Collaborations Don't Work

[Chorus: Alex Kapranos] Collaborations don't work They don't work, they don't work Collaborations don't work They don't work, they don't work Collaborations don't work They don't work, they don't work I'm gonna do it all by myself I'm gonna do it all by myself [Chorus: Russell Mael] [Verse 1: Alex Kapranos & Russell Mael] Mozart didn’t need a little Hadyn to chart Warhol didn’t need to ask De Kooning about art Frank Lloyd Wright always ate à la carte Wish I had been that smart Wish I had been that smart [Chorus: Russell Mael] [Verse 2:] [Russell Mael:] Collaborations don't work You start off deferential [Alex Kapranos:] And strangely reverential You both feel it's essential [Nick McCarthy:] Collaborations don't work He's eyeing your new lover [Bob Hardy:] Then one night you discover Them underneath your covers [Verse 3:] [Alex Kapranos:] Collaborations don't work Delaying your vacations [Russell Mael:] To sun-drenched island nations To seek some affirmations [Ron Mael:] Collaborations don't work A colon or a comma [Paul Thomson:] And then a drawn-out drama Bring in the Dalai Lama [Bridge: Alex Kapranos & Russell Mael] x2 Where is this damn thing a-going? Where is this going, someone tell me Starlight, rub off on me Star bright, rub off on me [Verse 4: Alex Kapranos & Russell Mael] I don't need your patronizing I don't need your agonizing I don't need your navel gazing I don't get your way of phrasing I don't think you're really trying What, pray tell, are you implying? [Verse 5: Alex Kapranos] I ain't no collaborator I am the partisan Rebel in the rocks with dirty trousers, broken pistol in the hand I ain't no collaborator Hack my scalp if you think I am I am a sadistic young usurper, a hand on your neck Hand on your lover, oh, give the man a hand I ain't no collaborator I ain't no collaborator I am the bastard, independent If I ever need a father, it won't be you, old man [Chorus: Alex Kapranos] [Chorus: Alex Kapranos & Russell Mael] [Outro]