Costello The poisoned rose that you gave to me It left me half alive and half in ecstasy But if half of your love is all I can win Give me just a fraction but no more medicine. The poisoned rose on a Valentine card That you take straight to the heart that you call my junkyard But if all I can do is save pieces of you The piece of your mind, the piece of your heart didn't tear me apart Like the poisoned rose I received from you. I don't know how we came to grow into this very sad affair Every time we do the decent thing, somebody spikes the drink and a single becomes a pair. The poisoned rose that you wear at your best That I keep pressed between the white sheets where you lie half undressed. I threw away my shirt and shoes, you looked and I dived in It's just you and me now ‘cause I threw away the gin I threw away your alibis and all your worn out clothes I threw myself upon the floor but I couldn't throw away this poisoned rose This poisoned rose, this poisoned rose.