Quotes from Elvis Costello

Happiness isn't a fortune in a cookie. It's deeper, wider, funnier, and more transporting than that.

I get very frustrated by this term 'genre exercise.' I mean, what exactly is that? Genre is not really relevant when you are writing a song; hopefully you are doing it to explore something, to create something, and I don't agree that any of my albums are genre exercises.

These are the sort of things that push you on in music - the curiosity, a passion for new ideas.

Really the only thing holding a lot of records together is the personality of the singer, and the will to write all of these different things.

I've had an unusual life. A life far removed from most people's experience.

Life for me is about movement.

Life is so strangeI don't know whyBut somebody, somebody has to cry.

Women hear rhythm differently than men.

Writing about music is like dancing about architecture - it's really a stupid thing to want to do.

Was it a millionaire who said, "Imagine no possessions"?

I used to be disgusted. Now, I'm just amused...

It's the damage that we do and never know. It's the words that we don't say that scare me so.

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.

The battle with the bottle is nothing so novel.

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

There's no such thing as an original sin.

Good manners and bad breath will get you nowhere.

What's so funny about peace, love and understanding

I wish you luck with a capital "F".

I'm not even sure what I want, but that's not the point - it's that I want it now.

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.

He's got a mind like a sewer and a heart like a fridge.

Who put these fingerprints on my imagination?

But it's easier to say 'I love you', than 'Yours, sincerely' I suppose.