The Beat

Lyrics

We're all going on a summer holiday

Vigilantes coming out to follow me

Heard somebody say they're out to collar me

Anybody wanna swallow me?

It takes two to tumble, it takes two to tango

Speak up; don't mumble if you're in the combo

On the beat, on the beat

Till a man comes along and he says

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"

See your friends in the state they're in

See your friends getting under their skin

See your friends getting taken in

Well, if you only knew the things you do to me

I'd do anything to confuse the enemy

There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me

Take it easy, I think you're bending me

I've been a bad boy with the standard leader

My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva

On the beat, on the upbeat

Till the man comes along and he says

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"

See your friends walking down the street

See your friends never quite complete

See your friends getting under their feet

Oh, I don't want to disease you

But I'm no good with machinery

Oh, I don't wanna freeze you

Stop looking at the scenery

I keep thinking about your mother

Oh, I don't wanna lick them

I don't wanna be a lover

I just wanna be your victim

I don't go out much late at night

I don't go out much at all

Did you think you were the only one

Who was waiting for a call?

On the beat, on the beat, on the upbeat

Till a man comes along and he says,

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such a pleasure to employ"

See your friends treat me like a stranger

See your friends despite all the arrangements

See your friends -- nothing here has changed

Just the beat

Just the beat

Just the beat

Just the beat

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:

• This Year's Model, 1978
• This Year's Model (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993
• This Year's Model (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• 2½ Years, 1993
• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• The Beat (live at the El Mocambo, Toronto 1978-03-06)

Live At The El Mocambo, 1978 (Canadian promo)

Live At The El Mocambo, Rykodisc/Demon, 1993

2½ Years, 1993

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.