Elvis Costello Strict Time song lyrics

There's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth

I can hear you knockin' but I'm not comin' out

Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist

'Cause there's no ventilation on a critical list

Fingers creepin' up my spine are not mine to resist

Toughen up, toughen up

Keep your lip buttoned up

Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl

And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl

Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial

The courting cold wars weekend witch trial

All the boys are straight laced and the girls are frigid

The talk is two-faced and the rules are rigid 'cause it's strict time

Toughen up, toughen up

Keep your lip buttoned up

You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones

Try to look Italian through the musical Valium

Thinkin' of grand larceny

Smokin' the everlasting cigarette of chastity

Cute assistants stayin' alive

More like a hand job than the hand jive

Toughen up, toughen up

Keep your lip buttoned up

Toughen up, toughen up

Keep your lip buttoned up

Strict time, strict time

Strict time, strict time