Poisoned Letter

Lyrics

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

Credits

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

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

Nick Lowe - bass

Pete Thomas - drums

Discography

Albums:

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

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• Album Name, Year
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Alternate Versions:

• This section may be incomplete.

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
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Performed by:

• none
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Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.