The Other End (Of The Telescope)

Lyrics

Shall we agree that just this once I'm gonna change my life

Until it's just as tiny or important as you like

And in time we won't even recall that we spoke

Words that turned out to be as big as smoke

As smoke that disappears in the air

There's always something that's smoldering somewhere

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

You'll see me off in the distance, I hope

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

The promise of indulgence in my confidential voice

Approached immortal danger but you'll never know how close

Then down the hall, I overheard such a heavenly choir

They interrupted my evil designs

One day you're up in the clouds

The next thing you're down with the Sweet Adelines

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

You'll see me off in the distance, I hope

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

Lie down baby, now don't say a word

There, there baby, your vision is blurred

Your head is so sore from all of that thinking

I don't want to hurt you now, but I think you're shrinking

You're half-naked ambition and you're half out of your wits

Or several tiny fractions that this portrait still omits

And it's so hard to pick the receiver up when I call

I never noticed you could be so small

The answer was under your nose, but the question never arose

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

'Cos late in the evening, as I sit here moping

With a bamboo needle on a shellac of Chopin

And the cast-iron heart that you failed to tear open

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

Alternate Lyrics

As recorded by 'Til Tuesday on Everything's Different Now (1988)

Shall we agree that just this once I'm gonna change my life

Until it's just as tiny or important as you like

And in time, we won't even recall that we spoke

Words that turned out to be as big as smoke

Like smoke disappears in the air

There's always something smouldering somewhere

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

You'll see me off in the distance, I hope

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

There was a time not long ago I dreamt the world was flat

And all the colors bled away and that was that

And in time, I could only believe in one thing

The sky was just phosphorous stars hung on strings

And you swore that they'd always be mine

When you can pull them down anytime

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

You'll see me off in the distance, I hope

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

There, there baby now, don't say a word

Lie down baby, your vision is blurred

Your head is so sore from all of that thinking

I don't want to hurt you now, but I think you're shrinking

You're half-naked ambition and you're half out of your wits

And though your wristwatch always works, your necktie never fits

Now it's so hard to pick the receiver up and when I call

I never noticed you could be so small

The answer was under your nose, but the question never arose

I know it don't make a difference to you

But oh, it sure made a difference to me

When you find me here at the end of my rope

When the head and heart of it finally elope

You can see us off in the distance, I hope

At the other end, at the other end of the telescope

Credits

• Written by: Declan MacManus and Aimee Mann
• Produced by: Geoff Emerick and Elvis Costello
• Musicians:

Elvis Costello - vocals and guitars

Steve Nieve - keyboards

Bruce Thomas - bass

Pete Thomas - drums and percussion

Discography

Albums:

• All This Useless Beauty, 1996
• All This Useless Beauty (Deluxe Edition), Rhino, 2001
• This section may be incomplete.

Singles:

• This section may be incomplete.

Collections:

• Album Name, Year
• This section may be incomplete.

Alternate Versions:

• This section may be incomplete.

Soundtracks:

• none

Various Artists collections:

• none

Covers

Recorded by:

• 'Til Tuesday, on Everything's Different Now (1988)
• This section may be incomplete.

Performed by:

• none
• This section may be incomplete.

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.