Painted from Memory
Bachrach Burt / Elvis Costello Lyrics
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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
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
And so this had to be
Painted from memory
Funny, now I can see
How looks can be deceiving
The lyrics of Bacharach Burt and Elvis Costello's song Painted from Memory seem to convey the singer's deep sense of loss and regret over a past relationship. The singer paints a picture of his former lover, describing her as a "picture of loveliness" with captivating eyes that he tried to capture, but couldn't. He is aware of the deceptive nature of beauty, saying "Funny, how looks can be deceiving."
The chorus of the song is repetitive, with the line "Those eyes I tried to capture, they are lost to me now forever, they smile for someone else" repeated twice. The singer seems to be struggling with accepting the fact that his former lover has moved on and is now with someone else. He describes the process of painting her from memory - an attempt to immortalize her in his art.
The final stanza of the song speaks of acceptance, but also a sense of longing. The singer knows that his former lover is gone, but he can't help but still be drawn to her, still unable to look away. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that beauty can be deceiving, but the memory of it still lingers.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a picture of loveliness
The subject is undeniably beautiful.
Didn't you notice the resemblance?
Her beauty reminded me of someone else.
Doesn't it look like she could speak?
Her expression is so vivid it seems like she could talk.
Those eyes I tried to capture
I wanted to capture her eyes in my art.
They are lost to me now forever
I can no longer recall the exact details of her eyes.
They smile for someone else
Her happiness is not with me anymore.
Funny, how looks can be deceiving
Appearance can be misleading.
But she`s not easily
She is not simple or straightforward.
Painted from memory
I had to rely on my memory to paint her.
You`d think that I would know by now
I should have learned from past experiences.
She is gone, and I must accept it
She is no longer with me, and I have to come to terms with it.
But I can`t look away just yet though
I am still drawn to her despite her absence.
Funny, now I can see
It's ironic how I realize now.
How looks can be deceiving
Appearance can be misleading.
And so this had to be
I had no choice but to paint her this way.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind