Little Atoms - Elvis Costello, The Attractions

I arose and marigold lay down with curious iris

Cherry gave to victor her prudence and her virus

For the sake of purity i can recall the time and place

Between wisdom and murder she gave up her immaculate face

My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games

With false and lovely modesty

I can recall the names i’ll miss

In the particle of me that cares for this

I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss

Patience has her virtue still

But every grace must have its price

I through some felicity may spin a tale of constant vice

I took my better nature out, drowned it in the babbling stream

Took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens

And if you still don’t like my song then you can just go to hell

I don’t care if i’m right or wrong or if my typewriter can spell

But i cannot promise you i’ve said «goodbye» to childish things

There’s still some pretty insults left and such sport in threatening

And for the sake of clarity

They are «faith», «hope», and «charity»

In the particle of me that cares for this

I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss