Last Boat Leaving

Lyrics

Hush my little one, don't cry so

You know your daddy's bound to go

They took his pride, they took his voice

Don't upset him now, don't make a noise

They said "You're lucky son, you've still got the choice"

Last boat leaving

Don't waste your tears

It's not as if I'm in chains

I don't want to go now

It would be better for you two

If you don't look back when we sail

Hush my dear, while I whisper it in your ear

We're not going to sail tonight, we're going to disappear

And it feels like a punishment, but I don't know what for

Take care of your mother, son, it's you that she adores

'Cos no matter how long we sail, we'll never reach the shore

Last boat leaving

So dry your tears

It's not as if I'm in chains

When you go to school, son,

You'll read my story in history books

Only they won't mention my name

So hush now, my darling, my sweet little one

I hope that you never have to do what I've done

Do you know what I've done?

Why I'm going away on the last boat leaving this stinking town?

Last boat leaving, it's the last boat leaving

You've had my innocence, you've had my heartbreak

You've taken the place where I once belonged

Now what more can you take?

Credits

• Written by: D.P.A. MacManus
• Produced by: Elvis Costello, Kevin Killen and T Bone Burnett
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, acoustic guitars, mandolin, piano, organ, ship's bell

T-Bone Wolk - bass, accordion

Jim Keltner - drums

Cait O'Riordan - snowbells

Discography

Albums:

• Spike, 1989
• Spike (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• Album Name, Year
• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• Last Boat Leaving (demo)

Spike (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001

• 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.