Cover art for Between the Lines by Janis Ian

Between the Lines

Feb. 1, 19751 viewer

Between the Lines Lyrics

[Verse 1]
There's never much to say between the moments of our games and repartee
There's never much to read between the lines of what we need and what we'll take
There's never much to talk about or say aloud, but say it anyway
Of holidays and yesterdays and broken dreams that somehow slipped away

[Verse 2]
In books and magazines of how to be and what to see, while you are being
Before and after photographs teach how to pass from reaching to believing
We live beyond our means on other people's dreams, and that's succeeding
Between the lines of photographs, I've seen the past, it isn't pleasing

[Chorus]
So strike another match
We'll have another cup of wine
And dance until the evening's dead
Of too much song and time
There's never much to talk about
Or read between the lines
Of what we dream about when we're apart
And no one's looking on to say, "You're mine"

[Verse 3]
It was a good year then, it was a good year then, we all remember
The time you threw the looking glass and seemed a fool, or very clever
Don't spoil it all—I can't recall a time when you were struck without an answer
We'll live a quiet peaceful time between the lines and go together
[Chorus]
And I'm striking up the band
To play our last hurrah
We'll dance until we've killed another evening off
Don't think of anyone but me
I'll have no lovers on the side
Tonight is all we've ever dreamed about
For once, let's get it right
We'll go down flying in the end
Throw another bottle in between the lines
We'll go down like a ship of state
Let's be gracious now, between the lines

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Credits
Writer
Electric Bass
Acoustic Bass
Keyboards
Horns Arranger
Strings Arranger
Recorded At
914 Sound Studios
Released on
February 1, 1975
Between the Lines Live Performances
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