elvis costello-the puppet has cut his strings Lyrics

they pulled the stars down one by one
hauled up the moon to shine upon
a velvet curtain rising
now her puppet has cut his strings
the footlights glare
the trumpets blare
why is your face drawn on so glum
old chum
paintbrush dragging on a drum
the rimshot on the punchline that you fumbled
the crowd went home and left you
for dead
my old woodenhead
took the thimble and the thread
choked back tears like a cymbal
the breath is slow and shallow too
the sky is bright venetian blue
the cardboard sun is all ablaze
the air is painted clifford brown
caressing yesterdays” the steady gaze of your glass eye head in a basket smiling still free of will free of wisdom can’t feel my fingers anymore can’t raise my hand and ask for more dance my doll across the floor or fire a flag from a pistol they pulled the stars down one by one hauled up the moon to wish upon the puppet finally cut his strings and free at last from earthly things he’s dancing on the ceiling with a showgirl in a feather dress time is meaningless we carried you on buckled limbs through mournful airs and martyrs hymns then one blue and one more yellow pill one keeps you quiet one keeps you still you sang “the way you looked tonight” your voice is ringing true and clear then you wore them down like candlelight and in the darkness you’d best beware and in the darkness you’d best beware you’d best beware you’d best beware i used to love him when i used to care canopy satin trim slowly closing the puppet has cut his strings”