Released: February 7, 1989

Songwriter: Paul McCartney Elvis Costello

Producer: Elvis Costello T Bone Burnett Kevin Killen

[Verse 1]
Is it all in that pretty little head of yours?
What goes on in that place in the dark?
Well, I used to know a girl and I could have sworn
That her name was Veronica

Well, she used to have a carefree mind of her own
And a delicate look in her eye
These days I'm afraid she's not even sure
If her name is Veronica

[Chorus]
Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica, Veronica

[Verse 2]
Did the days drag by? Did the favors wane?
Did he roam down the town all the while?
Will you wake from your dream, with a wolf at the door
Reaching out for Veronica?

Well, it was all of sixty-five years ago
When the world was the street where she lived
And a young man sailed on a ship in the sea
With a picture of Veronica

[Bridge]
On the 'Empress of India'
And as she closed her eyes upon the world
And picked upon the bones of last weeks news
She spoke his name out loud again

[Chorus]
Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica, Veronica

[Verse 3]
Veronica sits in her favorite chair
She sits very quiet and still
And they call her a name that they never get right
And if they don't then nobody else will

But she used to have a carefree mind of her own
With devilish look in her eye
Saying, "You can call me anything you like
But my name is Veronica"

[Chorus]
Do you suppose that waiting hands on eyes
Veronica has gone to hide?
And all the time she laughs at those
Who shout her name and steal her clothes
Veronica, Veronica
Oh, Veronica

Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello (b. 1954) is an English musician that was a part of the new wave/punk scene who has continued to evolve over the years and remains active, working with a host of collaborators since the late 1970s, including Burt Bacharach, Squeeze, The Pogues, T-Bone Burnette, Paul McCartney, Allen Toussaint, Anne Sofie von Otter, and The Roots.

His primary backing band for much of his career was the Attractions (Steve Nieve, Bruce Thomas, Pete Thomas). After bitter feuding caused bassist Bruce Thomas to permanently leave the band in 1996, former Cracker bassist Davey Faragher joined Nieve and Pete Thomas, with Costello rechristening them The Imposters.

Elvis Costello & The Imposters