13 Steps Lead Down

Lyrics

When nobody knows she puts on secret clothes

And lies in the meadow with her hands tied behind her back

I won't refuse

If you know how to use it

Just stop playing that ugly drug music

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

There's commoners and kings

And everyone's a prisoner

Of paper and glue and a decent pair of scissors

So tonight I'm drinking to your health

Because I just can't stand myself

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

She stands and fails on fashion fingernails

Her lovers have her walking 'round

On instruments of torture

And one of them is poisonous

The other is a thief they say

So what one could give to her

The other cannot take away

When nobody knows she puts on secret clothes

And lies in her splendour for a picture opportunity

Cover up that bruise, put on patent leather shoes

Just stop playing that bad mood music

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

There's commoners and kings

And everyone's a prisoner

Of paper and glue and a decent pair of scissors

So tonight I'm drinking to your health

Because I just can't stand myself

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

Thirteen steps lead down

Credits

• Written by: D.P.A. MacManus
• Produced by: Mitchell Froom and Elvis Costello
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

Pete Thomas - drums, percussion section

Steve Nieve - piano, organ, harmonium

Bruce Thomas - bass

Discography

Albums:

• Brutal Youth, 1994
• Brutal Youth (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997

Alternate Versions:

• 13 Steps Lead Down (demo)

Brutal Youth (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002

• This section may be incomplete.

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.