[Verse 1]
I can't tell if this is real or if I am sleeping
I'll embroider the truth and that's so I shall reap
I took things that didn't belong to me
I didn't mean to do you wrong

[Chorus]
Looking back on all that stolen time (stolen time)
Back when I was drinking (turpentine)
Don't blame me, I only took you in
It takes time to do the poisoning
So let's close the door on this and lock it
And that's all it will ever be (ever be)
Just an accident of chemistry

[Verse 2]
You did everything to me but stopped short of murder
Couldn't move me much closer to keeping my word
While the crowds threw stones at the hangman
The sky fell down, the bells rang

[Chorus]
Looking back on all that stolen time (stolen time)
Back when I was drinking (turpentine)
Don't blame me, I only took you in
It takes time to do the poisoning
So let's close the door on this and lock it
And that's all it will ever be (ever be)
Just an accident of chemistry
[Bridge]
Airless shaft of an underground railway
Effete assassin with a hawk in a sack
The earth will offer us in when our hearts fail
It swallowed the river running under the track
Under the track, yeah

[Verse 3]
I can't tell if I'm dreaming or if I'll awaken
With a song in my heart that is longing to break
Let it out and let it fly high
Up where the spires scrape the sky

[Chorus]
Looking back on all that stolen time (stolen time)
Back when I was drinking (turpentine)
Don't blame me, I only took you in
It takes time to do the poisoning
So let's close the door on this and lock it
And that's all it will ever be (ever be)
Just an accident of history
Yeah

[Instrumental Break]

[Bridge]
Airless shaft of an underground railway
Cute assassin with a hawk in a sack
The earth will offer us in when our hearts fail
As it swallowed the river running under the track
That's right