Stripping Paper

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I got time on my hands I'm just
stripping paper
It's amazing what you will find
Stripping paper
When you get down to the past

Back then we didn't have means
For fine decoration
So we painted while mixing wine
With flirtation

There, in the mess of it all
He took me right there in the thrill
Not quite against my will with my
back to that rococco wall
We slipped right down to the floor

I kicked closed the door
He complimented my taste
I annointed his serious face with
wallpaper paste
I wish we could laugh like that now
But what seemed to follow and
ended up hollow was our vow
Tear a strip or two
See what came not much later
Here's a pony and a toy balloon
Behind a vine that withered
all too soon
Here's the pencil of a
measuring mark
And a monster she spied in the dark
Now I've got no place in
her heart...
Let me go back to the start...

I got time on my hands I'm just
stripping paper
I got time on my hands I'm just
stripping paper
I got time on my hands I'm just
stripping paper

Stripping Paper
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Imposters
Produced bySebastian Krys & Elvis Costello
Wind quartet arrangementElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, acoustic guitar, celesta, glockenspiel
Steve Nieve - piano, mellotron
Davey Faragher - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Sheryl Henze - alto flute
Lawrence Feldman - alto saxophone
Christopher Komer - French horn
Doug Wieselman - bass clarinet
ReleasedOctober 12, 2018
AlbumsLook Now, 2018
Length3:52
NoteThis song was registered with ASCAP in early 2014.

First known performance:
March 8, 2017, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Last known performance:
February 14, 2023, New York, NY
     (18 known performances)


Look NowLook Now album cover.jpg

Covers

Jenni Muldaur & Thomas Bartlett The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello 2023 AllMusicYouTubeAmazon

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