Elvis Costello Pretty Words Lyrics

Pretty Words Lyrics

I ask you nicely
Get my face slapped under wraps
What`s going on precisely
Is there something wrong perhaps?

Surprise, surprise (surprise, surprise)
It`s more like a booby trap than a booby prize

Civil disobedience from a soldier with a dirty rifle
You`re loosening all the screws that hold the hinges of my life

Fat cats and army brats
Hep cats and dog tag pawing over girly mags

Chorus:
Pretty words don`t mean much anymore
I don`t mean to be mean much anymore
All I see are snapshots, bigshots, tender spots
(1) mug shots, machine slots
(2) machine slots, mug shots
`Till you don`t know what`s what
You don`t know what you got

Curious women running after curious men
Curiosity didn`t kill the cat
It was a poisoned pen
But there`s not much choice (it`s Hobson`s choice)
Between a cruel mouth and a jealous voice

Got back to London
Picked a paper from the man
No words of consolation
Just cartoons and titter tatter
Well well, fancy that
Millions murdered for a kiss me quick hat
No backbone, blood and guts
Better keep your big mouth shut

Chorus