Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Man You Love to Hate lyrics

I went to a theatre on Silhouette Street It had a taste of decay and a scent of defeat All of the patrons in the pews were people that I'd killed or used The actors on the stage were equally skilled The players took turns in lightin' the fuse One of them said, "Now you must choose" A man of infamy or I'll-repute And that's the one that we will execute None of that mob had turned up late They said, "You'd better concentrate" So start the show 'cause we can't wait for The man you love to hate All of the patrons sitting on pews Were the shades of the ghosts of the once accused There was music that dragged in line and word Not a penny was spent or a conscience was spared The hero's motives were never in doubt We laughed at the speeches that he would spout Suddenly there arose a shout Confessions simply tumbled out And marriage vows that someone mumbled about None of that mob had turned up late They said, "You'd better concentrate" So start the show 'cause we can't wait for The man you love to hate The closing act, the first one billed Into the limelight thrilled The tale of a ship lured onto the rocks under The cover of darkness, the hold was plundered My mouth was parched, my eyes red-rimmed My false light shone and my ghost light dimmed I went to a house on Silhouette Street Where I lived once and died once more Awoke a woman I once adored Her husband came to the door In a masquerade of dignity He said, "I'm pleased to meet you, but you don't know me" She took my money and handed me the key The number on the fob was 999 She whispered that's your room and this is mine But that's a chamber that you can't afford It's one door down next to the emergency ward None of that mob had turned up late They said, "You'd better concentrate" So start the show 'cause we can't wait for The man you love to hate To the man you love to hate (Man you love) I'm a one-party state The man you love to hate The girl you used to care for Without a why or wherefore The country that I loved is just a problem to solve Until we all disintegrate Before the man you love to hate