Turpentine Lyrics - Singles - Elvis Costello & The Imposters

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