Elvis Costello - Town Where Time Stood Still lyrics

I made my selection from the lonely hit parade

In the town where time stood still

I was feeling very little pain

Until some joker played "Almost Persuaded"

Now every girl I see

Looks so much prettier to me

My faithfulness has faded

And their looks established daggers

And the conversation heated

Since the boys had all been late

I found them walking round defeated

In the town where time stood still

Somebody in charge must have pretended

The future's been suspended

And I say I don't want trouble

But I find myself back in it

In the town where time stood still

I am the man of the minute

Teach me to say "I love you"

I'll teach you to say "You will do"

In the town where time stood still

A way that I can find a little girl

To wind me up with all the usual spells

There's nothing else to do but rearrange somebody's future

And check your figures in the till

The bar is full of girls just like the creature with the curse

And the food is just like cabaret and vice versa

In the town where time stood still

Just as my heart went down sinking

I found the town was shrinking

And suddenly I saw her through the smoke and empty beers

In the town where time stood still

She might have well have waited years

Now I suppose we did some things we used to do

But no amount of darkness could ever turn her into you

And so I woke up in the town where time stood still

With a headache and a heartache

And a handful of pills

A welcome mat, a scandal rag and unpaid bills

With her hand inside her handbag

The sign says "please wait to be seated"

I only want a cup of coffee

I know you can't have your cake and eat it

In the town where time stood still

Did you hear the news today?

It's all bad; they'll be howling after sunset

With a headache and a heartache

And an hour or two to kill

I only wish we were together

In the town where time stood still (fade out)