Elvis Costello Sleep Of The Just Lyrics

Sleep Of The Just Lyrics

The soldier asked my name and did I come here very often
Well I thought that he was asking me to dance
In my holy coat and hat and him in his red bonnet
We`d have made a lovely couple but we never had the chance

[chorus]
And now you say that you`ve got to go
Well if you must you must
I suppose that you need the sleep of the just

Well it was a powerful day and there were black crows in the road
And I kept my strong opinions to my chest
I suppose I should have told them that I was on fire for you
When the bus burst into flames outside some place, `The Poet`s Rest`

[chorus]

A girl woke up in a naked light and said "Oh no not again"
He even looked like her brother in the army but she never mentions him
He`ll be tucked up in his bed tonight with his dirty-pictures girl
Saying, `You`re some mother`s daughter you know or is it
immaterial girl?`

Now she`s pinned up upon the barracks wall in her home town
All the soldiers taking turns with their attentions
And as they speculate what she`d look like beneath that thin nightgown
His family pride was rising up as he cast his eyes down