Elvis Costello - Strict Time lyrics

There's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth

I can hear you knocking but I'm not coming out

Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist

'Cause there's no ventilation on a critical list

Fingers creeping up my spine are not mine to resist

Strict time

Chorus:

Toughen up, toughen up

Keep your lip buttoned up

Strict time

Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl

And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl

Strict time

Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial

The courting cold wars weekend witch trial

Strict time

All the boys are straight laced and the girls are frigid

The talk is two-faced and the rules are rigid 'cause it's strict time

Strict time

Chorus

You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones

Try to look Italian through the musical Valium

Strict time

Thinking of grand larceny

Smoking the everlasting cigarette of chastity

Cute assistants staying alive

More like a hand job than the hand jive

Strict time

Chorus