Elvis Costello

[fox69]

"Tears At The Birthday Party"

"Tears At The Birthday Party"



Think back now when we were young
There were always tears at the birthday party
You know how children can be
So cruel
That's how it starts, but
What if we never learn how to behave?
I did something, and you never forgave me
I never thought that it could be like this

But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?

Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

And it's the same every year
Seems that I remember it as something more, but
You know how children can grow
So strange
I still adore you

What if we never learn from our mistakes?
But then, you'll never know how my heart aches

I never thought that it would be like this
But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?

Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

One day I know he'll forget
To pay you the compliments you're after
You'll hang your sad, aching head
Behind a brittle smile or a shrill of laughter

What if we only get what we deserve?
Somehow I couldn't quite summon the nerve

Upon each anniversary
Then do you ever think of me?
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?

Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

 

[fox69]

"Tears Before Bedtime"

"Tears Before Bedtime"


I know the name on the tip of your tongue
And I know that accusing look
Everybody knows I've been so wrong
That's the problem and here's the hook

[Chorus:]
Tears before bedtime
There'll be trouble tonight
I don't want to talk about it anymore
I don't want to have another fight
I don't want to talk I don't want to fight
How wrong can I be before I am right

For the tears that you boo hoo hoo hoo
There can be no defence
You say you'll forgive and forget
But it's only a pretence

Either you can leave the past behind
Or give me something to disconnect my mind
I sleep with my fists clenched tight
When I don't lie awake all night
I guess time gave up the ghost too late
And the balance of our love
Very soon turns to hate

Darling your suspiciousness
Tortures me at night
But I can't excuse the cruel words
That I use whenever we fight

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"Tears, Tears And More Tears"

"Tears, Tears And More Tears"



Wake up early in the morning
I got you on my mind
Even a simple phone call would suit me just fine

Tears, tears and more tears
I can't help but keep on crying
Tears, tears and more tears
I can't get you off of my mind

You didn't say what happened
You just walked away
You've been nothing but sorrow
And a lot of rainy days

Tears, tears and more tears
Baby won't you please come home
Tears, tears and more tears
Oh you've been gone too long

I remember the good times
The good times we had
How can you leave all that behind
Like it was just another place you've had

Remember the time when we drank sweet wine
I thought that everything was fine
Remember the walk in the park
When we talked about love and peace of mind?
Remember the night when I held you tight
Let the world pass us by
Remember the day when I heard you say
We can make it if we try

Tears, tears and more tears
What happened to the love we had?
Tears, tears and more tears
I got the blues and I got them bad

Wake up early in the morning
I got you on my mind
Even a simple phone call would suit me just fine

Tears, tears and more tears
I can't help but keep on crying
Tears, tears and more tears
I can't get you off of my mind

Tears, tears and more tears
Baby won't you please come home
Tears, tears and more tears
Oh you've been gone too long

 

[fox69]

"That Day Is Done"

"That Day Is Done"


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]

 

[fox69]

"That's How You Got Killed Before"

"That's How You Got Killed Before"



Well, you're standing on the corner flagging all the girls you see
Now do like EC and let those ladies be
You know that's wrong, man, you know that's wrong
Boy, you better get control - that's how you got killed before

That girl you just met who got a big guy for a pal
Who'll put knots on your head for messing with his gal
So take it steady, man, let those women go
Well, I'm just trying to tell you - that's how you got killed before

Now, you wouldn't listen, Ephrom, you got two black eyes
That's what you get, Daddy, for messing with men's wives
So take it steady, whoa, let those women go
Well, I'm just trying to tell you - that's how you got killed before

 

[fox69]

"That's Not The Part Of Him"

"That's Not The Part Of Him"



I have a friend
She's just a friend
I tried to comfort and defend
I gave her what you might call advice
But nothing like that comes without a price

The rumour was a cruel surprise
And she dissolved before my eyes
I offered my hand and hers and mine entwined
I thought about back then when I wished that she had been mine

