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Top Songs By Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Vocals
Bruce Thomas
Bass
Steve Nieve
Piano
Pete Thomas
Drums
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Elvis Costello
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Nick Lowe
Producer
Roger Bechirian
Engineer
Neil King
Assistant Producer
Lyrics
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
Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl
And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl
Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial
The courting cold wars weekend witch trial
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
Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones
Try to look Italian through the musical Valium
Thinkin' of grand larceny
Smokin' the everlasting cigarette of chastity
Cute assistants stayin' alive
More like a hand job than the hand jive
Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Strict time, strict time
Strict time, strict time
Writer(s): Elvis Costello
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