Pretty Words Lyrics - Elvis Costello

I ask you nicely 

Get my face slapped under wraps 

What's going on precisely 

Is there something wrong perhaps? 

Surprise, surprise (surprise, surprise) 

It's more like a booby trap than a booby prize 

Civil disobedience from a soldier with a dirty rifle 

You're loosening all the screws that hold the hinges of my life 

Fat cats and army brats 

Hep cats and dog tag pawing over girly mags 

Pretty words don't mean much anymore 

I don't mean to be mean much anymore 

All I see are snapshots, bigshots, tender spots 

Mug shots, machine slots 

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'Til you don't know what's what 

You don't know what you got 

Curious women running after curious men 

Curiosity didn't kill the cat 

It was a poisoned pen 

But there's not much choice (it's hobson's choice) 

Between a cruel mouth and a jealous voice 

Got back to london 

Picked a paper from the man 

No words of consolation 

Just cartoons and titter tatter 

Well well, fancy that 

Millions murdered for a kiss me quick hat 

No backbone, blood and guts 

Better keep your big mouth shut 

Photos 

Pretty words don't mean much anymore 

I don't mean to be mean much anymore 

All I see are snapshots, bigshots, tender spots 

Machine slots, mug shots