Heathen Town Lyrics - Elvis Costello

They used to call it Sin City 

now it's gone way past that. 

Painting the town 

and then burning it down 

now even that's old hat. 

Now there's a choir of angels 

at the fall of Rome 

singing "Ave Maria" 

or "Home Sweet Home" 

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It's just a heathen town 

I hear only evil 

as my tongue is tightened. 

I used to be god-fearing 

now I'm so frightened 

'cause the devil will drag you under 

by the sharp tailfin 

of your checkered cab 

And I can't sit down, 

I'm going overboard 

in this heathen town. 

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It starts as a flirtation 

and ends up as an expensive habit. 

With one eye on her place 

in debtor's prison 

And the other on a girl 

dressed as a rabbit. 

Now you can live forever 

endure fits and starts 

The only stake you cannot raise 

Is the one driven through your heart.