Ticking Songtext

von Elton John

Ticking

Music by Elton John . lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Album Caribou 1974

"an extremely quiet child"
They called you in your school report
"he's always taken interest
In the subjects that he's taught"
So what was it that brought the squad car screaming up your drive
To notify your parents of the manner
In which you died

At St. Patrick's every Sunday
Father Fletcher heard your sins
"oh he's unconcerne with competition
He never cares to win"
But blood stained a young that never held
A gun
And his parents never thought of him as their
Troubled son

"now you'll never get to Heaven"
Mama said
Remember Mama said
Ticking, ticking
"grow up straight
And true blue
Run along to bed"
Hear it
Hear it
Ticking
Ticking

They had you hauled up in a downtown bar
Screaming for a priest
Some gook said "his brain's just snapped"
Then someone called the police
You'd knifed a negro waiter who had tried to calm you down
You'd pulled a gun and told them all
To lay still
On the ground

Promising to hurt no-one
Providing they were still
A young man tried to make a break
With tear-filled eyes you killed
That gun butt felt so smooth and warm
Cradled in your palm
And your childhood cried out in your head
"they mean
To do you harm"

"don't ever ride on the devil's knee"
Mama said
Remember Mama said
Ticking
Ticking
"pay your penance well my child
Fear where angels tread"
Hear it
Hear it
Ticking
Ticking

Within an hour the news had reached
The media machine
A male Caucasian with a gun
Had gone beserk in Queens
The area had been sealed off, the kids sent home from school
Fourteen people lying dead in a bar they called
"The Kicking Mule"

Oh they pleaded to your sanity
For the sake of those inside
"throw out your gun, walk out slow,
Just keep your hands held high"
But they pumped your full of rifle shells as
You stepped out the door
Oh you danced in death like a marionette
In the vengeance of the law

"you've slept too long in silence"
Mama said
Remember Mama said
Ticking
Ticking
"crazy boy you'll only wind up with strange notions in your head"
Hear it
Hear it
Ticking
Ticking