There's a young girl with her old man who's too sick to mention
She'll be turning twenty seven as she draws her widow's pension
But he couldn't catch a common cold he couldn't get arrested
Too terrified to answer back, too tired to have resisted

Many hands make light work, shorthand makes life easy
When he's out on night work, make sure no one sees me
It all ends up in a slanging match with body talk and bruises
A change is better than a rest
Silly beggars can't be choosers

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize (there are ten commandments of love?)
I believe, I trust, I promise, I wish love's just a throwaway kiss
In this Pidgin English

If you're so wise use your lips and your eyes
"Take it to the bridge," she sighs

You go cheep-cheep-cheep between bull's-eyes and bluster
Stiff as your poker face, keener than mustard
From your own back yard to the land of exotica
From the truth society to neurotic erotica

Silence is golden (money talks diamonds and ermine)
There's a word in Spanish (Italian and German)
In sign language, Morse code, semaphore and gibberish
Have you forgotten how to say it
In your Pidgin English?

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize (there are ten commandments of love?)
I believe, I trust, I promise, I wish love's just a throwaway kiss
In this Pidgin English

One of a thousand pities that you can't categorize
There are ten commandments of love
When will you realize (there are ten commandments of love?)
P.S, I love you
P.S, I love you
P.S, I love you

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Writer(s): ELVIS COSTELLO