There's no use in shedding any tears
He's no good to you the way he is
He's beyond forgiving and believing
Half of his heart is torn like paper
It's sweet as the syrup from the maple
But that's not the part of him you're leaving

In time they're bound to wonder why
It's just a thrill you can't deny
I offered my shoulder right away
Now people will talk about what I can't say

And yet the whispers still persist
They're getting harder to resist
How am I supposed to stop loving you now I've begun?
And I'm sorry for what I might do more than what I have done

There's no use in shedding any tears
He's no good to you the way he is
He's beyond forgiving and believing
Half of his heart is filled with pain
That's sweet as a lick of sugarcane
But that's not the part of him you're leaving

Love is a many splintered thing
That only cuts roses and ribbons that cling
But that's not the part of him you're leaving

 

[fox69]

"The Big Light"

"The Big Light"


Well I had a little feeling to have a big night
And I woke up feeling small and not so brave and not quite right
I had to face the who am I and where is she and what did I do
But worst of all I had to face the big light

[Chorus:]
The big light came through my window and it opened up my eyelids
And it snapped them up like roller blinds and told me things that I did
I can't face another day and night of good ideas and complications
And I'm thankful that I didn't open another bottle of inspiration

When the hangover this morning had a personality
And I cast my shattered mind over selected memories
I didn't even touch the light switch so I knew I'd never see
The Haggard face that would be staring back at me

[Chorus]

Well I had a little feeling to have a big time
And I woke up to alarm bells like a big church chime
I had to face the who am I and who is she and what did I do
But worst of all I had to face the big light

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"The Bridge I Burned"

"The Bridge I Burned"


I'm walking down Times Square in the Electric Daylight
The sailors on shore leave stand out in their perfect white.
I'm up here with my spying glass at the window up above
For better or for worse - it's a perverse universe, my love.
Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned
Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone.

"And remember to free faraway from the unbridled, and the impudent,
the malicious, and the unlucky.
For these being full of bad demons or rays are maleficent,
and like lepers and people striken with plague,
they harm not only by touch but even by proximity and by sight." (Dig it!)
[Quote from Marsilio Ficino, Italian philosopher (1433-1499)]

You mutter underneath your breath - IT ECHOES ROUND THE WORLD
Everybody comes from nowhere.
There is hope, it loops up in the air

Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned
Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone.

You said I used to be handsome if you screwed up your eyes
Professors and vampires drank up all the tears I cried.
Now there's a bird at my window, he feeds upon the pane (pain)
and sometimes he sings to me - a mocking bird in the twilight of infamy.

Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned
Now I know, somehow I don't feel so alone.
Now I know, I should have never walked over the bridge I burned
Now I know, they've burned one sinner and the others are sadly following
(set to follow?)

Now I know.
Now I know.
Now I know.

 

[fox69]

"The Comedians"

"The Comedians"


I fell under such gentle persuasion
You can't refuse it's like a home from home
Meanwhile in the Motor car kingdom
They're finding that all that glitters is not chrome
The social circle have these cardiac complaints
Their hearts are empty when their hands are full
All these new found fond acquaintances
Turn out to be the red rag to my bull

[Chorus:]
And I'm up while the dawn is breaking
Even though my heart is aching
I should be drinking a toast to absent friends
Instead of these comedians

I've looked into these eyes upon reflection
They've seen the face of love, they've seen a few
What kind of love is this upon inspection
You'll be the last to know who's fooling who

[Chorus]

 

[fox69]

"The Crooked Line"

"The Crooked Line"



Life isn't a game... won or tied... lost by either side...
Then some people's idea of the straight and narrow
Didn't appeal to me

If you were my life's companion
As it seems you may turn out to be
I'm contemplating
How I hope I'll find you waiting
At the very end of this crooked line...

Love isn't a trial of strength and weakness
Though light into darkness
While some people remark
No worthwhile fire
Ever started without that spark

If you were my life's companion
As it seems you may turn out to be
I'm contemplating
How I hope I'll find you waiting
At the very end of this crooked line...