Costello is one of the finest lyricists. I still rememeber listening to this song for the first time. I was driving home at 6am after an all-nighter at work (half awake, I might add). And this was on the radio. Had no idea who was singing, but the lyrics kinda reminded me of feelings that I’d gone through. It wasn’t until years later that I actually figured out what the song was and bought the CD. What a gem of an album.
Painted from Memory
Music & Lyrics: Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
Such a picture of loveliness
Didn’t you notice the resemblance?
Doesn’t it look like she could speak?
Those eyes I tried to capture
They are lost to me now forever
They smile for someone else
Funny how looks can be deceiving
But she’s not easily painted from memory
You’d think that I would know by now
Those eyes I tried to capture
They are lost to me now forever
They smile for someone else
And so this had to be painted from memory
She is gone and I must accept it
She is lost to me now
But I can’t look away just yet though
She smiles for someone else
And so this had to be painted from memory
Funny now I can see how looks can be deceiving
