Elvis Costello

Edith And The Kingpin

Elvis Costello


The big man arrives
Disco dancers greet him
Plainclothes cops greet him
Small town, big man 
Fresh lipstick glistening
Sophomore jive
From victims 
Of typewriters
The band sounds 
Like typewriters
The big man 
He's not listening
His eyes hold edith
His left hand holds 
His right
What does that hand desire
That he grips it so tight

Edith in the ring
The passed-over girls 
Are conferring
The man 
With the diamond ring 
Is purring
All claws for now withdrawn
One by one they bring
His renegade stories to her
His crimes 
And his glories to her
In challenge they look on
Women he has wanted grow 
Old too soon
He tilts 
Their tired faces
Gently to the spoon

Edith in his bed
A plane in the rain 
Is humming
The wires in the walls 
Are humming
Some song-some 
Mysterious song
Bars in her head
Beating frantic 
And snowblind
Romantic and snowblind
She says-his 
Crime belongs
Edith and the kingpin
Each with charm to sway
Are staring eye to eye
They dare not look away
You know they dare 
Not look away