American Without Tears

Outside in New Orleans the heat was almost frightening But my hotel room as usual was freezing and unkind On TV they prosecute anyone who's exciting So I put on my overcoat and went down to find In Revlon and crimpelene they captured my heart To the strain of a piano and a cocktail murderess She was singing that "It's Too Late", I agreed with that part For two English girls who had changed their address Oh it seems we've been crying for years and for years Now I don't speak any English, just American without tears Just American without tears One had been a beauty queen and the other was her friend They had known rogues and rascals and showbiz impresarios While the boys were licking Hitler they had something to defend From men armed with chewing gum and fine nylon hose By a bicycle factory as they sounded the siren And returned into the dance hall she knew he was the one Though he wasn't tall or handsome she laughed when he told her "I'm the Sheriff of Nottingham and this is Little John" Oh it seems we've been crying for years and for years Now I don't speak any English, just American without tears Just American without tears At a dock in Southampton full of tearful goodbyes Newsreel commentators said "Cheerio, G.I. brides" Soon they'll be finding the cold facts and lies New words for suspenders and young girls backsides Now I'm in America and running from you Like my grandfather before me walked the streets of New York And I think of all the women I pretend mean more than you When I open my mouth and I can't seem to talk Oh it seems we've been crying for years and for years Now I don't speak any English just American without tears Just American without tears Oh it seems we've been crying for years and for years Now I don't speak any English just American without tears Just American without tears --- American Without Tears - Elvis Costello