American Without Tears Lyrics - King Of America - Elvis Costello

Outside in New Orleans, the heat was almost frightening 

But my hotel room as usual was freezing and unkind 

On TV, they prosecute anyone who's exciting 

So I put on my overcoat and went down to find 

In Revlon and Crimpelene, they captured my heart 

To the strain of a piano and a cocktail murderess 

She was singing that, 'It's Too Late', I agreed with that part 

For two English girls who had changed their address 

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years 

Now I don't speak any English, just American without tears 

Just American without tears 

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One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend 

They had known rogues and rascals and showbiz impresarios 

While the boys were licking Hitler, they had something to defend 

From men armed with chewing gum and fine nylon hose 

By a bicycle factory, as they sounded the siren 

And returned into the dance hall, she knew he was the one 

Though he wasn't tall or handsome, she laughed when he told her 

"I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John" 

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years 

Now I don't speak any English, just American without tears 

Just American without tears 

At a dock in Southampton full of tearful goodbyes 

Newsreel commentators said, "Cheerio, G.I. brides" 

Soon they'll be finding the cold facts and lies 

New words for suspenders and young girls backsides 

Photos 

Now I'm in America and running from you 

Like my grandfather before me walked the streets of New York 

And I think of all the women, I pretend mean more than you 

When I open my mouth and I can't seem to talk 

Now it seems we've been crying for years and for years 

Now I don't speak any English just American without tears 

Just American without tears