Even though these songs are obviously about the deliberate destruction of my life, they are so well sung and played they still delight even me.
Little Palaces lyrics
Elvis Costello
In chocolate town all the trains are painted brown
In the silver paper of the wrapper
There's a dapper little man
And he wears a wax mustache
That he twists with nicotine fingers
As he drops his cigarette ash
And someone comes and sweeps it up
And then he doffs his cap
And there's a rat in someone's bedroom
And they're shutting someone's trap
And they'll soon be pulling down the little palaces
And the doors swing back and forward
From the past into the present
And the bedside crucifixion
Turns from wood to phosphorescent
And they're moving problem families
From the South up to the North
Mother's crying over some
Soft soap opera divorce
And you say you didn't do it
But you know you did of course
And they'll soon be pulling down the little palaces
It's like shouting in a matchbox
Filled with plasterboard and hope
Like a picture of Prince William
In the arms of John the Pope
There's a world of good intentions
And pity in their eyes
The sedated homes of England
Are theirs to vandalize
So you knock the kids about a bit, because they've got your name
And you knock the kids about a bit, until they feel the same
And they feel like knocking down the little palaces
You're the twinkle in your daddy's eye, a name you spray and scribble
You made the girls all turn their heads
And in turn they made you miserable
To be the heir apparent to the kingdom of the invisible
So you knock the kids about a bit, because they've got your name
And you knock the kids about a bit, until they feel the same
And they feel like knocking down the little palaces
It Tears Me Up lyrics
Percy Sledge
I see you walk with him,
I see you talk to him,
It tears me up
It tears me up
And start my eyes to cryin'
Oh, oh, I can't stop cryin'
I see him kiss your lips,
And squeeze your fingertips,
It tears me up
It tears me up
I feel like I'm dyin'
Oh, oh, I must be dyin'
It's a cold, cold world I'm livin' in
I turn my back and there you are with my best friend
Oh sometimes we pass on the street darlin'
And you looked at me and you can say, "I'm sorry, my sweet"
Maybe just saying I'm sorry would be enough
But then you'd look back at him, with your perfect smile,
And that'd make me feel kind of rough.
Oh darlin It tears me up
I see you smile at him,
You'll never tire of him
It tears me up.
It tears me up.
But there ain't nothin I can do now
Baby can't you see I'm still in love with you
Oh, can't you see I'm still in love with you, baby
Still waitin for something that I cannot have
Oh, baby, nothin' tears me up so bad,
Can't you see that I'm still in love with you baby
Oh, that tears me up so bad now baby
Our Little Angel lyrics
Elvis Costello
This is the place where I made my best mistakes
This is the place even angels don't understand
I've seen the disappointment in her face
And the collection of engagement rings on her right hand
She sits alone apart from the crowd
In a white dress she wears like a question mark
Friends speak of her fondly
Enemies just think out loud
You think you're man enough to please her
And you're fool enough to start
You're not going to do a thing to our little angel
There's nothing you're thinking tonight that tomorrow won't change
Now the cabaret is frozen and the laughter comes in cans
And the lonely hearts club clientele don't know what to do with their hands
You think that you'll be sweet to her but everybody knows
That you're the marshmallow valentine that got stuck on her clothes
But you're not going to do a thing to our little angel
There's nothing you're thinking tonight that tomorrow won't change
So you mix your drinks and words
You make bad jokes you make bad time
The floors are there to walk over
The walls are there to climb
You swear that you'll never go back again once you're inside
You're never the bridegroom she's always the bride
And you're not going to do a thing to our little angel
There's nothing you're thinking tonight that tomorrow won't change
You'll come in a sweetheart and you'll go out a stranger
Well you try to love her but she's so contrary
Like a chainsaw running through a dictionary
So get your mind off the sweet behind of our little angel
You're not going to do a thing
You're not going to do a thing
You're not going to do a thing to our little angel
Jack Of All Parades lyrics
Elvis Costello
When we first met I didn't know what to do
My old love lines were all worn out on you
And the world walked round my mouth
They lit me up and they snuffed me out
[Chorus:]
And I was everybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
You won't know who to thank
You won't know who to blame
It's just a part of the Murdering Game
'Cos down in the fleshpots
Where they pay you in pounds
They're laughing like drains
And baying like bloodhounds
For the Jack of all parades
The Jack of all parades
Once I knew a girl
That looked so much like Judy Garland
That people would stop and give her money
And everybody was Frankie, Jimmy or Bobby
Not the Jack, the Jack of all Parades,
Oh the Jack, the Jack of all Parades,
Oh the Jack, of all Parades.
Now the way that I feel is no longer news
You know my love and how to refuse it
Cause you know where the door is
And how to use it
Oh you know you do
But from my chequered past
To this shattered terrace
Where you can't keep your mind off
The Crimes of Paris
And you can't keep your peace
And try to forget it
And I can't forgive you
For things you haven't done yet
Oh I was anybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
When we first met I didn't know what to do
My old love lines were all worn out on you
And the world walked 'round my mouth
I didn't mean to say it
I just blurted it out
As you pretended not to notice
Or be taken aback
And I loved you there and then
It's as simple as that
Oh I was everybody's boy
But soon that thrill just fades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
To be the love of one true heart
Or the Jack of all parades
Oh the Jack of all parades
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 were not impressed
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
Take off your party dress
I'm not gonna get too sentimental
Like those other sticky valentines
'Cause I don't know if you are 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 bet he takes 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
My aim is true, my aim is true
My aim is true, my aim is true
My aim is true, my aim is true
My aim is true, my aim is true
My aim is true
