Elvis Costello

Im sorry to say that you dont know me
Im sad in ways you never understood
Each time I try to tell the ugly truth
You always let it pass you by
You said I d never tell you a lie
Just because I could
Did you really think I was a bad man?
You always said that that should be my middle name
But you dont know the half of it
You dont know how that name fits
You dont know my hidden shame
[Chorus:]
Hidden shame, shame, shame
That I cant get free
From the blame and the torture
And the misery
Must it be my secret for eternity?
Till you know my hidden shame you really dont know me
Well, theres a different kind of prison
And it dont even have to look much like a cell
Its already on your mind
Boy, we can see it in your eyes
So, heres the bars and walls as well
Well, you know Im never coming home, babe
You said youd stand by me until I cleared my name
Sure its easy to be strong
When you know the charge is wrong
But the days and weeks get long
When youve got a hidden shame
[Chorus]
I had a friend when I was just a boy
We were like brothers, we would run and hide
And we went walking on a high hillside
And I really dont how it happened
He turned to me and had this strange look in his eye
And not a single word was spoken
I must have pushed him, but I dont remember why
And all at once, he lay there broken
And I walked down without him and I didnt even sigh
CHORUS
They say you always hurt the one you love
And Im not saying if I did or if I didnt
But like my shame, that kind of love is always hidden
They locked me up here for the ideas in my head
They never got me for the thing I really did
[Chorus]
[ Hidden Shame Lyrics ]