Dark End Of The Street
Elvis Costello The Imposters Lyrics


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At the dark end of the street
That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me

I know that time is gonna take its toll
We're gonna pay for the love that we stole
Ah it's a sin and we know that it's wrong
Ah but our love keeps coming on strong
You and me, at the dark end of the street
Just you and me

They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us someday
We'll steal away to the dark end of the street
Just you and me

If you take a walk downtown
And you find some time to look around
If you should see me and I walk on by
Oh darling please don't cry
Tonight we'll meet
At the dark end of the street
Just you and me




Oh you and me
Oh darling, you and me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elvis Costello's The Imposters' song Dark End Of The Street describe a clandestine affair between two people who meet in secret at the dark end of the street. The two individuals involved in the relationship try to hide from the society, living in the shadows where they don't belong. They feel guilty about their love because they know that it's wrong and that they will eventually pay for the love that they have stolen. However, their love is too strong to break, and they continue meeting each other despite the consequences that this act may bring. The song portrays the forbidden love theme and the struggles involved in such a relationship.


The lyrics also highlight the underlying fear of being caught by the authorities or society, who will eventually find out about their relationship. They plan to steal away to the dark end of the street to avoid being caught, emphasizing the taboo nature of their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the lovers are resigned to the fact that they may have to pay the price for their love; they try to make the best of the time they have together, ensuring they will meet again at the dark end of the street.


Line by Line Meaning

At the dark end of the street
We meet each other at the secluded part of the street away from the view of others


That's where we always meet
It's our clandestine meeting spot where we rendezvous regularly


Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
We hide ourselves in the darkness of the night because our relationship is taboo and not socially acceptable


Living in darkness to hide our wrong
We exist and continue to cherish our forbidden love by keeping it undercover and discreet


You and me, at the dark end of the street
The two of us, meeting secretly at our familiar spot


Just you and me
It's just the two of us, no one else knows


I know that time is gonna take its toll
Our love will eventually bring us punishment and suffering


We're gonna pay for the love that we stole
We will face consequences for having gone against societal and moral standards


Ah it's a sin and we know that it's wrong
We are aware that our love is unacceptable and considered immoral according to society's standards


Ah but our love keeps coming on strong
Despite the risks and negative consequences, our love continues to endure and persist


They're gonna find us
Others will eventually discover our secret relationship


They're gonna find us
We will be exposed and caught eventually


They're gonna find us someday
Our secret will not remain hidden forever, and we will eventually face the consequences


We'll steal away to the dark end of the street
We will escape to our usual meeting spot when we're in trouble or when we need to be alone


If you take a walk downtown
If you ever wander around the city center


And you find some time to look around
And you happen to have free time and look around


If you should see me and I walk on by
If you happen to catch a glimpse of me and I walk away hastily


Oh darling please don't cry
My lover, please don't fret and feel sad, I have to avoid being seen by others


Tonight we'll meet
We will reunite tonight


At the dark end of the street
Our meeting place in the shadows and away from prying eyes


Just you and me
It's just the two of us, in secrecy and away from the eyes of others


Oh you and me
Only you and I share this forbidden love and its consequences




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Chips Moman, Dan Penn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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