Elvis Costello > Quotes

“Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's really a stupid thing to want to do.”
― Elvis Costello

“Was it a millionaire who said, "Imagine no possessions"?”
― Elvis Costello

“I used to be disgusted. Now, I'm just amused...”
― Elvis Costello

“It's the damage that we do and never know. It's the words that we don't say that scare me so.”
― Elvis Costello

“Oh, I know that she's disgusted,
cause she's feeling so abused.
She gets tired of the lust,
but it's so hard to refuse.”
― Elvis Costello

“The battle with the bottle is nothing so novel.”
― Elvis Costello

“If I am frightened then I can hide it
If I am crying, I'll call it laughter
If I am haunted, I'll call it my imaginary friend
If I am bleeding I'll call it wine
But if you leave me then I am broken
And if I'm broken then only death remains”
― Elvis Costello

“There's no such thing as an original sin.”
― Elvis Costello

“Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.”
― Elvis Costello

“What's so funny about peace, love and understanding”
― Elvis Costello

“Can a mere song change a people's minds? I doubt that it is so. But a song can infiltrate your heart and the heart may change your mind.”
― Elvis Costello

“I wish you luck with a capital "F".”
― Elvis Costello

“I'm not even sure what I want, but that's not the point - it's that I want it now.”
― Elvis Costello

“Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?”
― Elvis Costello

“But it's easier to say 'I love you',
than 'Yours, sincerely' I suppose.”
― Elvis Costello

“He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge.”
― Elvis Costello

“Don't start me talking
I could talk all night
My mind goes sleepwalking
While I'm putting the world to right.”
― Elvis Costello

“Oh, I said 'I'm so happy, I could die.'
She said 'Drop dead,' then left with another guy.”
― Elvis Costello

“There are some things you can't cover up with lipstick and powder.”
― Elvis Costello

“I used to be disgusted; now I try to be amused.”
― Elvis Costello

“So don't try to touch my heart, it's darker than you think
And don't try to read my mind because it's full of disappearing ink”
― Elvis Costello, Brutal Youth

“The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark. It scares you witless but with time you see things clear and stark”
― Elvis Costello

“There's a girl in this dress,
there's always a girl in distress.”
― Elvis Costello

“I hear they're givin' you a bad reputation
just because you've never been denied.
You try to say you've done it all before,
baby, you know that you just get tired.
Yet everybody loves you so much, girl,
I just don't know how you stand the strain.
Oh, I, I'm the one who's here tonight,
and I don't wanna do it all in vain.”
― Elvis Costello

“Death wears a big hat.”
― Elvis Costello

“I took my better nature out, drowned it in a babbling stream/took the blossom of my youth and blew it all to smithereens.”
― Elvis Costello

“Was it a millionaire who said "imagine no possessions?"
A poor little schoolboy who said "we don't need no lessons?”
― Elvis Costello

“It's a dangerous game that comedy plays. Sometimes it tells you the truth; sometimes it delays it.”
― Elvis Costello, Brutal Youth

“You think you're alone until you realize you're in it.
Now fear is here to stay,
love is here for a visit.”
― Elvis Costello

“Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking, when I hear the silly things that you say.”
― Elvis Costello