[Verse 1]
To the girl I knew in Sixth Form long ago
It took me sixteen years or more to know
That she probably didn't thank me for the songs that I wrote for her
Well I wrote this one for me and looking back I think they all were

[Pre-Chorus]
'Cause I grew up in a world
Where the tragic hero always gets the girl
I set the scene, I wrote the script
And I handed her a leading role and she never wanted it

[Chorus]
Because no woman ever wants to be a muse
To be dragged over hot coals
To be slandered, to be used
So you can sing the world your inauthentic blues
And be the bravest, be the smartest
The most deeply tortured artist
Tell me who in their right mind would ever choose
To be a muse

[Verse 2]
Well I wish for all the world I'd learned back then
To not repeat the deeds of famous men
Who took just one perspective 'cause it gave them a good villain
Absolved them of their sins and in the process made a killing
[Pre-Chorus]
Best be warned not to believe
This bleeding heart I wear upon my sleeve
For all the pain it might imply
There's another one out there somewhere with no right of reply

[Chorus]
Because no woman ever wants to be a muse
To be dragged over hot coals
To be slandered, to be used
So you can sing the world your inauthentic blues
And be the bravest, be the smartest
The most deeply tortured artist
Tell me who in their right mind would ever choose
To be a muse
To be a muse

[Bridge]
Yeah and maybe Stevie Nicks really drove him out his mind
But maybe Lindsey should have gone his own way too
And we'll never know the girl who wasted Dylan's precious time
Or if he left her tangled up in blue
Well I guess they'd both have versions
But we all know just the one
And all I really know for certain
Is it made a damn good song
'Cause history's written by the victors
Yeah and art is made to last
And I dread the day I'll have to answer
For the songs of break-ups past
[Chorus]
Because no woman ever wants to be a muse
To be dragged over hot coals
To be slandered, to be used
So I can sing the world my inauthentic blues
And be the bravest and the smartest
And most deeply tortured artist

Yeah no woman ever wants to stand accused
Of the crimes that you wrote for her
While professing to adore her
While disparaging her honour
With all you projected on her
While you revelled in the glory
Of telling one side of the story
Yeah no woman in this world would ever choose
To be a muse

[Outro]
Yeah now I've looked at it both ways
Don't believe a word I say
And beware of anyone who ever views
You as a muse
Because no woman in this world would ever choose
To be a muse