Elvis Costello - Tramp The Dirt Down lyrics

I saw a newspaper picture from the political campaign

A woman was kissing a child, who was obviously in pain

She spills with compassion, as that young child's

face in her hands she grips

Can you imagine all that greed and avarice

coming down on that child's lips

Well I hope I don't die too soon

I pray the Lord my soul to save

Oh I'll be a good boy, I'm trying so hard to behave

Because there's one thing I know, I'd like to live

long enough to savour

That's when they finally put you in the ground

I'll stand on your grave and tramp the dirt down

When England was the whore of the world

Margaret was her madam

And the future looked as bright and as clear as

the black tarmacadam

Well I hope that she sleeps well at night, isn't

haunted by every tiny detail

'Cos when she held that lovely face in her hands

all she thought of was betrayal

And now the cynical ones say that it all ends the same in the long run

Try telling that to the desperate father who just squeezed the life from his

only son

And how it's only voices in your head and dreams you never dreamt

Try telling him the subtle difference between justice and contempt

Try telling me she isn't angry with this pitiful discontent

When they flaunt it in your face as you line up for punishment

And then expect you to say "Thank you" straighten up, look proud and pleased

Because you've only got the symptoms, you haven't got the whole disease

Just like a schoolboy, whose head's like a tin-can

filled up with dreams then poured down the drain

Try telling that to the boys on both sides, being blown to bits or beaten and

maimed

Who takes all the glory and none of the shame

Well I hope you live long now, I pray the Lord your soul to keep

I think I'll be going before we fold our arms and start to weep

I never thought for a moment that human life could be so cheap

'Cos when they finally put you in the ground

They'll stand there laughing and tramp the dirt down