Turpentine

Lyrics

I can't tell if this is real or if I am sleeping

I'll embroider the truth

And that's so I shall reap

I took things that didn't belong to me

I didn't mean to do you wrong

Looking back on all that stolen time

Back when I was drinking turpentine

Don't blame me

I only took you in

It takes time to do the poisoning

So let's close the door on this and lock it

And that's all it will ever be

Just an accident of chemistry

You did everything to me but stopped short of murder

Couldn't move me much closer to keeping my word

While the crowds threw stones at the hangman

The sky fell down

The bells rang

Looking back on all that stolen time

Back when I was drinking turpentine

Don't blame me

I only took you in

It takes time to do the poisoning

So let's close the door on this and lock it

And that's all that it will ever be

Just an accident of chemistry

Airless shaft of an underground railway

Effete assassin with a hawk in a sack

The earth will offer us in when our hearts fail

As it swallowed the river running under the track

Under the track yeah

I can't tell if I'm dreaming or if I'll awaken

With a song in my heart that is longing to break

Let it out and let it fly high

Up where the spires scrape the sky

Looking back on all that stolen time

Back when I was drinking turpentine

Don't blame me

I only took you in

It takes time to do the poisoning

So let's close the door on this and lock it

And that's all that it will ever be

Just an accident of history

Yeah

Airless shaft of an underground railway

Cute assassin with a hawk in a sack

The earth will offer us in when our hearts fail

Swallowed the river running under the track

That's right

Credits

• Written by: Elvis Costello
• Produced by: Elvis Costello and Jason Lader
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocal, Fender Jazzmaster guitar, piano

The Imposters:

Pete Thomas - drums

Davey Faragher - bass

Steve Nieve - Hohner pianet, Wurlitzer electric piano

Tennessee Thomas - drums

"Farmer" Dave Scher - pedal steel guitar

Johnathan Rice - amplified Gibson J-45 guitar

Jonathan Wilson - Fender Telecaster guitar

Jenny Lewis - harmony vocal

Jenny Lewis, Johnathan Rice, "Farmer" Dave Scher, Davey Faragher, Jonathan Wilson - vocal supergroup

Discography

Albums:

• Momofuku, 2008

Singles:

• none

Collections:

• none

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Alternate Versions:

• none

Covers

• none

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.