Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Man You Love To Hate (Official Audio)

I went to a theatre on Silhouette Street

It had a taste of decay and a scent of defeat

All of the patrons in the pews were people that I'd killed or used

The actors on the stage were equally skilled

The players took turns in lightin' the fuse

One of them said, "Now you must choose"

A man of infamy or ill-repute

And that's the one that we will execute

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate"

So, start the show 'cause we can't wait for

The man you love to hate

All of the patrons sitting on pews

Were the shades of the ghosts of the once accused

There was music that dragged in line and word

Not a penny was spent or a conscience was spared

The hero's motives were never in doubt

We laughed at the speeches that he would spout

Suddenly, there arose a shout

Confessions simply tumbled out

And marriage vows that someone mumbled about

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate"

So, start the show 'cause we can't wait for

The man you love to hate

The closing act, the first one billed

Into the limelight thrilled

The tale of a ship lured onto the rocks under

The cover of darkness, the hold was plundered

My mouth was parched, my eyes red-rimmed

My false light shone and my ghost light dimmed

I went to a house on Silhouette Street

Where I lived once and died once more

Awoke a woman I once adored

Her husband came to the door

In a masquerade of dignity

He said, "I'm pleased to meet you, but you don't know me"

She took my money and handed me the key

The number on the fob was nine-nine-nine

She whispered, "That's your room and this is mine

But that's a chamber that you can't afford

It's one door down next to the emergency ward"

None of that mob had turned up late

They said, "You'd better concentrate"