The Wrong Road

A trader in furs living in exile

Boy, what a kook, look at that passport

Stale bread and paper without privilege

If you live here learn the language



When the rain hit the roof

With the sound of a finished kiss

Like a lip lifted from a lip

I took the wrong road 'round



A room in a lighthouse near the park

The ghosts in the next room hear you cough

Time drags on Sundays spent in Mayfair

With all your riches, why aren't you there?



Well, the wind acts like a magnet

And pulls the leaf from the tree

And the town's lost its breath

I took the wrong road 'round



Handsome is good, pretty is better

What was that phrase, grace under pressure?

Blind by the light bulb, blood to the bank

Lost all yours letters when the ship sank



In the disjointed breaking light

The soft blue approach of the water

Makes a sound you won't forget

I took the wrong road 'round



Stranded at low-tide where the river bends

Wouldn't you know it? That's how life ends

Lucky at cards, that's an old lie

Lucky in love, that's how life ends



Well, the turncoats turned around

When they heard the sound of the bell

Dropped their coins into the well

I took the wrong road 'round



Started out Oliver, ended up Fagin

Don't you worry, it's my problem

What's my name, what's my number?

I'm the lonely one



It's just at the end of the day

When the light makes its slow move away

That I know all I can say is

I took the wrong road 'round



Gambled with risk, paid you back with risk

So now you know who your friends are

They'll steel your shadow when your back's turned

Bouquets of flowers, lesson's over



When the rain hit the roof

With the sound of a finished kiss

Like a lip lifted from a lip

And I took the wrong road 'round