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The First To Leave Lyrics by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet

The Juliet Letters

1993

[Verse 1]
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
[Bridge]
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
[Verse 2]
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
Till you realize my loss is your surprise
Unless you know otherwise
Then don't grieve
You see I had to be the first to leave
Credits
Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello

Brodsky Quartet

Brodsky Quartet

About “The First To Leave” by Elvis Costello

Read the complete lyrics to "The First To Leave" by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet from the album "The Juliet Letters " in 1993. 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 Pop, Rock.

"The First To Leave" is performed by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet. from the album "The Juliet Letters " in 1993 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 "The First To Leave", explore more songs by Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet 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.

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Frequently asked questions

"The First To Leave" is credited to Elvis Costello, Brodsky Quartet. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"The First To Leave" appears on "The Juliet Letters " in 1993.

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