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A Voice in the Dark Lyrics by Elvis Costello

National Ransom

2010

[Intro]
Ba ba ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba ba ba ba
Ba ba ba ba, ba ba ba

[Verse 1]
You can read right through a book of matches
But that won't make you smart
You can laugh in the face of watches
But time will only break your heart
Kings reign beneath umbrellas
Hide pennies down in cellars
And money pours down and yet
Not everyone gets soaking wet

[Chorus]
When bores and bullies conspire
To stamp out your spark
Listen for a voice in the dark

[Verse 2]
Not a moment too soon as we blue the moon
And a wolf began to howl in tune
I announced for all mankind a boon
Stand aside, you big baboon
Now I'm the prize invention, you're the image of yourself
Forget your cares, your disapproving stares
I'm not here to try to jump your borders
Just ask your nieces and your daughters

[Verse 3]
I'm flat as a sole, I'm happy as a clam
But you don't know the kind of man I am
Little fish swimming in a jealous shoal
Now my net is overflown
And suddenly I seem to be all seeing and all knowing
I've got something right there, you might want to hear
I have no fear, lend a hand, lend an ear
If your rent money is in arrears

[Verse 4]
We'll be striking up a symphony bandstand
Long of hair and loose of tooth
There'll be pirouettes and startling handstands
But who but acrobats know how to tell the truth
When all is said and then redundant
They gallivant in peg-leg pants
I‘ll be your servant, you'll be my pal
And I'll be faithful, you know I shall

[Chorus]
There's no fool like an old fool
Who blames it all upon his youth
When times are tough and you find you're down
Without a star to wish upon
Listen for a voice in the dark

[Verse 5]
I was striking through a box of matches
Hoping that one would spark
I heard somebody calling to me
A voice in the dark
The sound both wild and gentle
Daring and confidential
I thought there was music playing
But it was all and only talk

[Chorus]
When liars and bullies conspire
To stamp out your spark
Fill up that empty space in your heart
Listen up as the herald says, "Hark"
Believe in a voice in the dark

About “A Voice in the Dark” by Elvis Costello

Read the complete lyrics to "A Voice in the Dark" by Elvis Costello from the album "National Ransom" in 2010. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Aa (Check Description), Folk, Folk Rock.

"A Voice in the Dark" is performed by Elvis Costello. from the album "National Ransom" in 2010 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "A Voice in the Dark", explore more songs by Elvis Costello using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Elvis Costello · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"A Voice in the Dark" is credited to Elvis Costello. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"A Voice in the Dark" appears on "National Ransom" in 2010.

Visit the Elvis Costello artist page at /artist/elvis-costello for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.


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