Strict Time Lyrics - Elvis Costello

There's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth 

I can hear you knockin' but I'm not comin' out 

Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist 

'Cause there's no ventilation on a critical list 

Fingers creepin' up my spine are not mine to resist 

Strict time 

Toughen up, toughen up 

Keep your lip buttoned up 

Strict time 

Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl 

And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl 

Strict time 

Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial 

The courting cold wars weekend witch trial 

Strict time 

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All the boys are straight laced and the girls are frigid 

The talk is two-faced and the rules are rigid 'cause it's strict time 

Strict time 

Toughen up, toughen up 

Keep your lip buttoned up 

Strict time 

You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones 

Try to look Italian through the musical Valium 

Strict time 

Thinkin' of grand larceny 

Smokin' the everlasting cigarette of chastity 

Cute assistants stayin' alive 

More like a hand job than the hand jive 

Strict time 

Toughen up, toughen up 

Keep your lip buttoned up 

Strict time 

Photos 

Toughen up, toughen up 

Keep your lip buttoned up 

Strict time 

Strict time, strict time 

Strict time, strict time