Temptation

Lyrics

Who's this kid with his mumbo jumbo

Living in air-conditioned limbo

Though they treat him just like a guest

He's living under threat of arrest

Now that he's finally trying to make some sense

He drinks in self-defense

Give me temptation

The subtle touch of authority will

Take you anytime down to the station

You say that it's alright by me

Now you're living with the curse of sophistication

Now that you're shackled up to the rigmarole

With absolute control

I see you lying so wide awake

After I've given you all that you can take

So for heaven's sake

Give me temptation

Still you want to succeed so badly

Finding your life will not be deadly

You tell me you can take it or leave it

Sometimes I think that you really believe it

You're just itching to break her secret laws

As you go from claws to clause

Give me temptation

Credits

• Written by: Elvis Costello
• Produced by: Nick Lowe
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

Steve Nieve - keyboards

Bruce Thomas - bass

Pete Thomas - drums

Discography

Albums:

• Get Happy!!, 1980
• Get Happy!! (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1994
• Get Happy!! (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2003

Singles:

• none

Collections:

• Girls Girls Girls, 1989

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Alternate Versions:

• Temptation (Alternate Version)

Get Happy!! (Deluxe Edition), Rhino/Edsel, 2003

Produced by: Nick Lowe

Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

Steve Nieve - keyboards

Bruce Thomas - bass

Pete Thomas - drums

• Temptation (live at the Troubadour, Los Angeles, CA 1996-05-14)

Costello & Nieve, 1996

Produced by: (none credited)

Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocal

Steve Nieve - piano

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.