He’s Given Me Things Songtext
von Elvis Costello

He′s given me things
You never would have
And if you did
You'd want them back

Forgiven me things
I didn′t know that
I had done but just
Faded to black

He's given me time
And consolation
Some verses to read
And lines to say
I will stay here for a while now
He calls me child now
But it works that way


He's given me things
You couldn′t guess at
I don′t mean jewels
Although they were fine
A way to depart
One way to enter
A right to dismiss upon a whim

When I close the door and
You're supposing
I kick up my heels and then
I scream
Why was I chosen?
You′ll never know
What I give to him

He's given me things
You never thought of
Because they were not yours
To give
So take this pill
And tranquilize
And roll your eyes at
The husbands
Not the customers′ wives


He's forgiven me trials and tears
And tantrums
And even all my false alarms
You sat there amused
While I was crying
And just seemed to sigh
But that′s what money can buy
And now I know why
I come back to him
And now I know why
You'll never do

Who are you?
Out there with one penny
You are so many
And we are so few

So cover the canvas if
You're leaving
There′s a bowl in the hallway
To wash your hands
If the water runs black
Please leave some silver
Then step past the glass
And never come back
I′m living up here
And you can see me
Yes, you can look
But you can't touch

′Cause you don't belong,
The air is thin here
You may asphyxiate, my dear

For didn′t you tell me
You should hold me
Oh please, you must hold me
As if I were hung
To think you were exciting
When love was frightening
But I was so young

He's given me things
You never dreamed of
Where hopes are dashed
And trash is prized
He has an awful lot of money
The past can be bought
And then erased