Poisoned Rose

Lyrics

The poisoned rose

That you gave to me

It left me half alive

And half in ecstasy

But if half of your love

Is all I can win

Give me just a fraction

But no more medicine

The poisoned rose

On a Valentine card

That you take straight to the heart

That you call my junkyard

But if all I can do

Is save pieces of you

The piece of your mind

The piece of your heart

Didn't tear me apart

Like the poisoned rose

I received from you

I don't know

How we came to grow

Into this very sad affair

Every time we do the decent thing

Somebody spikes the drink

And a single becomes a pair

The poisoned rose

That you wear at your best

That I keep pressed between the white sheets

Where you lie half undressed

I threw away my shirt and shoes

You looked and I dived in

It's just you and me now

'Cause I threw away the gin

I threw away your alibis

And all your worn-out clothes

I threw myself upon the floor

But I couldn't throw away

This poisoned rose

This poisoned rose

This poisoned rose

Credits

• Written by: D.P.A. MacManus
• Produced by: J. Henry (T-Bone) Burnett and Declan Patrick Aloysius MacManus with Larry Kalman Hirsch
• Musicians:

The Little Hands Of Concrete - vocals

Ray Brown - string bass

Earl Palmer - brushes & drums

Tom Canning - piano

Mitchell Froom - Hammond organ

Discography

Albums:

• King Of America, 1986
• King Of America (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1995
• King Of America (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2005

Singles:

• Baby Plays Around, 1989

Collections:

• Girls Girls Girls, 1989

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Alternate Versions:

• Poisoned Rose (Solo Demo)

King Of America (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2005

Produced by: (none credited)

Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocal, guitar

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.