the beginning of the end

Singer: edwyn collins

he wore a crooked smile

upon his stupid face

shambling down the twisting pathway

with a studied lack of grace

cursing and swearing

to good some passer-by

then he stands with scarecrow arms askew

beneath a light of cobalt blue

and it's just the beginning

the beginning of the end

and before too long

you know they'll be coming for you my friends

cursing and swearing

to good some passer-by

then he throws down the gauntlet

and he looks straight in the eye

of the one eyed vagabond

who promptly knocks him to the ground

leaving him bruised and bankrupt

by the all-night filling station

lying on his back on the cold tarmac

crying with frustration

and it's just the beginning

the beginning of the end

and before too long

you know they'll be coming for you my friends

well he picked himself up off the ground

then he dusted himself down

then he walked out under a starless night

in dire need of a guiding light

ranting and raving

a bitter tirade

heading for nowhere fast

except

perhaps

an early grave

and it's just the beginning

the beginning of the end

and before too long

you know they'll be coming for you my friends

don't tell me this is the beginning

the beginning of the end

'cause i heard these lines

a thousand times before my friends

Lyric Context: the beginning of the end - edwyn collins