Elvis Costello & The Attractions - The World and His Wife (solo version) lyrics

The family circle gathers 'round from very far and near To pa** around the same remarks they pa**ed away last year The little girl you dangled on your knee without mishap Stirs something in your memory and something in your lap But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife The world and his wife The kissing cousins slip outside to cuddle and confess She says sweet nothing at all, it's much more of a mess The conversation melts like chocolate down their open jaws As the juniper berry slips down just like last night's drawers It's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife The world and his wife To tell the truth our Mum ran off with someone else's father Went for two weeks' holiday in Taramasalata Daddy went out with the rubbish and he kept on walking Between Mum and the walls, God only knows who does the talking But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife The world and his wife But later on in the evening through the tears and fol-de-rol Come the sentimental feelings for the lure of vitriol Longing thoughts go hankering for the old home overseas With a blindfold and a national anthem sung in different keys But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife For the world and his wife But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife For the world and his wife But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) But it's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife For the world and his wife It's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) It's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) It's a living (it's a living) This is the life (this is the life) For the world and his wife For the world and his wife (It's a living) (This is the life) (It's a living) (This is the life) (It's a living) (This is the life)