Elvis Costello

Basement Kiss

Elvis Costello


Lucy Grace can't show her face down in the North End Road 
For in Belgravia 
Rumours have been whispered and suggestions have been made 
Did you sell your friends out when the heat got too intense? 
You say you like the danger but it's only a pretense 
You say you need the money 
When everybody knows you can always fall back on your inheritance 
Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms 
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide? 
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss 
Did you bruise your lips in this basement kiss? 

Who's that sneaking 'round the door? 
You can't come here no more 
Can't you go home again? 
She used to sit alone for hours 
Spend her evenings watering dried flowers 

When her mother came to stay and finally went to bed 
Lucy Grace was in the front room shooting through your head 
She tried to take your breath away and give you something else instead 

Next year she'll serve her function in that Audrey Hepburn hat 
It still won't suit her much but she'll get over that 
She'll be pale and feign indifference as they're handling out the prizes 
Spilling Daddy's pearls of wisdom 
And her ugly sister's tranquillizers 

Why were you so tardy putting up your guard? 
When you hurt so easily and you try so hard 
Did you bruise your arms on those false alarms 
Did you bruise your pride on his smile so wide? 
Only fingertips from forbidden bliss 
Did you bruise your lips in this basement kiss?