Remembering Lost Songs
The Imposter - Elvis Costello
I've always liked Elvis Costello's work and today's Lost Song is my favorite Elvis Costello song; it's a tune called The Imposter which was a track on his 1979 epic album Get Happy! The song is filled with wild energy and as the sound comes pounding out of the speakers one can imagine someone has grabbed you by the lapels and gave you a good slap across the cheek. Ouch!
I've always regarded The Imposter as a song that is clearly about betrayal. The second verse captures that exact feeling: "You've never been this far, You've always been too smart, And you know all our boys Are really girls at heart, And he's not the man you'd think that he can be, I just don't know why you can't see, That he is only the imposter" Costello sells this song to the listener very well. His voice is charged with anger and bitterness. Sometimes in life things go that way, eh?
THE IMPOSTER
Trying to be too bad
Trying to talk too tough
Trying to jack the lad
You'd think he'd had enough
But he's not the man you'd think that he can be
I just don't know why you can't see
That he is only the imposter
That he is only the imposter
You've never been this far
You've always been too smart
And you know all our boys
Are really girls at heart
And he's not the man you'd think that he can be
I just don't know why you can't see
That he is only the imposter
That he is only the imposter
When I said that I was lying, I might have been lying
Never let me hear you say you're not trying
This is your big decision
Hope you're not disappointed
He's got double vision
When you want him double jointed
And he's not the man you'd think that he can be
I just don't know why you can't see
The imposter
He'll only bring you souvenirs
It's only gonna end in tears
And he is only the imposter
And he is only the imposter
