my eyes
And still the truth is distant
I see every evil men do and desire
Got to be more than just a soul for hire
When it's time to give protection to
The ones who need it most
The good and desperate
I get distracted from my job
Streams of vagrant piles of paper
A hand to hold for the dopers and kiddie rapers
Corrupt in every twisted grudge
and that is just the judge
Hang my head and shut my eyes
I can't see justice twisted
Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
Hang my head and shut my eyes
What kind of justice is this?
Sparkling Day lyrics - Elvis Costello
Oh, it was such a sparkling day
That I should be singing its praises
Just to catch my senses as they slip away
But my sentences and phrases
Are about as worthless as wonder can be
And there are words that I could say
Perhaps I lack the sense of occasion
Seems that I’ve been looking down so long you see
That it seemed like up to me
I should be ashamed I’m sure you will agree
[Pre Chorus:]
So don’t go calling out for Jude or Anthony
Maybe I was lost
I’m a hopeless case
So that every night I listen carefully
But there is no message from me
No message from me
[Chorus:]
Sparkling day [x2]
Things I never said
Some things you never heard
Sparkling day [x2]
Now I wait in vain to see
That there was no message from me
When love is constant and content
You always fear some lingering temptation
Silhouettes escaping underneath locked doors
I’m astonished and amazed
Perhaps my message was erased.
[Pre Chorus:]
So don’t go calling out for Jude or Anthony
Maybe I was lost
I’m a hopeless case
So that every night I listen carefully
But there is no message from me
No message from me
[Chorus:]
Sparkling day [x2]
Things I never said
Some things you never heard
Sparkling day [x2]
Now I wait in vain to see
That there was no message from me
That I should be singing its praises
Just to catch my senses as they slip away
But my sentences and phrases
Are about as worthless as wonder can be
And there are words that I could say
Perhaps I lack the sense of occasion
Seems that I’ve been looking down so long you see
That it seemed like up to me
I should be ashamed I’m sure you will agree
[Pre Chorus:]
So don’t go calling out for Jude or Anthony
Maybe I was lost
I’m a hopeless case
So that every night I listen carefully
But there is no message from me
No message from me
[Chorus:]
Sparkling day [x2]
Things I never said
Some things you never heard
Sparkling day [x2]
Now I wait in vain to see
That there was no message from me
When love is constant and content
You always fear some lingering temptation
Silhouettes escaping underneath locked doors
I’m astonished and amazed
Perhaps my message was erased.
[Pre Chorus:]
So don’t go calling out for Jude or Anthony
Maybe I was lost
I’m a hopeless case
So that every night I listen carefully
But there is no message from me
No message from me
[Chorus:]
Sparkling day [x2]
Things I never said
Some things you never heard
Sparkling day [x2]
Now I wait in vain to see
That there was no message from me
St. Stephen's Day Murders lyrics - Elvis Costello
I knew of two sisters whose name it was Christmas
And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve
I wonder if they grew up hating the season
Of the good will that lasts till the Feast of St. Stephen
For that is the time to eat, drink and be merry
'Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey is flowed
And the whole family tree you neglected to bury
Are feeding their faces until they explode
[Chorus:]
There'll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias
Mixed up with that drink made from girders
And it's all we've got left as you draw your last breath
And it's nice for the kids as you've finally got rid of them
In the St Stephen's Day Murders
Uncle is garglin' a heart-breaking air
While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair
And we're not drunk enough yet to dare criticize
The great big kipper tie he's about to baptize
His gin-flavoured whispers and kisses of sherry
His best crimble shirt flung out over the shop
While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly
His face closes in like an old cold pork chop
[Alternate Chorus:]
And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast
May still be found haunting the kitchen
And there's life in it yet we may live to regret
When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin'
[Regular Chorus Repeat]
And one was named Dawn of course, the other one was named Eve
I wonder if they grew up hating the season
Of the good will that lasts till the Feast of St. Stephen
For that is the time to eat, drink and be merry
'Til the beer is all spilled and the whiskey is flowed
And the whole family tree you neglected to bury
Are feeding their faces until they explode
[Chorus:]
There'll be laughter and tears over Tia Marias
Mixed up with that drink made from girders
And it's all we've got left as you draw your last breath
And it's nice for the kids as you've finally got rid of them
In the St Stephen's Day Murders
Uncle is garglin' a heart-breaking air
While the babe in his arms pulls out all that remains of his hair
And we're not drunk enough yet to dare criticize
The great big kipper tie he's about to baptize
His gin-flavoured whispers and kisses of sherry
His best crimble shirt flung out over the shop
While the lights from the Christmas tree blow up the telly
His face closes in like an old cold pork chop
[Alternate Chorus:]
And the carcass of the beast left over from the feast
May still be found haunting the kitchen
And there's life in it yet we may live to regret
When the ones that we poisoned stop twitchin'
[Regular Chorus Repeat]
Suspect My Tears lyrics - Elvis Costello
Do you remember how to say please?
