Lyrics Bedlam (Live At Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier de la Place des Arts, Montreal, July 3, 2006) - Elvis Costello

I got this philosopher's part
Trained a gentle Jesus meek and mild
I got this harlot that I'm stuck with
Carrying another man's child
I saw the Paris star renouncing me
But she burnt out as we arrived
I got this back across the border
If they knew that we'd survive
They were surprised to see us
So they greeted us with palms
As they had munition
Acts of contrition and small arms

And I might recite a small prayer
If I ever said them
Lay down on an iron frame
And found myself in Bedlam
I wish that I could take something
To drown out the noise
Wailing echoes down the corridors

I got this imaginary radio
And I'm punching up the dial
I got the A.C. trained on the T.V
So it won't blow up in my eye
And everything that I thought merciful
And marked as too extreme
Must get family entertainment
Here in the strange land of my dreams
And I've got this in my likeness
Of St. Francis of Assisi
And I hold my hand outstretched
And a little bird comes to me

And I might recite a small prayer
If I ever said them
Lay down on an iron frame
And found myself in Bedlam
I thought that on through fingers
They were stretching through the bars
Wailing echoes down the corridors

The pale yellow candle peaks out
Life goes on
The ring drum rang out
Jerusalem
Into the pit of silence where
The wretched plunge
We bear with all the innocents
We must be re-revenged

I got this scared but decorated girl
Strapped in a steel trunk of a Mustang
Drove her down a Cyprus road
The trigger's hanged and the stars still spangled
Dangled flags under rags
Along a colored thread and twine
I dragged that goose-damned purple heart
Along the road to Palestine
Someone whipped up a dream
Mentioned virgin pieces
Easter saw a slaughter
Each wrapped in blood-stained fleeces
My thoughts return to vengeance
But I put up no resistance
And it seemed a long way from my home
But it really was no distance

And I might recite a small prayer
If I ever said them
Lay down on an iron frame
And found myself in Bedlam
I bow like an actor
Acknowledging applause
Playing the crusader
Who was conquering the Moors
And he knew the consequences
But he won't accept the cause
Wailing echoes down the corridors

Bedlam
Bedlam
Bedlam
Ow!