Basement Kiss

Lyrics

Lucy Grace can’t show her face down in the North End Road

For in Belgravia rumours have been whispered and suggestions have been made

Did you sell your friends out when the heat got too intense?

You say you like the danger but it’s only a pretense

You say you need the money

When everybody knows you can always fall back on your inheritance

Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?

Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?

Only fingertips from forbidden bliss

Did you bruise your lips on this basement kiss?

Who’s that sneaking ‘round the door?

You can’t come here no more

Can’t you go home again?

She used to sit alone for hours

Spend her evenings watering dried flowers

When her 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 and give you something else instead

Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?

Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide?

Only fingertips from forbidden bliss

Did you bruise your lips on this basement kiss?

Next year she’ll serve her function in her Audrey Hepburn hat

It still won’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 hurt so easily and you try so hard

Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms?

Did you bruise your pride on his face so snide?

Only fingertips from forbidden bliss

Did you bruise you lips on this basement kiss?

Credits

• Written by: Elvis Costello and Cait O'Riordan
• Produced by: Elvis Costello
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar, bass

Pete Thomas - drums

Discography

Albums:

• none

Singles:

• 13 Steps Lead Down, 1994 (U.K. CD single)
• Sulky Girl, 1994 (Australian CD single)
• Sulky Girl, 1995 (Japanese CD single)

Collections:

• none

Alternate Versions:

• Basement Kiss (live in Dublin 1994-12-01) - Elvis Costello and the Attractions

The Other End (Of The Telescope), 1996 (U.K./German CD singles)

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• Wendy James on Now Ain't The Time For Your Tears, 1993
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.