The song Pretty Words is performed by Elvis Costello .
I ask you nicely
Get my face slapped under wraps
What's going on precisely
Is there something wrong perhaps?
Surprise, surprise
It's more like a booby trap
Than a booby prize
Civil disobedience from
A soldier with a dirty rifle
You're loosening all the screws
That hold the hinges of my life
Fat cats and army brats
Hep cats in dog tags
Pawing over girly mags
Pretty words don't
Mean much anymore
I don't mean to be
Mean much anymore
All I see are snapshots, big shots
Tender spots, mug shots, machine slots
'Til you don't know what's what
You don't know what you got
Curious women
Running after curious men
Curiosity didn't kill the cat
It was a poisoned pen
But there's not much choice
Between a cruel mouth
And a jealous voice
Got back to London
Picked a paper from the man
No words of consolation
Just cartoons and titter tatter
Well, well, fancy that
Millions murdered for a kiss me quick hat
No backbone, blood and guts
Better keep your big mouth shut
Pretty words
Don't mean much anymore
I don't mean to be
Mean much anymore
All I see are snapshots, big shots
Tender spots, machine slots, mug shots
'Til you don't know what's what
You don't know what you got
You don't know what you got
You don't know what you got