The Beautiful South
"From Now On / Tears"

Water the plants, feed the cat
Leave that door key under the mat
I'm your number one from now on
Set the code, close the door
You don't live there anymore
I'm your number one from now on

Nothing grows so quickly as the vine
That wraps you up so tight and says "you're mine"
No time so exciting as the time
You pour away that bottle containing last night's wine

Last night's wine, last night's wine
What you're taking part in is the cleverest of crimes
Last night's wine, just a flickering sign
But a necessary sin from time to time

Fold your dress, leave your hair
Put on your jeans you ain't goin' nowhere
I'm your number one from now on
Cancel the milk, unplug the phone
Close the blinds you ain't gonna be home
I'm your number one from now on

No time quite so easy as the night
To hold her far too close or far too tight
No catch quite so keen, so quick to bite
Than the one that thinks love's possible
First or second sight

Love at first sight, love at first sight
Swinging from the chandelier, it's a one way ticket flight
Love at first sight, so wrong it's right
Swing you by your pigtails, set your world alight

Nothing hooks you quicker than the line
Thrown straight from the bank into your spine
For family and friends you'll surely pine
But sentiment and nostalgia, they just ain't worth a dime

What worth's a dime, what worth's a dime
You can leave those financial worries well behind
What worth's a dime, what worth's a dime
I don't want that bank manager on your pretty little mind
Now that you're mine

Tears have rolled down many good cheek
So when it comes down to your turn
Don't be afraid of admitting you're weak
Cause these are tears that you earn

Strangers, new neighbours, they'll both understand
Who hasn't been there? Hold up your hand
Strangers, neighbours, none of them planned
Tears are the wage of this land

When raindrop first fell to the ground
It seemed like the brightest idea
Even though teardrops were already around
No one yet linked them with tear

Raindrop you notice when stood under trees
Pin-drop you can hear if down on your knees
But if teardrop anyone sees
It's time, gentlemen please

Scars you know take longer to heal
Whilst tears you'll not see again
So which do we try so hard to conceal
The ones that make fools of us men
Bricklayer, teacher, firefighter or vet
One thing in common, the hankies they've wet
But hidden away in the bedroom I bet
Tears in public, not yet
Drums have rolled for hundreds of years
Since we've blown one another to bits
Generals and soldiers still holding their ears
Cause drumbeat and teardrop don't mix

When teardrops fall everyone in the band
Makes out their music's slipped from the stand
Leaving the singer, his head in his hands
Public emotion, be damned