Elvis Costello - Battered Old Bird Lyrics

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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 

He's a Battered Old Bird 
And he's living up there 
There's a place where time stands still 
If you keep taking those little pink pills 

"Hush your mouth you hypocrite" 
His humour cut her deep 
The tight lipped leer of judgement 
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" 

He's a Battered Old Bird 
And he's living up there 
There's a place where time stands still 
If you keep taking those little pink pills

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 
He danced upon the bonfire 
Swallowed sleeping pills like dreams 
With a bottle of sweet sherry that everything redeems 

He's a Battered Old Bird 
And he's living up there 
There's a place where time stands still 
If you keep taking those little pink pills 

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" 

He's a Battered Old Bird 
And he's living up there 
There's a place where time stands still 
If you keep taking those little pink pills 

"Well here's a boy if ever there was 
Who's going to do big things 
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

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lyrics submitted on 04-07-2005
lyrics corrected on 04-07-2005