Elvis Costello Turpentine Lyrics

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 swallows 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