Bullets For The New-Born King - Elvis Costello

No one looks in this place for motive or any hope

But for the dead shot of an amber glass

The blue light of a votive

The rain obscured the window

As the pain was dulled by the grains

Absolved in spoons and flames

In fear in time dissolving

It’s not for the faint of pulse

Or anybody false

Those amateurs who only shed their skin

So where are those traitors now, we once called patriots?

Just like those saints who seem to revel in their sins

O my eyes were filled with tears that were stinging

After our assassin’s work was done

But hands and bells are only there for the wringing

As we were bringing bullets for the new-born king

The trumpet sounds lamenting

Trampling down the blooms of the deceased

The double agent girl and the fallen priest were heading for the border

Somewhere at the high command there stayed the palest hand

That saw the order countermand

Erased a tape recorder and then they hung him from a window cord

Swallow down that voodoo vial to still your breath a while

Before we spill this tale that has been spun

And so I shall now confide all that I once denied

Oh I’m so sorry for the things I’ve done

O my eyes were filled with tears that were stinging

After our assassin’s work was done

But hands and bells are only there for the wringing

As we were bringing bullet for the new-born king