ELVIS COSTELLO lyrics - Little Atoms

I arose and Marigold lay down with Curious Iris

Cherry gave to Victor her prudence and her virus

For the sake of purity I can recall the time and place

Between Wisdom and Murder she gave up her immaculate face



[Chorus:]

My poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games,

With false and lovely modesty

I can recall the names I'll miss

In the particle of me that cares for this

I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss



Patience has her virtue still

but every grace must have its price

I through some felicity may spin a tale of constant vice

I took my better nature out, drowned it in the babbling stream

Took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens



[Chorus]



And if you still don't like my song then you can just go to hell

I don't care if I'm right or wrong or if my typewriter can spell

But I cannot promise you I've said "Goodbye" to childish things

There's still some pretty insults left and such sport in threatening



[Chorus]



And for the sake of clarity

They are "Faith", "Hope", and "Charity"

In the particle of me that cares for this

I betrayed those little atoms with a kiss