Paul Heaton + Jacqui Abbott
The Prison
[Intro]

[Verse 1]
She used a condom as a bookmark
To remind her of last time
A fella came and shared with her
A laugh and glass of wine

It seemed an age since anyone
Rejoiced in her good looks
Leaving a cellar of good wine
And a shelfful of poor books

[Pre-Chorus 1]
She'd seen women throw the towel in
When barely out of school
Delivered to an early grave
On the promise of a fool

Seen the chat-up lines, the smacked behinds
The fast and flashy cars
'Cause the prison that they're offering
Don't always show the bars

[Chorus]
Make your deodorants expensive, your restaurants cheap
Always look twice when you're crossing the street
Make the path you choose more erudite than mine
Go easy on the garçons, go easy on the wine
[Verse 2]
She listened to the radio
Sang along to all the hits
But half the songs they played on there
Left half of her in bits

And one timeless ingredient
Contained in loving cup
Is a woman's overriding right
To fuck her life right up

[Pre-Chorus 2]
And through her indecision
Yet another chance was gone
As he left the restaurant muttering
'What planet is she on?'

And if women came from Venus
And all men, they came from Mars
And the prison that we're living in
Don't always show the bars

[Chorus]
Make your deodorants expensive, your restaurants cheap
Always look twice when you're crossing the street
Make the path you choose more erudite than mine
Go easy on the garçons, go easy on the wine
[Bridge]
She'd seen the educated, barely dated
In the face of good advice
Take some tramp up on his word
And roll a loaded dice

It's the word in all the nail salons
And the talk of beauty spas
The prison that we're in
Don't show the bars

[Chorus]
Make your deodorants expensive, your restaurants cheap
Always look twice when you're crossing the street
Make the path you choose more erudite than mine
Go easy on the garçons, go easy on the wine