The Beat

Elvis Costello

We're all going on a summer holiday

Vigilantes coming out to follow me

Heard somebody say they're out to collar me

Anybody wanna swallow me?

It takes two to tumble, it takes two to tango

Speak up--don't mumble if you're in the combo

On the beat, on the beat

Till a man comes along and he says

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ"

See your friends in the state they're in

See your friends getting under their skin

See your friends getting taken in



Well, if you only knew the things you do to me

I'd do anything to confuse the enemy

There's only one thing wrong with you befriending me

Take it easy, I think you're bending me

I've been a bad boy with the standard leader

My neighbor's revving up his Vauxhall Viva

On the beat, on the upbeat

Till a man comes along and he says

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ"

See your friends walking down the street

See your friends never quite complete

See your friends getting under their feet



Oh, I don't want to disease you, but I'm no good with machinery

Oh, I don't wanna freeze you, stop looking at the scenery

I keep thinking about your mother, oh, I don't wanna lick them

I don't wanna be a lover, I just wanna be your victim

I don't go out much at night, I don't go out much at all

Did you think you were the only one who was waiting for a call?

On the beat, on the upbeat

Till a man comes along and he says

"Have you been a good boy, never played with your toy?

Though you never enjoy, such pleasure to employ"

See your friends treat me like a stranger

See your friends despite all the arrangements

See your friends, nothing here has changed

Just the beat

Just the beat

Daftar lirik lagu Elvis Costello

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