You Bowed Down

I expect you`re entitled to know why I`m making contact With acquaintances scattered all over the land I`d promise you now and again that I`d honor the contract If it hadn't crumbled away in my hand So we broke that vow independently now But I don`t know why you absolutely deny You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) When you first looked away I might say it was really a kindness It must have hurt you to see how dreams sour Now they say that justice and love are the next things to blindness Well you`re getting plenty of both of them now And so you parade where appointments are made And never meant to be kept Unless you accept You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You value the burnt amber of falling leaves And you long to delay As you feel their breath as they whisper "It won`t hurt you now to betray If you just bow down" And now every time that we meet on the edge of hysteria You`re helping them sell off some new party line I remember a time when you would have seemed so superior Now you say "Will you please meet this good friend of mine?" So you`re in demand as long as you kiss their hand But all the applause is for their name not yours You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down (you bowed down, you bowed down) You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down You bowed down --- You Bowed Down - Elvis Costello