Elvis Costello & the Attractions Follow

There's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth
I can hear you knockin' but I'm not comin' out
Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist
'Cause there's no ventilation on a critical list
Fingers creepin' up my spine are not mine to resist
Strict time

Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Strict time

Oh the muscles flex and the fingers curl
And a cold sweat breaks out on the sweater girl
Strict time
Oh he's all hands, don't touch that dial
The courting cold wars weekend witch trial
Strict time

All the boys are straight laced and the girls are frigid
The talk is two-faced and the rules are rigid 'cause it's strict time
Strict time

Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up

You talk in hushed tones, I talk in lush tones
Try to look Italian through the musical Valium
Strict time
Thinkin' of grand larceny
Smokin' the everlasting cigarette of chastity

Cute assistants stayin' alive
More like a hand job than the hand jive
Strict time

Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Strict time

Toughen up, toughen up
Keep your lip buttoned up
Strict time

Strict time, strict time
Strict time, strict time

There's a hand on a wire that leads to my mouth
I can hear you knockin' but I'm not comin' out
Don't want to be a puppet or a ventriloquist