Battered Old Bird Elvis Costello

[Verse 1]
The landlady's husband came up to town today
Since he left them both ten years ago to serve the ministry
The dark down road of his approach in constant rain was drenched
The tenant's boy said "How do you do" then swore in French

[Verse 2]
Did you teach this little child these curses on my soul
You should both be shut down in the coal-hole
That's no way to treat a child who cries out in the night
And a woman who teaches wrong from right

[Chorus]
Oh oh
He's a battered old bird and he's living up there, whoa whoa
He's a battered old bird and he's living up there, whoa whoa
There's a place where time stands still
You keep taking these little pink pills
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa

[Verse 3]
"Hush your mouth you hypocrite"
His humor cut her deep
The tight lipped leer of judgement
That had seen her love desert her just like sleep
"Filthy words on children's lips are better, my dear spouse
Then if I were to speak my mind about this house"