Nadine Shah: Twenty Things

He’s got a fire in his belly 

I could never tell him

I’m the one who’s always getting the blame 

now we have removed the bottle 

I’m teething and I’m tired  

Everything is just as it was, the same 

Everything is just as it was, the same


A craving’s quiet but it’s plenty

I stop and count to twenty 

Twenty of the worst things that I can think 

Twenty of the worst things that I can think

Twenty of the worst things that I can think


The playgrounds silent and it’s empty 

The locals soon forget me 

I don’t have the skill for playing your game


The Priest sings in the hope and ruin 

The drunkard starts to boo him 

Propping up the gossip and his good name 

Propping up the gossip and his good name 


The shame is awesome but its fleeting 

Gets seen to with a beating 

Half the clergy came to hear the man sing

Half the clergy came to hear the man sing 

Half the clergy came to hear the man sing 


They’re laying flowers by the bus stop

Some poor old junkie’s lucks up 

Took a man and woman on the same day 

His right leg shorter than the other

The second eldest brother 

Goes to see his mother every Sunday 

Goes to see his mother every Sunday 

He wrote a song for Elvis Presley 

But Elvis never heard it 

Whistling an old tune as the bell rings 

Whistling an old tune as the bell rings

Whistling an old tune as the bell rings


He’s got a fire in his belly 

I could never tell him

I’m the one who’s always getting the blame 

now we have removed the bottle 

I’m teething and I’m tired  

Everything is just as it was, the same 

Everything is just as it was, the same


A craving’s quiet but it’s plenty

I stop and count to twenty 

Twenty of the worst things that I can think 

Twenty of the worst things that I can think

Twenty of the worst things that I can think