Elephant Shell

Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell Lyrics
1.Centennial

This is skin you can wrap all of your arms and legs in
And I just thought you'd know an envelope unfolds
I'm writing to catch up
We were small when we last met
But the letters are a wreck
She's heard it on cassette

Taught to read and write at such an early age
Passengers still, she's got books on tape
Running to catch up to that old VW
You're Leaning out the back
you've never heard of fiction
you've never heard of fact

Way back when we met 'cause my parents knew your parents
Steady hands, easy breaths
Old times parading on the rooftops and this time they don't
care.
Intrepeds

Running out of space so let me sum this up for you
I'm only wishing well
Though you won't believe me
This coming Thursday evening is our centennial


2.In a Cave

I threw darts at a spinning globe
Swapping out passport photos
I walked west to the setting sun
Every single step I grow another second young

All my hair grows in
Wrinkles leave my skin
But still, don't fade,
I'll be back again when the tide is in some day

I don't know who else to ask
Sitting in the dark, holding an empty glass
Stained my teeth with more red wine
I'm a romantic, but never pearly white

All my hair grows in
Wrinkles leave my skin
But still, don't fade,
I'll be back again when the tide is in some day

Elephant Shell
You're my cave and I've been hiding out
Will you tell me a little bit about
A bit about yourself

Elephant Shell
You're my cave and I've been hiding out
Will you tell me a little bit about
A bit about yourself


3.Graves

Pack your rations pack a watch
Change of clothes and a face cloth
Meet me where your mother lies
we'll dig graves on both her sides
and lay ourselves inside
and a thousand suns will set and rise

our hair tangled up in hers
fingernails beneath the dirt
sharing all our black and greys
our blood running through her veins
leave her as we came
our bodies are one and the same

You're just trading me for the lump sum
try but i'll never be a gentlemen
trading me for the lump sum
try but you'll only ever treat the symptoms

cause you're trading me for the lump sum
try but i'll never be a gentlemen
trading me for the lump sum
try but you'll only ever treat the symptoms


4.Juno

I've got a place in the arctic circle
I've got a place that i painted white
I've got a home in the salty ocean
So right, so right
All of the lions in your bedroom
All of the tigers we ignore
Pulling the wool over your eyes
Yes sir, yes sir

You and your soapy eyes called it off so late at night
But your hands in your heart cause your head's always right
You and your soapy eyes called it off solate at night
But your hands in your heart cause your head's always right

I'm gonna go back for the science
I'm gonna stay for the decimals
No one will ever know the difference
Same old, Same old

Fine, you arrive, this swoon needs eyes
Fine, you arrive, this swoon needs eyes

You and your soapy eyes called it off so late at night
But your hands in your heart cause your head's always right
You and your soapy eyes called it off so late at night
But your hands in your heart cause your head's always right

You know your type
You know your type


5.Tessellate

All the boys who called their mothers on that day
We know, tough bunch, but they had the nerves,
to go and say
That all your secrets were drowned
With the pioneers who were flooded from this town
They packed their bags only moments to late
With the pounding waves crashing up against the weakened water
gates

'Cause dire times, call for dire faces
So lovely dancer, call a dancer
Trading places in the night
We're running barefoot, you and I
Dead lovers salivate
Broken hearts tessellate tonight

And all the kids who cut their knees on that old school yard
fence
Where holding out for prosperity in self defense
We beat them down again
There's no fun playing cowboys for pretend
We showed them what the backs of our hands are for
The devide is clear in the coming year the rich will take the
poor

'Cause dire times, call for dire faces
So lovely dancer, call a dancer
Trading places in the night
We're running barefoot, you and I
Dead lovers salivate
Broken hearts tessellate tonight


6.Sixties remake

Classics of the modern age
Sixties remake
Everything you've got in spades
Your colourful shoulder blades

Bat your lips and shut your eyes
Swing those chains and start a fight
Cause you've got nerve but we've got tact
Going back to the city hurts

Taking to the streets at night
Home alone tucked in tight
Everything you've got in spades
Your sixties remake

Bat your lips and shut your eyes
Swing those chains and start a fight
Cause you've got nerve but we've got tact
Going back to the city hurts

Tell her once tell her rightt i was sixteen through the night
Tell her once tell her right i was sixteen through the night

Cause you've got nerve but we've got tact
Going back to the city hurts
Cause you've got nerve but we've got tact
Going back to the city hurts


7.The Harrowing Adventures Of...

