Stranger In The House

Lyrics

This never was one of the great romances

But I thought you'd always have those young girl's eyes

But now they look in tired and bitter glances

At the ghost of a man who walks 'round in my disguise

I get the feeling that I don't belong here

But there's no welcome in the window anyway

And I look down for a number on my keychain

'Cause it feels more like a hotel everyday

There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face

But everybody says he's taken my place

There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see

Everybody says he looks like me

And now you say you've got no expectations

But I know you also miss those carefree days

And for all the angry words that passed between us

You still don't understand me when I say

There's a stranger in the house; nobody's seen his face

But everybody says he's taken my place

There's a stranger in the house no one will ever see

But everybody says he looks like me

Credits

• Written by: Elvis Costello
• Produced by: Nick Lowe
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar

The Shamrocks (a.k.a. Clover):

John McFee - guitar, pedal steel

Sean Hopper - piano, organ

Johnny Ciambotti - bass, backing vocals

Mickey Shine - drums

Discography

Albums:

• My Aim Is True (reissue), Rykodisc/Demon, 1993
• My Aim Is True (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001

Singles:

• Stranger In The House, 1978

Collections:

• Taking Liberties, 1980
• Ten Bloody Marys & Ten How's Your Fathers, 1980
• Girls Girls Girls, 1989 (LP version only)
• 2½ Years, 1993
• Singles, Vol. 1, 2003
• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• Stranger In The House (duet with George Jones)

George Jones - My Very Special Guests, 1980

Stranger In The House, 1980 (U.S.)

Stranger In The House, 1981 (U.K.)

Various Artists - On The Road...Country Collection, 1981 (Holland)

George Jones - My Very Special Guests (Legacy Edition), 2005

• Stranger In The House (live at Hollywood High School, Hollywood, CA 1978-06-04)

Armed Forces (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002

• Stranger In The House (BBC Version - from third John Peel session, recorded 1978-10-23, first broadcast 1978-10-30)

This Year's Model (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2002

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• This section is incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section is incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.