last boat leaving

Elvis Costello

Hush my little one don?t cry so
You know your Daddy?s bound to go
They took his pride
They took his voice
Don?t upset him now, don?t make a noise
They said ?You?re lucky son you?ve still got a choice?
Last boat leaving

Don?t waste your tears
It?s not as if I?m in chains
I don?t want to go now, it would be better for
you, too, if I don?t look back when we sail

Hush my dear, while I whisper it in your ear
We?re not going to sail tonight
We?re going to disappear
And it feels like a punishment, but I don?t know what for
Take care of your mother, son, it?s you that she adores
?Cos no matter how long we sail we?ll never reach the shore
Last boat leaving

So dry your tears
It?s not as if I?m in chains
When you go to school, son, you?ll read my story in history books
Only they won?t mention my name

So hush now, my darling, my sweet little one
I hope that you never have to do what I?ve done
Do you know what I?ve done?
Why I?m going away? On the last boat leaving this stinking town
It?s the last boat leaving, it?s the last boat leaving

You?ve had my innocence, you?ve had my heartbreak
You?ve taken the place where I once belonged
Now what more can you take?