You've had your own way for such a long time
Your lash is sweet now, I dry your cheek
You think I'm powerless when you weep
You may have something, I don't deny
You look too beautiful when you cry
If I seem unconcerned
Perhaps it's time you learned
I'll cry until you suspect my tears
I'll cry until you suspect my tears
You're not the only one who can turn it on
Where and when you need to
Do you remember how bad it felt?
Big eyes would fill up
That lip would tremble
You want to hurt me
Make me feel guilty
You always promise to lose control
I stole the trick that you used to play
I'm tired of you having it your own way
With the power to persuade
Beginning to cascade
You've had your own way for such a long time
Your lash is sweet now, I dry your cheek
You think I'm powerless when you weep
You may have something, I don't deny
You look too beautiful when you cry
If I seem unconcerned
Perhaps it's time you learned
I'll cry until you suspect my tears
I'll cry until you suspect my tears
You're not the only one who can turn it on
Where and when you need to
Do you remember how bad it felt?
Big eyes would fill up
That lip would tremble
You want to hurt me
Make me feel guilty
You always promise to lose control
I stole the trick that you used to play
I'm tired of you having it your own way
With the power to persuade
Beginning to cascade
That Day Is Done lyrics - Elvis Costello
I feel such sorrow, I feel such shame
I know I won't arrive on time
Before whatever out there is gone
What can I do, that day is done
It's just a promise that I made
I said I'd walk in her parade
Hot scalding tears I thought would flow
Still in my heart they'll never show
[Chorus:]
That day is done
That day is done
You know where I've gone I won't be coming back
That day is done
Well I recall the time and place
When they announced her precious face
I thought at once my heart would burst
Still every time is like the first
There was applause when she stepped up
I wished that I could interrupt
I made no sign, I made no sound
I know I must stay underground
[Chorus]
That's why she walks, or so they say
She always knew just what I needed
Now if she would just look my way
One time before they proceed
She sprinkles flowers in the dirt
That's when a thrill becomes a hurt
I know I'll never see her face
She walks away from my resting place
[Chorus]
I know I won't arrive on time
Before whatever out there is gone
What can I do, that day is done
It's just a promise that I made
I said I'd walk in her parade
Hot scalding tears I thought would flow
Still in my heart they'll never show
[Chorus:]
That day is done
That day is done
You know where I've gone I won't be coming back
That day is done
Well I recall the time and place
When they announced her precious face
I thought at once my heart would burst
Still every time is like the first
There was applause when she stepped up
I wished that I could interrupt
I made no sign, I made no sound
I know I must stay underground
[Chorus]
That's why she walks, or so they say
She always knew just what I needed
Now if she would just look my way
One time before they proceed
She sprinkles flowers in the dirt
That's when a thrill becomes a hurt
I know I'll never see her face
She walks away from my resting place
[Chorus]
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