Elvis Costello — Little Atoms

[Verse 1] 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 [Chorus] 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 [Verse 2] 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] 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 [Verse 3] 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] 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 [Outro] 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