So you're tryin' to make connections
You heard whispers in the hall
She'll be out again this evening
When you come around to call
So you dodge the lady killer
Who came creapin' 'cross the floor
Then you're caught up in a whirlwind
You got blown right out the door
Ah yes, it was a whirlwind
Sweet romance was on your side
Er, if you want to dance on my face
You must tell me why yer lied

[Chorus:]
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind if I'm losing your touch

I see the look of recognition
So well hidden in your eye
And your peep-show regulations
That just don't seem to apply
Did I see yer in the circus
In the ring without a hand
Now you think that you can curse us
Steal the show and stop the band
Ah, you can follow your dream
Oh but please don't lead me on
Er, if you want to bleed? in my face
Er, you were here and now you're gone

[Chorus:]

I'll go out of my mind if I'm losing your touch (repeat x3)

Overall Meaning

The song "Imagination" by Elvis Costello delves into a tale of deception and betrayal. The story is centered around a man who is attempting to build a romantic relationship with a woman. The lyrics suggest that the woman is unstable, and the man needs to proceed with caution. The first verse talks about the man attempting to avoid a "lady killer" who is creeping around the floor. This sets the tone for the song, suggesting that the woman may be dangerous.

As the story unfolds, the man seems to be struggling to understand the woman's motivations. He describes her as having "peep-show regulations that just don't seem to apply." He references a time when he may have seen her performing in a circus without a hand, indicating that the woman is a bit of an enigma. The man seems to be attracted to her but is also confused and uncertain.

The chorus of the song highlights the power of imagination and its potential to deceive us. The man recognizes that his mind may be playing tricks and suggests that losing touch with the woman could drive him "out of his mind." The song ends with the repeated refrain, which emphasizes the man's desperation to hold onto the relationship despite his uncertainty.

Overall, "Imagination" is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of love and the potential for deception. The lyrics suggest that we need to be careful when building relationships and consider the motivations and character of the people we choose to pursue.

Line by Line Meaning

So you're tryin' to make connections
You are attempting to connect with someone

You heard whispers in the hall
You have recently gained some information

She'll be out again this evening / When you come around to call
The person you want to see will be available at the expected time

So you dodge the lady killer / Who came creapin' 'cross the floor
You avoid someone who is trying to distract you from your purpose

Then you're caught up in a whirlwind / You got blown right out the door
You get caught up in a situation that is beyond your control and end up leaving abruptly

Ah yes, it was a whirlwind / Sweet romance was on your side / Er, if you want to dance on my face / You must tell me why yer lied
You reflect on the previous situation and acknowledge that it involved a romantic relationship. However, you are uncertain about the other person's intentions.

Imagination is a powerful deceiver / When you try to believe her just a little too much / Imagination is a powerful deceiver / I'll go out of my mind if I'm losing your touch
The power of imagination can be dangerous because it can make you believe things that are not true. If you become too caught up in your own imagination, you risk losing touch with reality.

I see the look of recognition / So well hidden in your eye / And your peep-show regulations / That just don't seem to apply
You observe a hidden emotion in someone's eyes and notice that they are not following the rules of polite behavior

Did I see yer in the circus / In the ring without a hand / Now you think that you can curse us / Steal the show and stop the band
You make an absurd observation about the other person's appearance and behavior. You feel that they are trying to take control of the situation.

Ah, you can follow your dream / Oh but please don't lead me on / Er, if you want to bleed? in my face / Er, you were here and now you're gone
You encourage someone to chase their dreams but caution them against leading you on. You also express confusion about their sudden disappearance.

