Hatful Of Hollow

My eyes have seen the glory of the sacred wunderkind
You took me behind a dis-used railway line
And said "i know a place where we can go
Where we are not known"
And you gave me something that i won't forget too soon
But i can't believe you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
These things take time
I know that i'm
The most inept
That ever stepped

I'm spellbound, but a woman divides
And the hills are alive with celibate cries
But you know where you came from, you know where
You're going and you know where you belong
You said i was ill, and you were not wrong
But i can't believe you'd ever care
And this is why you will never care
These things take time
I know that i'm
The most inept
That ever stepped


Oh, the alcoholic afternoons
When we sat in your room
They meant more to me
Than any, than any living thing on earth
They had more worth
Than any living thing on earth
On earth, on earth, oh ...


Vivid and in your prime
You will leave me behind
You will leave me behind

All the streets are crammed with things
Eager to be held
I know what hands are for
And i'd like to help myself
You ask me the time
But i sense something more
And i would like to give
What i think you're asking for
You handsome devil
Oh, you handsome devil

Let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, i say, i say


I crack the whip
And you skip
But you deserve it
You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it


A boy in the bush
Is worth two in the hand
I think i can help you get through your exams
Oh, you handsome devil


Oh, let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, i say, i say


I crack the whip
And you skip
But you deserve it
You deserve it, deserve it, deserve it


And when we're in your scholarly room
Who will swallow whom ?
When we're in your scholarly room
Who will swallow whom ?
You handsome devil


Oh, let me get my hands
On your mammary glands
And let me get your head
On the conjugal bed
I say, i say, i say


There's more to life than books, you know
But not much more
Oh, there's more to life than books, you know
But not much more, not much more
Oh, you handsome devil
Oh, you handsome devil
Ow !

I decree today that life
Is simply taking and not giving
England is mine and it owes me a living
Ask me why, and i'll spit in your eye
Oh, ask me why, and i'll spit in your eye
But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we cannot cling to those dreams

Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body ?
I dunno...


Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although i ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days
Am i still ill ?
Oh ...
Am i still ill ?
Oh ...


Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body ?
I dunno...


Ask me why, and i'll die
Oh, ask me why, and i'll die
And if you must, go to work - tomorrow
Well, if i were you i really wouldn't bother
For there are brighter sides to life
And i should know, because i've seen them
But not often ...
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although i ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days
Am i still ill ?
Oh ...
Oh, am i still ill ?
Oh ...

The rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, the rain falls hard on a humdrum town
This town has dragged you down
Oh, no, and everybody's got to live their life
And god knows i've got to live mine
God knows i've got to live mine
William, william it was really nothing
William, william it was really nothing
It was your life ...

How can you stay with a fat girl who'll say :
"oh ! would you like to marry me ?
"and if you like you can buy the ring"
She doesn't care about anything
Would you like to marry me ?
And if you like you can buy the ring
I don't dream about anyone - except myself !
Oh, william, william it was really nothing
William, william

I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Of nothing in particular

You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does


I am the son
And the heir
Of a shyness that is criminally vulgar
I am the son and heir
Oh, of nothing in particular


You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does


There's a club, if you'd like to go
You could meet somebody who really loves you
So you go, and you stand on your own
And you leave on your own
And you go home, and you cry
And you want to die


When you say it's gonna happen "now"
Well, when exactly do you mean ?
See i've already waited too long
And all my hope is gone


You shut your mouth
How can you say
I go about things the wrong way ?
I am human and i need to be loved
Just like everybody else does

All men have secrets and here is mine
So let it be known
We have been through hell and high tide
I can surely rely on you ...
And yet you start to recoil
Heavy words are so lightly thrown
But still i'd leap in front of a flying bullet for you

So, what difference does it make ?
So, what difference does it make ?
It makes none
But now you have gone
And you must be looking very old tonight


The devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole and i lied, and why ?
Because you asked me to !
But now you make me feel so ashamed
Because i've only got two hands
Well, i'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh


So, what difference does it make ?
Oh, what difference does it make ?
Oh, it makes none
But now you have gone
And your prejudice won't keep you warm tonight


Oh, the devil will find work for idle hands to do
I stole, and then i lied
Just because you asked me to
But now you know the truth about me
You won't see me anymore
Well, i'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh


But no more apologies
No more apology
Oh, i'm too tired
I'm so very tired
And i'm feeling very sick and ill today
But i'm still fond of you, oh-ho-oh


Oh, my sacred one ...
Oh ...

As merry as the days were long
"i am right and you are wrong"

Back at the old grey school
I would win and you would lose


But you've got everything now
You've got everything now
And what a terrible mess i've made of my life
Oh, what a mess i've made of my life


No, i've never had a job
Because i've never wanted one


I've seen you smile
But i've never heard you laugh


So who is rich and who is poor ?
I cannot say ... oh


Oh, you are your mother's only son
And you're a desperate one
Oh ...


But i don't want a lover
I just want to be seen ... oh ... in the back of your car


A friendship sadly lost ?
Well this is true ... and yet, it's false
Oh ...


But did i ever tell you, by the way ?
I never did like your face
Oh ...


But you've got everything now
You've got everything now
And what a terrible mess i've made of my life
Oh, what a mess i've made of my life


No, i've never had a job
Because i'm too shy


I've seen you smile
But i've never really heard you laugh


So who is rich and who is poor ?
I cannot say ... oh


Oh ...
You are your mother's only son
And you're a desperate one
Oh ...


But i don't want a lover
I just want to be tied ... oh ... to the back of your car
To the back of your car
To the back of your car
To the back of your car
The back of your car
The back of your car
Oh ... the back of your car

In a river the colour of lead
Immerse the baby's head
Wrap her up in the news of the world
Dump her on a doorstep, girl
This night has opened my eyes
And i will never sleep again

You kicked and cried like a bullied child
A grown man of twenty-five
Oh, he said he'd cure your ills
But he didn't and he never will
Oh, save your life
Because you've only got one


The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And i'm not happy
And i'm not sad


A shoeless child on a swing
Reminds you of your own again
She took away your troubles
Oh, but then again
She left pain
So, please save your life
Because you've only got one


The dream has gone
But the baby is real
Oh, you did a good thing
She could have been a poet
Or, she could have been a fool
Oh, you did a bad thing
And i'm not happy
And i'm not sad
Oh ...
And i'm not happy
And i'm not sad
Oh ...
And i'm not happy
And i'm not sad