Painted from Memory
Burt Bacharach; 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 "Painted From Memory" by Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello evoke themes of loss, nostalgia, and deceptive appearances. The singer describes a picture of a woman whom he finds captivating and beautiful. He notes the resemblance between the woman in the picture and someone he knew in the past, perhaps a former lover. The gaze of the woman in the picture is particularly striking to him, and he tries to capture it in memory. However, he can't quite manage to, and he knows that those eyes now smile for someone else. The singer admits that he has been fooled by appearances before and that the picture has been painted from memory because he can never fully capture the true essence of the woman he once knew.
The lyrics offer a bittersweet meditation on memory and loss. The singer's attempt to capture the essence of the woman in the picture, even though she is gone, suggests an inability to let go. He continues to be drawn to her gaze and the beauty she represents, even though it is all a mere memory. At the same time, the lyrics express a sense of resignation and acceptance that what is lost cannot be regained. The singer must come to terms with the fact that the woman he once knew is gone and that he can never quite capture the essence of those eyes.
Line by Line Meaning
Such a picture of loveliness
Referring to a beautiful woman in the singer's memory
Didn't you notice the resemblance?
Asking the listener if they can see the beauty in the woman
Doesn't it look like she could speak?
Noting the expressiveness of the woman's appearance
Those eyes I tried to capture
The artist attempted to remember the woman's gaze
They are lost to me now forever
The artist cannot recall her eyes accurately
They smile for someone else
The woman in his memory is happy with someone else
Funny, how looks can be deceiving
The woman appeared differently to the singer than she actually is
But she`s not easily
The woman in his memory is complex and difficult to understand
Painted from memory
The artist must use his memory to create an image of the woman
You`d think that I would know by now
The artist is surprised he cannot remember the woman's eyes
And so this had to be
The singer knows he must create a memory of the woman through his art
She is gone, and I must accept it
The woman is no longer a part of the artist's life
But I can`t look away just yet though
The singer is still emotionally attached to the memory of the woman
Funny, now I can see
The singer realizes that his memory of the woman was flawed
How looks can be deceiving
Physical appearance does not always give an accurate portrayal of a person's true character
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, ELVIS COSTELLO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind