The First To Leave

I should open with a kiss For if you're reading this You must have opened up your case And found this letter where I placed it In between the silk and lace There were other clues, like your walking shoes But I still refused to believe That you were meant to be the first to leave Everybody here sends you their love How could I forget you still walk above Or below Perhaps you'll never know this Purgatory We never could agree There's a thought, there's a pause No time to repent Eternally yours in a permanent Lent But if I should give you up If you're right and life just stops And I never see your face again Then from unearthly pleasures, proud and plain I shall abstain 'Til you realise, my loss is your surprise Unless you know otherwise, then don't grieve You see I had to be the first to leave

The First To Leave Words by Declan MacManus Music by Declan MacManus Performed by Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Produced by Kevin Killen, Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet Musicians Elvis Costello - voice Michael Thomas - violin Ian Belton - violin Paul Cassidy - viola Jacqueline Thomas - violoncello Recorded September 14-October 1, 1992, Church Studios, London Released January 15, 1993 Albums The Juliet Letters, 1993 Promos Excerpts From The Juliet Letters, 1993 Length 4:57 First known performance:  July 1, 1992, London, England Last known performance:  January 28, 1995, Guadalajara, Spain      (16 known performances)

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: The Juliet Letters | lyrics | TJL info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: The Juliet Letters