By Paul McCartney and Declan MacManus
As recorded by Elvis Costello
IS IT ALL IN THAT PRETTY LITTLE HEAD OF YOURS?
WHAT GOES ON IN THAT PLACE IN THE DARK?
WELL, I USED TO KNOW A GIRL AND I WOULD HAVE SWORN
THAT HER NAME WAS VERONICA.
WELL, SHE USED TO HAVE A CAREFREE MIND OF HER OWN
AND A DELICATE LOOK IN HER EYE.
THESE DAYS, I'M AFRAID, SHE'S NOT EVEN SURE
IF HER NAME IS VERONICA.
DO YOU SUPPOSE, THAT WAITING HANDS ON EYES,
VERONICA HAS GONE TO HIDE?
AND ALL THE TIME SHE LAUGHS AT THOSE WHO SHOUT HER NAME
AND STEAL HER CLOTHES.
VERONICA, VERONICA. (VERONICA, VERONICA)
DID THE DAYS DRAG BY? DID THE FAVOURS WANE?
DID HE ROAM DOWN THE TOWN ALL THE TIME?
WILL YOU WAKE FROM YOUR DREAM, WITH A WOLF AT THE DOOR,
REACHING OUT FOR VERONICA?
WELL, IT WAS ALL OF SIXTY-FIVE YEARS AGO,
WHEN THE WORLD WAS THE STREET WHERE SHE LIVED.
AND A YOUNG MAN SAILED ON A SHIP IN THE SEA
WITH A PICTURE OF VERONICA.
ON THE "EMPRESS OF INDIA",
AND AS SHE CLOSED HER EYES UPON THE WORLD
AND PICKED UPON THE BONE OF LAST WEEK'S NEWS,
SHE SPOKE HIS NAME OUT LOUD AGAIN.
DO YOU SUPPOSE, THAT WAITING HANDS ON EYES,
VERONICA HAS GONE TO HIDE?
AND ALL THE TIME SHE LAUGHS AT THOSE WHO SHOUT HER NAME
AND STEAL HER CLOTHES.
VERONICA, VERONICA. (VERONICA, VERONICA)
VERONICA SITS IN HER FAVOURITE CHAIR
AND SHE SITS VERY QUIET AND STILL.
AND THEY CALL HER A NAME THAT THEY NEVER GET RIGHT
AND IF THEY DON'T THEN NOBODY ELSE WILL.
BUT SHE USED TO HAVE A CAREFREE MIND OF HER OWN,
WITH A DEVILISH LOOK IN HER EYE.
SAYING, "YOU CAN CALL ME ANYTHING YOU LIKE,
BUT MY NAME IS VERONICA."
DO YOU SUPPOSE, THAT WAITING HANDS ON EYES,
VERONICA HAS GONE TO HIDE?
AND ALL THE TIME SHE LAUGHS AT THOSE WHO SHOUT HER NAME
AND STEAL HER CLOTHES.
VERONICA, VERONICA.
OH -
OH, OH, OH, VERONICA.