Oh, it's so funny to be seeing you after so long, girl
And with the way you look, I understand that you were not impressed
But I heard you let that little friend of mine
Take off your party dress

I'm not gonna get too sentimental
Like those other sticky valentines
'Cause I don't know if you are loving somebody
I only know it isn't mine

Allison, I know this world is killing you
Oh, Allison, my aim is true

Well, I see you've got a husband now
Did he leave your pretty fingers lying in the wedding cake?
You used to hold him right in your hand
But it took all that he could take

Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking
When I hear the silly things that you say
I think somebody better put out the big light
'Cause I can't stand to see you this way

Allison, I know this world is killing you
Oh, Allison, my aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true
My aim is true


Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit, edited by Wootlers

Alison Lyrics as written by Elvis Costello

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group

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Alison song meanings
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  • +4
    Song Meaning

    Am I the only one who gets it? ;o)~

    No, seriously, IMO, when he says "My Aim is True", it is in the context of his 'aim' or 'goal'; that being of wanting to help her, is true, honest, sincere - NOT that he wants to put a bullet in her.

    Additionally, the first time I heard it I didn't get the lyrics: "'cause I don't know if you've been loving somebody - - I only know it isn't mine", but when I heard it again, it clicked that he is actually saying "'cause I don't know if you've been loving some body, I only know it isn't mine . . . ".

    I've been on the receiving end of obsessive feelings and I know some of you will agree, it only takes one chance meeting, an innocent reply to a seemingly innocent email, a 'touching base' phone call, etc. to get the obsessive party all obsessive again, and this is clearly what is happening to him in this song. It is clear she isn't overly thrilled (impressed) at seeing him

    Another thing is that I think it is two meetings, not just one. In the first he says (again): "cause I don't know if you've been loving somebody" and in the second alludes to her being, or having been married, so two meetings at different times, not just one.

    The lyrics "I'll bet he took all he could take” instead of meaning what other people seem to think it means, that the husband used her, I believe means that like the narrator, the husband too was taken for a “ride” by Alison, and that he took all that he could stand, because he too loved her.

    Lastly, “Sometimes I wish that I could stop you from talking when I hear the silly things that you say” simply means it hurts too much to even listen to her, and “I think somebody better put out the big light, cause I can't stand to see you this way” is him begging for someone / something to please end these feelings he has for her, once and for all.

    LilMsPurrfecton April 17, 2010   Link

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