The Land Of Give And Take

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History repeats the old conceits
The glib replies the same defeats
Keep your finger on important issues
With crocodile tears and a pocketful of tissues

She found this oily slick
Then she got a nervous tick
In a fashionable hovel

Hanging around dying to be tortured
Digging his way into the bone orchard
Going to a go-go, going to grovel

In the land of give and take
You keep your body and your soul make no mistake
But I can't take much more heartache
So to hell with you for heaven's sake

In an almost empty gin palace
Through a two-way looking glass
You see your Alice
And she smiles very sweetly

Charged with insults and flattery
Moving with malice
You've got to be so cruel to be callous
And you fit the identikit completely

In the land of give and take
You keep your body and your soul make no mistake
But I can't stand much more heartache
So to hell with you for heaven's sake

I might shake California's fault
Be locked in Geneva's deepest vault
I shall not walk, I shall not fear
From the valley of your breath I shall steer clear

His hands were clammy and cunning
She was suitably stunning
But she says there's not a hope in Hades

All the laddies cat call and wolf whistle
Though they dog fight like rose and thistle
Getting to the nitty gritty just chewing on the gristle
As she staggers to the ladies'

In the land of give and take
You keep your body and your soul make no mistake
But I can't take much more heartache
So to hell with you for heaven's sake

In the land of give and take
You keep your body and your soul make no mistake
But I can't take much more heartache
So to hell with you for heaven's sake

In the land of give and take
You keep your body and your soul make no mistake
But I can't take much more heartache
So to hell with you for heaven's sake

The Land Of Give And Take (Early Version of Beyond Belief)
Written byElvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced byGeoff Emerick from an original idea by Elvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
RecordedNovember 1981, AIR Studios, London
ReleasedOctober 28, 2002
AlbumsImperial Bedroom (Rhino/Edsel reissue), 2002
PromosSelections From Armed Forces - Imperial Bedroom - Mighty Like A Rose, 2002
Length3:02

First known performance:
     (0 known performances)


Alternate versions

Imperial BedroomIB album cover large.jpg

Covers

Template:Elvis Costello covers: The Land Of Give And Take

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