You Tripped at Every Step Lyrics

Lyric discussion by julian1010 

Cover art for You Tripped at Every Step lyrics by Elvis Costello

There is something about drinking going on in this song... tripping at every step of the 12 steps of AA.

"It's not just the lipstick drawn on crooked" - she's so drunk she can't put her makeup on correctly

"Only you drank that potion, and went out of control" - drank too much

"In another world of gin and cigarettes" - obvious, the gin is a type of booze

Who is the cartoon mouse that he is referring to? Mickey mouse? i don't get that part..