Battered Old Bird Lyrics - Blood & Chocolate - Elvis Costello

The landlady's husband came up to town today 

Since he left them both ten years ago to serve the ministry 

The dark down road of his approach in constant rain was drenched 

The tenant's boy said, "How d'ya do?" Then swore in French 

Did you teach this little child these curses on my soul 

You should both be shut down in the coal-hole 

That's the way to treat a child who cries out in the night 

And a woman who teaches wrong from right 

Oh, he's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

He's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

There's a place where time stands still 

If you keep taking these little pink pills, oh 

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Hush your mouth, you hypocrite 

His humor cut her deep 

The tight lipped leer of judgment 

That had seen her love desert her just like sleep 

Filthy words on children's lips 

Are better, my dear spouse 

Then if I were to speak my mind 

About this house 

Oh, he's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

He's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

There's a place where time stands still 

You keep taking these little pink pills, oh 

But on the first floor there are two old maids 

Each one wishing that the other was afraid 

And next door to them is a man so mild 

'Til he chopped off the head of a visitor's child 

Photos 

He danced upon the bonfire 

Swallowed sleeping pills like dreams 

With a bottle of sweet sherry 

That everything redeems 

Oh, he's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

He's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

There's a place where time stands still 

If you keep taking these little pink pills, oh 

And on the second floor is the Macintosh Man 

He's in his overcoats more than out of them 

And the typewriter's rattling all through the night 

He's burgundy for breakfast tight 

He says, "One day I'll throw away 

All of my cares 

And it is always Christmas in a cupboard 

At the top of the stairs" 

Oh, he's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

He's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

There's a place where time stands still 

If you keep taking these little pink pills, oh 

Here's a boy if ever there was 

Who's going to do big things 

Guess that's what they all say 

And that's how the trouble begins 

I've seen them rise and fall 

Been through their big deals and smalls 

He'd better have a dream that goes 

Beyond four walls 

You think he should be sent outside 

Playing with the traffic 

When pieces of him are already 

Scattered in the attic 

When pieces of him are already 

Scattered in the attic 

Oh, he's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

He's a battered old bird 

And he's living up there, oh 

And there's a place where time stands still 

You keep taking these little pink pills, oh, oh, oh