There's a little voice inside my head
It tells me what I ought have done
It tells me what I ought have said, it drives me mad
And sometimes red with laughter, but, I cannot shut it out
It hits me after each time that I've
Been together with a close friend or somebody
I have done my very best for to impress
I'm so obsessed, trying to be nice and funny
But, I cannot guess just what the voice will tell me

Wish I knew what to say, not afterwards but straightaway
Yes, that would be great, hey, esprit de l'escalier
Don't you be so late because I can't

Every time I end a phonecall in my head
I hear a little buzzer, hear a little bell
I know it well, I know the voice is gonna tell me just how swell
I might have been if only I had thought of everything
I seem to do just seems to take this silly turn
Just seems to end this silly way
I can't explain, perhaps the voice will tell me
Hey, why don't you stay, so you will see why I

Wish I knew what to say, not afterwards but straightaway
Yes, that would be great, hey, esprit de l'escalier
Don't you be so late, because I can't wait