> Eliza Carthy & Nancy Kerr > Songs > The Wrong Favour

The Wrong Favour

[Eliza Carthy]

Eliza Carthy sang her own song The Wrong Favour in 1993 on her and Nancy Kerr’s eponymous album Eliza Carthy & Nancy Kerr. She commented in the record’s sleeve notes:

The Wrong Favour is a spleen-venting song. I wrote it in June 1983.

Lyrics

You never went to her when she was sleeping
Never went to her when she was alone
You never went to her when the rain dripped down outside
And she was alone

She knows the sweetest words are spoken one time
And the quickest tongue can ache for only one to say
There was nothing more to say
New words don’t add to what we know today

Don’t tell me anything any more
I don’t want to know
And I don’t know who you are
’Cept a thorn in my side
And a stain on my sense of being

She wished that there was something she could say to you
Wished that there were thoughts inside your mind of hers
She wished that you would go away far far away
And leave her to her

She looked away from [me?] and what she saw there
Was pairs of mocking eyes in what she thought was her home
She pulled out her hair she tore at her skin
And cried Leave me alone

Don’t show me anything any more
I don’t want to know
And I don’t know who you are
’Cept an ache in my soul
And a blight on my self-composure

She said she’d never felt much like your lover
Never had the peace of mind to be a friend
Still she hung around looking for a chance to be
A friend to any friend

She turned back to the arms of someone waiting
Said Look at me closely Am I allowed to be
You know he came to me You know he ran from me
But he never spoke to me

So don’t let him tell you anything any time
You don’t want to know
And don’t find out who he is
He’ll be a thorn in your side
And he’ll take all your laughter from you

Don’t tell me anything any more
I don’t want to know
And I don’t care who you are
You’re a thorn in my side
And you stole all my laughter from me

Acknowledgements

Transcribed by Garry Gillard with corrections from Kira White. Thanks to both of you!