"Pidgin English" lyrics

Elvis Costello and The Attractions Lyrics

"Pidgin English"

There's a young girl with her old man who's too sick to mention
She'll be turning twenty-seven as she draws her widow's pension
But he couldn't catch a common cold, he couldn't get arrested
Too terrified to answer back, too tired to have resisted

Many hands make light work
Shorthand makes life easy
When he's out on night work
Make sure no one sees me
It all ends up in a slanging match with body talk and bruises
A change is better than a rest
Silly beggars can't be choosers

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize?
There are ten commandments of love
I believe, I trust, I promise, I wish love's just a throwaway kiss
In this Pidgin English

If you're so wise use your lips and your eyes
"Take it to the bridge," she sighs

You go cheep-cheep-cheep between bull's-eyes and bluster
Stiff as your poker face, keener than mustard
From your own back yard to the land of exotica
From the truth society to neurotic erotica

Silence is golden
Money talks diamonds and ermine
There's a word in Spanish, Italian, and German
In sign language, Morse code, semaphore, and gibberish
Have you forgotten how to say it
In your Pidgin English?

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize?
There are ten commandments of love
I believe, I trust, I promise, I wish love's just a throwaway kiss
In this Pidgin English

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize?

P.S. I love you
P.S. I love you
P.S. I love you


Writer(s): Elvis Costello
You May Also Like
Big Star - "You Get What You Deserve" Try to understand what I'm going through Don't blame me for what folks will do For some of us it's not a good time But you've gotta to get used to it And you'd better resign yourself You get...
Aztec Camera - "Lost Outside The Tunnel" I laughed until it got too dark Somewhere else her voice will bark Someone else will be involved Someone stronger still I'm lost here by myself And lost outside myself But we were not to blame We're...
The Jam - "But I'm Different Now" Picked you up and let you down and I never said a word But I'm different now and I'm glad that you're my girl Mess you 'round and upset you I Hurt you most of all But I'm different now and I'm glad...
Roxy Music - "Both Ends Burning" Please don't ever let me down For you know I'm not so sure Do I have the speed to carry on I'll burn you out of my mind, I know You're a flame that never fades Jungle red's a deadly shade Both ends...
Matthew Sweet - "Day For Night" What you gave me I could feel it Like the warm rays of the sun Such a small thing Took me farther Than I'd been with anyone What else can I tell you? My life was simply very bright So I traded the...