i arose and marigold lay down with curious iris
cherry gave to victor her prudence and her virus
for the sake of purity i can recall the time and place
between wisdom and murder she gave up her immaculate face
[chorus:]
my poor belated chastity fell foul of grown up games,
with false and lovely modesty
i can recall the names i'll miss
in the particle of me that cares for this
i betrayed those little atoms with a kiss
patience has her virtue still
but every grace must have its price
i through some felicity may spin a tale of constant vice
i took my better nature out, drowned it in the babbling stream
took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens
[chorus]
and if you still don't like my song then you can just go to hell
i don't care if i'm right or wrong or if my typewriter can spell
but i cannot promise you i've said "goodbye" to childish things
there's still some pretty insults left and such sport in threatening
[chorus]
and for the sake of clarity
they are "faith", "hope", and "charity"
in the particle of me that cares for this
i betrayed those little atoms with a kiss |