Starting to Come to Me - Elvis Costello, The Attractions

It’s started to come to me

Your new career would probably end like this

All that professional lipstick pressed into an amateur kiss

Farewell to the studied lines and carefully broken hearts

The overpowering perfume and the glimpse of her garter

Mingling with the sweet smoldering scent of the martyr

Well it’s starting to come to me (come to me, come to me)

Starting to come to me

So you began to recognize the well-dressed man that everybody loves

It started when you chopped off all the fingers of those pony skin gloves

Then you cut a hole out where the love-light used to shine

Your tears of pleasure equal measure crocodile and brine

You try to laugh it off saying «i knew all the time…

But it’s starting to come to me» (come to me, come to me)

Starting to come to me

Sometimes you bring me down to play reluctant confidant

You say you may reward him if he gives you what you want

But these are days to treasure and to hold

They are much too precious to be sold

You’d probably play the pirate if you weren’t so busy digging up the gold

Now you could tell he wanted you 'cause you almost taste it on his breath

But you always cheated life just like the bold dare-devil cheated death

Incidentally, late last night your understudy finally got what you deserve

In private she’s seductive but in public she’s prim, porcelain and nervous

Afraid someone will recognize the shame in her eyes

You’ve still got your dignity or the next best disguise

You never know when to say no and when to compromise

But it’s starting to come to me (come to me, come to me)

Starting to come to me (come to me, come to me)

Starting to come to me