[Verse 1: Gareth]
As I swan dive into the estuary, the birds do not flinch at my fall
They perch in the rafters, before, during, after, they do not notice me at all

[Verse 2: Gareth, Los Campesinos!]
As I float down into the estuary, wind cases my body in cool
I smell petrol fumes, see the smoke rise in plumes, the earth is one big fireball
The earth is one big fireball

[Chorus: Kim, Rob & Tom]
Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope

[Verse 3: Gareth]
As I break the film of the estuary, the seaweed submerges my form
No passing cars stop, not a single jaw drops, as my wallet and keys sink before
A splash all I left in the world

[Chorus: Kim, Rob & Tom]
Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope
[Verse 4]
Once held a magpie in the palm of my hand
And the blood in our veins flowed faster, as I'd planned
Got a heart full of love and a head full of more but a fist full of threads from the seams
And I saw a smile in that beak

[Chorus: Kim, Rob & Tom]
Anecdote, lie
My own alibi
I've been telling jokes
Piled notes high
My own alibi
I've been selling rope

[Bridge: Gareth, Kim, Rob & Tom]
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Anecdote, lie, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been telling jokes)
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Piled notes high, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been selling rope)

[Instrumental]
[Bridge: Gareth, Kim, Rob & Tom]
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Anecdote, lie, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been telling jokes)
Oh, I was a bird right then, one day I will be again
(Piled notes high, my own alibi)
I've been telling jokes while selling rope to you
(I've been selling rope)

[Outro: Gareth, Kim, Rob & Tom]
There's no ticker-tape, no pearly gates
(Anecdote, lie)
No carnival and no parade
(My own alibi)
Just one, one for sorrow
(I've been telling jokes)
There's no ticker-tape, no pearly gates
(Piled notes high)
No carnival and no parade
(My own alibi)
Just one, one for sorrow
(I've been selling rope)