You Bowed Down Lyrics

(Elvis Costello)

I suppose you're entitled to know
why I'm making contact
With acqaintances scattered all over the land
I'd promise you now and again that I'd honor
the contract
if it hadn't crumbled away in my hand
Well we broke that vow independently now
But I don't know why you absolutely deny
You bowed down
You bowed down

When you first looked away I might say
it was really a kindness
I must have hurt to see how dreams sour
Now they say that justice and love are the
next things to blindness
Well you're getting plenty of both of them now
And so you parade where appointments are made
and never meant to be kept unless you accept
You'll value the burnt amber of falling leaves
and you'll long to delay
You feel their breath as they whisper
It won't hurt you now to betray
if you just bow down
And now every time that we meeet on the edge of hysteria
you're helping them sell off some new party line
I remember a time when you would have
seemed so superior
Now you say "will you please meet this
good friend of mine"
So you're in demand as long as you kiss their hand
But all the applause is for their name not yours