Elvis Costello - Little Atoms lyrics

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 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