It's a Steal - Edwyn Collins

The first two chords I chanced upon

Became the bedrock of this song

Don’t ask me where it all went wrong

That’s for you to sit and ponder upon

Sometimes I’m thinking to myself

Should have left my dreams upon the shelf

I don’t want to reveal too much about how I feel

It’s a steal

I built my dreams on a bed o nails

When the twilight fails I’ll fall off the rails

I might end up on that railside verge

Where my conscience merged with a Celtic dirge

When the black cap sings at the crack of dawn

I’ll be so far gone he won’t hear me yawn

It’s not as if my boots are down at heel

It’s a steal

Ho hum I might be dumb

But I can’t compete with you old chum

I can’t compete so I won’t compete

'Cause I’m never gracious in defeat

Sometimes I’m thinking to myself

It’s down to me and no one else

And then I fall to earth and I get real

It’s a steal

Ninety-nine new pence is fine

But I draw the line at the one pound sign

I draw a line that I dare not cross

Where a rich man’s gain is poor man’s loss

Where the outlaw gang in Lincoln green

Work undercover for the Queen

But it’s just a yarn it’s not as if it’s real

It’s a steal

Sometimes I’m thinking to myself

Should have left my dreams upon the shelf

(Tell me what you really want)