Step out to clutch the evening air   Distraction from your disrepair   And all of those who say they know   And walk the balustrade 'til dawn   You won't blink you won't yawn   Never let your weakness show      And though I keep your picture on the wall   Unplug the phone in case you call   Dust collects upon the sill   And still you misplace all your faith in words   As though you'll ever feel assured   If you don’t know you never will      But no I never meant you any harm   Suffocating shelter of your arms   And if I let you down, it   Wasn't me, but you who kept me round   Linger on, linger on      And while your tears fall down his cheek   For the fallen, small and meek   Look what the invalids compose   Well he should've warned you from the start   Another callus on the heart   Another victim of the throes      So sip your cigarettes and tea   Be sure you never think of me   When your tragedies unload   And in case your beauty makes you weep   For what you touched but couldn't keep   For what you had but couldn't hold      No I never meant you any harm   Suffocating shelter of your arms   And if you should feel betrayed, it   Wasn't me, but you who made me stay   Linger on, linger on      Well I'll take your convalescent dreams   Patch the wounds, sew the seams   And get you ready for the fall   But should you miss me when I'm gone   Girl your memory serves you wrong   You never needed me at all      But you can miss the hollow of my hand   And all the lives that we had planned   And all the jealousies you sowed   But I’ll take back the youth you can't repay   All the hours I gave away   And all the lies I never told      But no I never meant you any harm   Suffocating shelter of your arms   And if I did you wrong, it   Wasn't me, but you who wrote this song   Linger on, linger on.