I'll go out of my mind if I'm losing your touch (repeat x3)
You are deeply affected by the thought of losing touch with someone and fear that you may lose your mind over it.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Costello

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@cahl2769

5y↑9

So you're trying to make connection
You heard whispers in the hall
She'll be out again this evening
When you come around to call

So you dodge the lady killer
Who came creepin' 'cross the floor
Then you caught up in a whirlwind
You got blown right out the door

Oh yes, it was a whirlwind
Sweet romance was on your side
If you wanna dance on my face
You must tell me why you lied

Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch

I see a look of recognition
So well hidden in your eye
And your peepshow regulations
They just don't seem to apply

Well, did I see you in the circus
In the ring without a hand
Now you think that you can curse us
Steal the show and stop the band

Oh, you can follow your dreams
Oh, but please don't lead me on
If you wanna bleed in my face
You were here and now you're gone

Imagination is a powerful deceiver
When you try to believe her just a little too much
Imagination is a powerful deceiver
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch

I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch
I'll go out of my mind, if I'm losing your touch

All comments from YouTube:

@dansv1

3y↑14

This is one of my all time favorite songs. I always play this first whenever I get new speakers or headphones because of the vocal quality.

@jimmycrackporn6938

7y↑9

What a genius this man is. His voice is like a trumpet. Been singing this for 2 weeks.

@cahl2769

5y↑9

@ltrainjenkins9272

Cahl ❤️

@dbentleyto95

5y↑3

I have been listening to E.C. since 1978, and I have never heard this. What an artist he has always been. He never disappoints!

@garywomack

13y↑1

Been havin this song on my mind all week! Love it. Elvis' voice does it to me all the time!

@call2repentance

4y↑2

One of my favorite songs of all times and of course one of my favorite elvis costello songs.

@jamesmarchione170

2y↑8

His greatest unrecognized tune

@russellpeterson4124

My favorite of all time. Maybe too similar to Allison.

@veronicarodriguez7875

28w↑1

My fav from Elvis Costello <3

@pauliejay4161

4y↑2

This song is amazing. Almost too clever for its own good, but then I remember who I am listening to.

@chunkymilk

13y↑3

this song is amazing. thank you!

@nmsunrise

9y↑3

reminds me of my high school sweet heart. Makes me sad and happy all at the same time.

@matthubbard7859

22w

Elvis loved The Band, I assume he still does. This is the only song he wrote that reminds me of them.

@robbo2357

10y↑2

pure quality

@goldenpartiesforever9791

4y↑3

Got this...stiff promo album titled "OUR aim is true" on RED vinyl. think it was pre MY AIM IS TRUE. Raw classic!!

@looseparts

10y↑6

This song has been on my mind all week while I'm home from work, waiting to pass a kidney stone. Maybe it's the pain meds, but my imagination is creating some powerful (false) images of where this extreme pain is coming from. I hope you, nor EC ever have to do this.

@guilhermelopes351

This is perfect

@maxwellmcp930

48w

Why is this not on Spotify?

@mikenayl

i always click the back arrow; this is the best of the first burst of elvis songs, i got it on a vinyl bootleg my first trip to NYC freshman year '85 at legendary bootleg palace It's Only Rock and Roll on W. 8th Street before it turns into St. Mark's Place, and its power has not lessened in 37 years, and won't ever

@michaelniemeyer5116

3y↑1

Why isn't this on spotify

@athensdave6932

1y↑1

Love the 'at last' in the fade out.

@deborahsuewho

13y↑1

Just for the sake of accuracy, this was a stiff promo album titled "OUR aim is true". I had a copy and it was ruined in a flood. PLEASE upload the track of Bacharach's "I JUST DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF" from the album if you have it!!!

@davelikesfish

12y↑4

One release with this song on it is the 2CD set My Aim Is True (with bonus disc) on Rhino Records, released in 2001 (ASIN: B00005MLU0). Be careful because there is at least one 2CD set released that does not include this song.

@mantco44

12y

does anyone know what album this is from?

@ltrainjenkins9272

❤️

@nanys2222

12y

it's written below the video - track comes from "my aim is true" album

@davelikesfish

12y↑3

Who's an original? The Beatles? Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Sex Pistols? The truth is all of them borrowed from earlier performers. They added something original of themselves. Elvis Costello added just as much or more of his own originality as any of them.