The Other End of the Telescope

Elvis Costello

Shall we agree for this just once
I'm going to 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
A smoke that disappears in the air
There's always something that's smoldering somewhere

[Chorus:]
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 a telescope

The promise of indulgences 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

[Chorus]

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 know
But I think you're shrinking

You're half-naked ambition and half out of your wits
Or several tiny fractions that this portrait still omits
Now 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
You'll see me off in the distance I hope
Cause late in the evening as I sit here moping
With a bamboo needle on a shellac of Chopin
And a cast-iron heart that you failed to rip open
At the other end
At the other end of the telescope