The Other End of the Telescope - Elvis Costello, The Attractions

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 are up in the clouds

The next thing you’re down with the Sweet Adelines

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

Cause 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