Not a story short on the tragic

The strongest cage that guards the prize 
The longest lash that covers your eyes 
A sight no eyes are meant to know 
Then on the third day he arose

The Sharpest Thorn lyrics

Elvis Costello

I wore my finest suit of clothes 
The sharpest thorn defending the rose 
Hot as a pistol 
Keen as a blade 
The sharpest thorn upon parade

And it's the same most every year 
Ghosts of the dear departed are near 
We raise our glasses and we cheer 
Should old acquaintance disappear 
Just as we wipe away a tear

Archangel Michael will lead the way 
Archangel Gabriel is ready to play 
Although we know we must repent 
We hit the scene and look for sins 
That haven't even been invented

The strongest cage that guards the prize 
The longest lash that covers your eyes 
A sight no eyes are meant to know 
Then on the third day he arose

Archangel Michael will lead the way 
Archangel Gabriel is ready to play 
Although we know we must repent 
We hit the scene and look for sins 
That haven't even been invented

So good and evil, were having a fight 
It lasts much longer than any one night 
It may last longer than a life 
And turn a mistress into a wife

And so confetti fills the air 
My head is aching 
My pockets are bare 
I didn't recognise their warning 
Then I wasn't born the sharpest thorn 
I wasn't born the sharpest thorn

I wasn't born the sharpest thorn 
I wasn't born the sharpest thorn

I wasn't born the sharpest thorn