Ballad of Tindersticks

Lyrics

The first time we flew in It was cheap and cramped The vodka running out half-way across the Atlantic Even the stewards screaming during the landing We didn't think we were going to make it Now we're stretched out in wide, furry seats Flicking through menus A walk to the bar and as much screw-top champagne as we can drink We're so easy We're taking turns having our photo taken Sitting in front of smoked windows Decanters of cheap whiskey in our hands We're driving to Manhattan on a date with a starlet It's just talent And that's what people pay the money to see Who are we to argue? Five hours now it's been going on And still we're watching all of it Can he really believe all this? Can he really lie in bed at night and marvel at his own genius? When do you lose the ability to step back And get a sense of your own ridiculousness? They're only songs Midnight, and it's all over Now it can really make us laugh We're standing on our heads drinking sours of Cristal slammers Now we're unable to step back or forward We're swallowing, swallowing Tasting it again, it's not so unpleasant Perhaps it's an acquired taste The first time, it makes you sick Then, little by little, it becomes delicious Showbiz people Always there to be interested in what you have to say We are artists, we are sensitive and important We nod our heads earnestly Already half-way down the champagne On our way to leaving the place dry A $2,000 bar bill Showbiz picks up the tab And we're on our way laughing Laughing at what? Los Angeles, eight days in And our sense of irony is wearing pretty thin All the friends we've made! It's 2 am, it's closing time at the Dresden Martin and Layton play one last sleepy "Strangers In The Night" And the last of the martinis dribble down our chins We're sitting, chasing the conversation around the table Jesus, how long have I been in this state? The limousine's still waiting outside Anything you want to do? Anywhere you want to go? We're on our way to the airport and a plane to Vegas So many nights lying in bed shaking Dreaming of pushing my daughter around the supermarket The joy of seeing all those colours and shapes reflect in her wide eyes My head leaning on the window And we're driving through the empty L.A. streets And everything seems silent and beautiful A guy's face hits the floor Police revolvers glistening in the streetlight Onto Melrose and nudging through a sea of Halloween transvestites The flight's cancelled, but it doesn't matter We turn this corner to a wink that takes us wherever Up to Sunset and a creep up the drive to the Shattuck The suite Belushi died in Or the one Morrison hung out the window "Oh, I'll go for Jim's I would fancy a hotel window-hanging, myself, tonight, man" Straight over to the mini-bar Open the champagne - one sip and it's left to wake up to "Anyone hungry?" A team of uniformed waiters lay out an elaborate table for all us to ignore Oh, the irony How we used to love it Back in London on a cold Friday night "Do you want another drink?" "Well, I could try" Perhaps we could make it to the Atlantic 600 yards, 20 minutes later We're pushing through the waiting crowd, all fish eyes An exclusive door policy Exclusively for arseholes And tonight? Well, a nod of the head, and we're inside Falling down the red, velvety stairs Limbs flailing, hands searching for something to steady We pick ourselves up, there's nothing broken Just aches in the morning No one seems to notice I find a table, the champagne arrives But being so drunk, we sit and look at it We try and talk for the first time in a long time A drunken confession We should have made each other sick We use the rent money to pay the bill And, bumping shoulders, we stumble out into Soho Tripping over the sleeping bags Shouting for taxis