Left to My Own Devices lyrics

I get out of bed at half past ten

Phone up a friend who's a party animal

Turn on the news and drink some tea

Maybe if you're with me we'll do some shopping

One day I'll read or learn to drive a car

If you pass the test, you can beat the rest

But I don't like to compete or talk street, street, street

I can pick up the best from the party animal

I could leave you, say goodbye

Or I could love you, if I try

And I could

And left to my own devices, I probably would

Pick up a brochure about the sun

Learn to ignore what the photographer saw

I was always told that you should join a club

Stick with the gang if you want to belong

I was a lonely boy, no strength, no joy

In a world of my own at the back of the garden

I didn't want to compete or play out on the street

For in a secret life I was a Roundhead general

I could leave you, say goodbye

Or I could love you, if I try

And I could

And left to my own devices, I probably would

Left to my own devices, I probably would

Oh, I would

I was faced with a choice at a difficult age

Would I write a book, or should I take to the stage?

But in the back of my head I heard distant feet

Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat

It's not a crime when you look the way you do

The way I like to picture you

When I get home, it's late at night

I pour a drink and watch the fight

Turn off the TV, look at a book

Pick up the phone, fix some food

Maybe I'll sit up all night and day

Waiting for the minute I hear you say

I could leave you, say goodbye

Or I could love you, if I try

And I could

And left to my own devices, I probably would

Come on, baby, say goodbye

Or I could love you, if I try

And I could

And left to my own devices, I probably would

Left to my own devices, I probably would

Come on, baby

Left to my own devices, I probably would

Out of bed at half past ten1

The party animal phones a friend

Picks up news about the sun

And the working day has just begun

Sticks with the gang at the back of the street

Pass the test and you don't compete

Drive the car if you're with me

Che Guevara's drinking tea

He reads about a new device

And takes to the stage in a secret life

1. Additional lyrics from the album version.