The harrowing adventures of
you and I when we were captains of
Submarines made of steel
Discovering the seven seas
Fending off the giants of the deep
Pendants from hanging teeth

Your ghost did you wrong
When he whiped your spit on the table cloth
I am here to fight
And let your blood in the dim moon light
Two wrongs making right

The harrowing adventures of
You and I before our eyes light up
Shadows cast in the night
Lead me to your old home
Sat at the tables for two alone
Pass the salt, pour the wine
'Cause I'm alright if you're alright


8.Nursery Academy

I would have gone back home
I would have gone back home
It's bad enough you're here
And it's worse that you came alone

Paper walls and folders you'd expect
The house that built a home for architects

Now that you're all grown up
I know a shortcut back
Welcome to your new home
Welcome to the Nursery
We keep keys on strings
Doorknobs out of reach
Come a little closer
Forget the Academy

Paper walls and folders you'd expect
The house that built a home for architects

Because the word on the street is
That you've got a weakness
Paper walls and folders you'd expect

I would have gone back home
I would have gone back home
It's bad enough you're here
And it's worse that you came alone

Because the word on the street is
That you've got a weakness
Paper walls and folders you'd expect

I would have gone back home
(Paper walls and folders (full as?) you'd expect
I would have gone back home
The house that built home for architects
I would have gone back home
(Paper walls and folders (full as?) you'd expect
I would have gone back home
The house that built home for architects


9.Your English Is Good

Oh, give us your vote
Give us your vote
If you know what's good for you

Oh, give us your vote
Give us your vote
If you know what's good for you

These are the lines
That we straighten every year
And it's the second time
They mapped the constellations

And they sift for you by night
In the depth ...
Still trying to find stripes
Injustice is my middle name

'Cuz you don't need to change
Your future is with us
You don't need to change
Your future is with us

You look a wreck
Left your key inside the door
And my ripple chest
Across this black and white chess board

Your English is good
We can see it in your bones
In this neighborhood
We 'ain't driving you home

'Cuz you don't need to change
Your future is with us
You don't need to change
Oh, give us your vote
Your future is with us
Give us your vote

Your English is good
Your English is good


10.Listen to the Math

You've been famous since your birth.
A silent one it was, 'till they told me, 'It's a girl.'
and everybody gasped.
I know how to raise you right, teach you how to read,
and your math, yeah, toys, spelling, names, alphabet,
and how to be polite.

You've been famous since your birth.
A silent one it was, 'till they told me, 'it's a girl.'
and everybody said, 'you and your atlas know it all.'
let the corners curl, 'cause if you go by night,
you'll hit the coast for sure.

It's a ruse, its a laugh.
Experts, they agree, listen to the math.
Australopithecine
Re-Kindle your heart.
These hospital machines are state of the art.

I put down my middle name in the back of her book.
And signed it just in case our work was overlooked.

Cause I got one more up my sleeve.
I'll bring it out tonight, 'cause if I am the joke,
then you're the punch line.

It's a ruse, it's a laugh.
The experts, they agree, listen to the math
Australopithecine
Re-Kindle your heart.
These hospital machines are state of the art.

But it's the art of the state thats gonna keep me awake.
I need a second opinion, Not a second to waste.


11.The Baskervilles

A toast to the last of the dying breed
They're crawling back to bed
They're falling back to sleep
A chill touches the back of your neck
Who'd call by at this hour
Who's standing out my step?

Alright, we tried to help
Alright, we tried to help
So pull back the covers tonight

I mean, correct me if I'm wrong
That end was meant for you
Since before you were born
So here's to the last of the dying breed
They're crawling back to bed
They're falling back to sleep

Alright, we tried to help
Alright, we tried to help

The shift's up and you've got no act
loosen up those muscles and straighten up that back

Alright, we tried to help
Alright, we tried to help
So pull back the covers tonight

A toast to the last of the dying breed
They're crawling back to bed
They're falling back to sleep
A toast to the last of the dying breed
They're crawling back to bed
They're falling back to sleep