The Birds Will Still Be Singing

Summertime withers as the sun descends He wants to kiss you, will you condescend? Before you wake and find a chill within your bones Under a fine canopy of lover's dust and humourous bones Banish all dismay, extinguish every sorrow Eternity stinks, my darling, that's no joke Don't waste your precious time pretending you're heartbroken There will be tears and candles, pretty words to say Spare me lily-white lily with the awful perfume of decay Banish all dismay, extinguish every sorrow If I'm lost or I'm forgiven, the birds will still be singing It's so hard to tear myself away Even when you know it's over It's too much to say Banish all dismay, extinguish every sorrow If I'm lost or I'm forgiven, the birds will still be singing

The Birds Will Still Be Singing Words by Declan MacManus Music by Declan MacManus Performed by Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Produced by Kevin Killen, Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Musicians Elvis Costello - voice Michael Thomas - violin Ian Belton - violin Paul Cassidy - viola Jacqueline Thomas - violoncello Recorded September 14-October 1, 1992, Church Studios, London Released January 15, 1993 Albums The Juliet Letters, 1993 Collections Extreme Honey: The Very Best Of The Warner Bros. Years, 1997 Length 4:27 First known performance:  July 1, 1992, London, England Last known performance:  May 29, 2010, Dallas, TX      (90 known performances)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: The Juliet Letters | lyrics | TJL info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: The Juliet Letters