Mr. Crescent Lyrics by Elvis Costello & The Imposters
Mr. Crescent
Heard the song of both the lark and the linnet
Played them both upon a parlour spinnet
One with only nine strings in it
Clinging to the sounding board
For that was all he could afford
Mr. Crescent made a wager on a landing stage
If my ship comes in and the starboard light is blue, not green
And the port light should be yellow, not red
You’ll say the hold is full of false promises
When I know it’s gold instead
Sister Honey said to Mr. Crescent
“Haven’t you prayed away your doubt or isn’t there
Anything more that I can bless?”
As she buttoned her blue boot in a state of bliss
Stared at the ceiling above their bed
Thought of something her mother had said
Crescent is like a man I knew
Left me standing there with nothing but you
Don’t be fooled now by his bill and coo
You’ll be abandoned too, he’ll leave you with an I.O.U.
Mr. Crescent sleeps quite late, then rises
Tries to stay out of the local assizes
Not one bird sings now he recognizes
He said, “I’m so long from the land that I came from
I wonder where my Honey has gone
I wonder where my Honey has gone”