Elvis Costello - Mischievous Ghost lyrics

She came dancing right before my eyes She said she'd came to warn me Before it dawned on me I went walking on the blank hillside Where the sunset falls Where the sunset dies She gave me love, she told me lies That most mischievous ghost She was in disguise, she was in disguise, she was in disguise. He started to whistle, they bought him a flute He was talking in tongues, they swore he was mute He scoffed and blasphemed, they said it was beautiful Busted a bu*ton, they bought him a suitcase full They coloured him cricket and laced him up tight As he drew on their days resurrected his nights He raved in the dark, he went out in a blaze "there you go," they said, "he's good for nothing and lazy" With scandal and shame they slandered his name They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast Disappointed that he pa**ed away peacefully Never [trying/dying] to be a mischievous ghost They dug him up quick with a polish and lick They powdered him up till he only looked sick The hinge in his backbone would bend to applause But his dancing was not quite as lively of course These are the rewards immortality affords Bullied and bribed and beaten to bliss [harrington slacks/harrods in slacks] and tormental laments Of going away and not being missed With scandal and shame they slandered his name They told him to freeze, they damned him to roast Disappointed that he pa**ed away peacefully Never dying to be a mischievous ghost With the green beer and the shamrock tattoos Singing his songs of the battles we lose And [when/will] you come home again so we can murder you What would you do if they took his word With forty-eight million to join in the toast Move over my darling Mischievous ghost Mischievous ghost