Poisoned Letter

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Am I not bloody, more grey than pink?
I'm all cut up about it, you little prick

The twitching impulse is to speak your mind
A powerful microscope and you may find it
For everything you build, you must tear down
They issue licenses to any clown
Some kind of scratching stick jammed in their claw
For everything you raised, you must deplore
Everything must be razed to the ground
'Til the appointed hour, you must not utter a sound

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So this is a poisoned letter
You say there is no antidote
You always did know better
You say I let you down, you little hypocrite
The words flew from my mouth and that's the end of it

I'd probably play along left to my own device
Spare me the stupefying drone of your advice
The sins of gin and garter, confession may just delay
You know the measuring pole, the boots of clay
I've heard it all before, you'll say it anyway

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So this is a poisoned letter
You say there is no antidote
You always did know better
And I could tear you down
I'm going to let you pass
The words flew from my mouth
But they were all my arse

You scream and shout
Everything is working out just as you predicted
And the pain is so sweet that you stamp your little feet
And you even have time to pity me
How can you feel contempt?
Pride of position in the gallery of attempted people

You murder time and truth
Love, laughter and belief
Alone with your tweezers
And your perfumed handkerchief
The curious cross-bred beast
A prostitute and pimp
The artificial hip
The speed and lager limp

They made another genius from a buffoon
To change him back again into the missing link
Don't try to read my mind, it's full of disappearing ink

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So this is a poisoned letter
You say there is no antidote
You always did know better
You're such a simple kill
It's such a happy death
The words flew from my mouth
They were a waste of breath

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So this is a poisoned letter
You say there is no antidote
You always did know better
And I could tear you down
I'm going to let you pass
The words flew from my mouth
But they were all my arse

Poisoned Letter
Written byDeclan MacManus
Performed byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Pete Thomas - drums
Nick Lowe - bass
RecordedDecember 7, 1992, Church Studios, London
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2002
AlbumsBrutal Youth (Rhino reissue), 2002
Length3:46

First known performance:
     (0 known performances)


Brutal YouthBY album cover large.jpg

Covers

no known covers

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