Edith And The Kingpin

Lyrics

The big man arrives

Disco dancers greet him

Plainclothes cops greet him

Small town, big man, fresh lipstick glistening

Sophomore jive

From victims of typewriters

The band sounds like typewriters

The big man he's not listening

His eyes hold Edith

His left hand holds his right

What does that hand desire

That he grips it so tight

Edith in the ring

The passed over girls are conferring

The man with the diamond ring is purring

All claws for now withdrawn

One by one they bring

His renegade stories to her

His crimes and his glories to her

In challenge they look on

Women he has taken grow old too soon

He tilts their tired faces

Gently to the spoon

Edith in his bed

A plane in the rain is humming

The wires in the walls are humming

Some song some mysterious song

Bars in her head

Beating frantic and snowblind

Romantic and snowblind

She says his crime belongs

Edith and the Kingpin

Each with charm to sway

Are staring eye to eye

They dare not look away

You know they dare not look away

Credits

• Written by: Joni Mitchell
• Produced and Arranged by: Elvis Costello
• Recorded August 21, 1997, Westside Studios, London
• Mixed by Kevin Killen at Avatar Studios, New York, NY
• Assistant Engineer: Anthony Ruotolo
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals

Andy Findon - flute

Chris Caldwell - bass clarinet

Paul Pritchard - French horn

Hugh Seenan - French horn

Peter Whyman - saxophone

John Barclay - flugelhorn, trumpet

Roy Babbington - bass guitar

Anthony Kerr - vibes

Pete Thomas - drums

Discography

Albums:

• none

Singles:

• none

Collections:

• none

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• A Tribute To Joni Mitchell, 2007

Alternate Versions:

• none

Covers

• Joni Mitchell, on The Hissing Of Summer Lawns, 1975

Bootlegs

• Beacon Theatre 2001