The Stranglers - Laughing lyrics

You could have wasted yourself in a plane in the air But lead poisoning from your daddy to me just didn't seem fair Committing the crime of taking your time You're laughing we're carving Your name in a tree for the kids to see We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy You paid the penalty You could have wasted away on the floor of a hotel room With the hand of a working girl to lead you into your tomb Committing the crime of taking your time You're laughing we're carving Your name in a tree for the kids to see We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy You paid the penalty You could have hung your hat on a pretender's lust for fame But you refused to lay it down It took your old man to live in shame For committing the crime of taking your time You're laughing we're carving Your name in a tree for the kids to see We hear ya, we fear your ecstasy You paid the penalty