Lyrics Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello

Poisoned Rose

The poisoned rose

That you gave to me

It left me half alive

And half in ecstasy

But if half of your love

Is all I can win

Give me just a fraction

But no more medicine

The poisoned rose

On a Valentine card

That you take straight to the heart

That you call my junkyard

But if all I can do

is save pieces of you

The piece of your mind

The piece of your heart

Didn't tear me apart

Like the poisoned rose

I received from you

I don't know

How we came to grow

Into this very sad affair

Everytime we do the decent thing

Somebody spikes the drink

And a single becomes a pair

The poisoned rose

That you wear at your best

That I keep pressed between the white sheets

Where you lie half undressed

I threw away my shirt and shoes

You looked and I dived in

It's just you and me now

'Cause I threw away the gin

I threw away your alibis

And all your worn-out clothes

I threw myself upon the floor

But I couldn't throw away

This poisoned rose