Elvis Costello & The Imposters is British musician Elvis Costello and his o… Read Full Bio ↴Elvis Costello & The Imposters is British musician Elvis Costello and his other band incarnation. Since 2002, his touring band (featuring a rotating cast of musicians) has been known as The Imposters; with them Costello has released a series of albums beginning with "Cruel Smile" (2002). The band includes Steve Nieve (keyboards), Davey Faragher (bass/backing vocals), and Pete Thomas (drums).

Flutter & Wow
Elvis Costello & The Imposters Lyrics

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Last rays of sunlight die
Full moon begins to rise
Reflected in your eyes

[Chorus]
I can't believe that this is happening
You make the motor in me
Flutter and Wow

The crowd was gathering
The clock struck five, then ten
My happy tears were descending

[Chorus]

Flutter and Wow
Flutter and Wow

You make the motor in me
Flutter and Wow
Flutter and how

The incident tape across the bed
Threading it from the reel to the head
I'm planting this thought in a magnetic field

And pushing the button
And all of a sudden
Erase everything rotten
Fascinated and uptight
Make me shout out loud
Make me cry all day and night

My voice got stuck in my throat...
Pulled my hand up into the sleeve of my coat
So you'd never know how it was shaking

[Chorus]

Flutter and Wow
Flutter and Wow

You make the motor in me
Start up and stop again
When I am spluttering

You make the motor in me
Flutter and wow
Flutter and how
Flutter and wow
Flutter and how

To the bridge

The incident tape across the bed
Threading it from the reel to the head
I'm planting this thought in a magnetic field
And pressing the button
And all of a sudden

Erase everything rotten
Fascinated and uptight

Make me shout out loud
Make me cry all day and night

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Flutter & Wow" by Elvis Costello & The Imposters explore the intense emotions that arise in a romantic relationship. The opening lines describe a beautiful scene of sunset and moonrise, reflected in the lover's eyes. The chorus communicates the physical and emotional impact that this person has on the singer: "You make the motor in me flutter and wow." The metaphorical use of "motor" in this line evokes the idea of sexual attraction and excitement.

As the song progresses, it becomes more abstract, with references to "incident tape," "magnetic fields," and erasing "everything rotten." These lines suggest a desire for a fresh start, to push the reset button on a tumultuous past. The lyrics convey a sense of fascination, excitement, and fear of vulnerability, with lines like "make me shout out loud, make me cry all day and night," and "my voice got stuck in my throat."

Overall, "Flutter & Wow" communicates the intense and often overwhelming emotions that come with falling in love, and the desire to erase past pain and start anew.

Line by Line Meaning

Last rays of sunlight die
The sun has set and it is now dark outside

Full moon begins to rise
The moon is visible in the sky and is rising higher

Reflected in your eyes
The person is looking into the eyes of their lover and sees the moon's reflection

I can't believe that this is happening
The person is overwhelmed with joy and disbelief at the current situation

You make the motor in me
The person feels intense physical and emotional sensations because of their lover

Flutter and Wow
The person feels a pulsing sensation in their body and is amazed by their feelings

The crowd was gathering
People are beginning to gather for an event

The clock struck five, then ten
Time is passing and the person is waiting for something to happen

My happy tears were descending
The person is crying because they are filled with joy and emotion

You make the motor in me Flutter and Wow
Repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the intense sensations felt by the person

The incident tape across the bed Threading it from the reel to the head
The person is setting up a recording device and threading the tape

I'm planting this thought in a magnetic field And pushing the button
The person is recording their thoughts and feelings in a tangible way

Erase everything rotten Fascinated and uptight Make me shout out loud Make me cry all day and night
The person is documenting their emotions and experiences, and feels overwhelmed by them

My voice got stuck in my throat... Pulled my hand up into the sleeve of my coat So you'd never know how it was shaking
The person is nervous or emotional and tries to hide their physical reactions from their lover

You make the motor in me Start up and stop again When I am spluttering
The person feels intense physical reactions that sometimes overwhelm them and cause them to 'splutter'

Flutter and how Flutter and wow Flutter and how Flutter and wow
Repetition of chorus, again emphasizing physical and emotional sensations

To the bridge
The song is transitioning to a different section

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ELVIS COSTELLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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TRACKS