A trader in furs living in exile Boy, what a kook, look at that passport Stale bread and paper without privilege If you live here learn the language When the rain hit the roof With the sound of a finished kiss Like a lip lifted from a lip I took the wrong road 'round A room in a lighthouse near the park The ghosts in the next room hear you cough Time drags on Sundays spent in Mayfair With all your riches, why aren't you there? Well, the wind acts like a magnet And pulls the leaf from the tree And the town's lost its breath I took the wrong road 'round Handsome is good, pretty is better What was that phrase, grace under pressure? Blind by the light bulb, blood to the bank Lost all yours letters when the ship sank In the disjointed breaking light The soft blue approach of the water Makes a sound you won't forget I took the wrong road 'round Stranded at low-tide where the river bends Wouldn't you know it? That's how life ends Lucky at cards, that's an old lie Lucky in love, that's how life ends Well, the turncoats turned around When they heard the sound of the bell Dropped their coins into the well I took the wrong road 'round Started out Oliver, ended up Fagin Don't you worry, it's my problem What's my name, what's my number? I'm the lonely one It's just at the end of the day When the light makes its slow move away That I know all I can say is I took the wrong road 'round Gambled with risk, paid you back with risk So now you know who your friends are They'll steel your shadow when your back's turned Bouquets of flowers, lesson's over When the rain hit the roof With the sound of a finished kiss Like a lip lifted from a lip And I took the wrong road 'round