Heathen Town - Elvis Costello

They used to call it Sin City

now it’s gone way past that.

Painting the town

and then burning it down

now even that’s old hat.

Now there’s a choir of angels

at the fall of Rome

singing «Ave Maria»

or «Home Sweet Home»

It’s just a heathen town

I hear only evil

as my tongue is tightened.

I used to be god-fearing

now I’m so frightened

'cause the devil will drag you under

by the sharp tailfin

of your checkered cab

And I can’t sit down,

I’m going overboard

in this heathen town.

It starts as a flirtation

and ends up as an expensive habit.

With one eye on her place

in debtor’s prison

And the other on a girl

dressed as a rabbit.

Now you can live forever

endure fits and starts

The only stake you cannot raise

Is the one driven through your heart.