God Give Me Strength

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Now I have nothing, so God give me strength
'Cos I'm weak in her wake
And if I'm strong I might still break
And I don't have anything to share
That I won't throw away into the air

That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance of happiness
So God give me strength
God give me strength

I can't hold on to her, God give me strength
When the phone doesn't ring
And I'm lost in imagining
Everything that kind of love is worth
As I tumble back down to the earth

That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance of happiness
So God give me strength

God if she'd grant me her indulgence and decline
I might as well wipe her from my memory
Fracture the spell as she becomes my enemy

Maybe I was washed out like a lip-print on his shirt
See, I'm only human, I want him to hurt
I want him
I want him to hurt

Since I lost the power to pretend
That there could ever be a happy ending
That song is sung out
This bell is rung out
She was the light that I'd bless
She took my last chance of happiness
So God give me strength
God give me strength

God Give Me Strength
Written byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Performed byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Produced byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Arranged byBurt Bacharach
MusiciansElvis Costello - voice
Burt Bacharach - piano, conductor
Rob Mounsey - keyboard
David Spinozza - guitar
T-Bone Wolk - bass
Chris Parker - drums
Lew Soloff, Byron Stripling - flugelhorns
Lawrence Feldman - alto flute
David Carey - vibes
Elena Barere, David Nadien, Marti Sweet, Richard Sortomme, Laura Seaton, Barry Finclair, Jan Mullen, Paul Peabody, Donna Tocco, John Pintavalle - violins
Julien Barber, Sue Pray - violas
Mark Onin Shuman, Richard Locker - cellos
RecordedFebruary 12, 1996, Right Track Studios, New York

recording engineer - Kevin Killen

assistant engineer - Joe Lizzi
ReleasedSeptember 10, 1996
AlbumsPainted From Memory, 1998
The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, 2023
CollectionsThe Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999
In Motion Pictures, 2012
SoundtracksGrace Of My Heart, 1996
Various Artists collectionsThe Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection, 1998
The Look Of Love; Die Hits Von Burt Bacharach, 2002
Burt Bacharach & Friends: Gold, 2006
The Definitive Burt Bacharach Songbook, 2006
Magic Moments - The Definitive Burt Bacharach Collection, 2008
PromosGrace Of My Heart Soundtrack Promo, 1996
God Give Me Strength, 1996
MCA Soundtracks: Off The Cutting Room Floor, 1997
Selections From The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach Collection, 1998
VideosThe Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook, 2011
Length6:10 (album version)
4:29 (promo edit)


Alternate versions

God Give Me Strength (Live 1997)
Performed byElvis Costello & Burt Bacharach
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Burt Bacharach - piano, conductor
Paul Shaffer - organ
Sid McGinnis, Felicia Collins - guitars
Will Lee - bass
Anton Fig - drums
Lew Soloff, Byron Stripling - flugelhorns
Elena Barere, Richard Sortomme, Carol Webb Sortomme, Barry Finclair, Marti Sweet, Sandra Park, Paul Peabody, Cecilia Hobbs Gardener, Ann Leathers, Laura Seaton, Abe Appleman, Jan Mullen - violins
Crystal Garner, Maryhelen Ewing - violas
Richard Locker, Ellen Westerman - cellos
RecordedFebruary 25, 1997, Late Show With David Letterman
ReleasedNovember 18, 1997
Various Artists collectionsLive On Letterman: Music From The Late Show, 1997
Length3:49

God Give Me Strength (Live 1998)
Performed byElvis Costello (& Burt Bacharach)
Produced byBurt Bacharach
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Burt Bacharach - piano, conductor
David Coy - bass
David Crigger - drums
Grant Geissman - guitar
David Joyce - keyboards
Rob Shrock - keyboards
John Thomas - horns
Dennis Wilson - reeds
Donna Taylor, Lisa Taylor, John Pagano - backing vocals
Tony Kadleck - flugelhorn
Lawrence Feldman - alto flute
Keith O'Quinn - trombone
Avril Brown, Natalie Cenovia Cummins, Karen Karlsrud, Helen Kim, Shinwon Kim, Laura Oatts, Belinda Whitney-Barratt, Robin Zeh - violins
Debra Shufelt - viola
Stephanie Cummins - cello
RecordedApril 8, 1998, New York, NY
ReleasedNovember 21, 1998
Various Artists collectionsBurt Bacharach: One Amazing Night, 1998 -
VideosBurt Bacharach: One Amazing Night, 1998
Length4:41

God Give Me Strength (Live 1999)
Performed byElvis Costello & Steve Nieve
Produced byElvis Costello
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal, guitar
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedJune 16, 1999, Toronto, Canada
ReleasedMarch 3, 2023
AlbumsThe Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, 2023
Length6:08

God Give Me Strength (Live 2004)
Performed byElvis Costello with The Metropole Orkest
Produced byGert-Jan van den Dolder
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - piano
The Metropole Orkest
Vince Mendoza - conductor
RecordedJuly 9, 2004, The Hague, Netherlands
ReleasedJanuary 13, 2006
AlbumsMy Flame Burns Blue, 2006
Various Artists collectionsWord Magazine 38 - Now Hear This!, 2006
Length6:55
Grace Of My Heart: Original Motion Picture SoundtrackGrace Of My Heart soundtrack album cover.jpg

Live On Letterman: Music From The Late ShowLive On Letterman Music From The Late Show album cover.jpg

Painted From MemoryPFM album cover large.jpg

The Look Of Love: The Burt Bacharach CollectionThe Look Of Love The Burt Bacharach Collection album cover.jpg

Burt Bacharach: One Amazing NightBurt Bacharach One Amazing Night album cover.jpg

The Very Best Of Elvis Costello, 1999The Very Best Of Elvis Costello (2CD) album cover.jpg

My Flame Burns BlueMy Flame Burns Blue album cover.jpg

The Return Of The Spectacular Spinning SongbookThe Return Of The Spectacular Spinning Songbook album cover.jpg

In Motion PicturesIn Motion Pictures album cover.jpg

The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello album cover.jpg

Covers

Anouk performed live, 2004-09-23, Utrecht, Netherlands 2004 YouTube
Burt Bacharach with Grant Geissman Bacharach! The Instrumental Side 1999 AllMusicAmazon
Burt Bacharach Live At The Sydney Opera House 2008 AllMusicAmazon
Michael Ball A Love Story 2003 AllMusicAmazon
The Boden Ensemble performed live, 2015, Boden Center for the Performing Arts, Crossroads Tabernacle, Bronx, NY. 2015 YouTube
Alfie Boe performed live, 2013-09-07, Glasgow, Scotland 2013 YouTube
Alfie Boe Trust 2013 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Susan Brindley With So Little To Be Sure Of 2007 CDbabyAmazon
Dennis Bryan Take Me To Your Love 2002 CDbaby
Elizabeth Carpenter performed live, Pellini, Seattle, WA 200x info
Mona Caywood Mona Caywood 2011 AmazonYouTube
The Chubbies That's New Pussycat! Surf Tribute To Burt BacharachVarious artists 2003 AllMusicAmazon
Emily Coy unreleased studio recording 2012 YouTubeBeatport
Danish Radio Big Band with Lisa Nilsson performed live 2018-03-24 DR Koncertsale, Copenhagen, Denmark 2018 YouTubeWikipedia
David Driver with The Kustard Kings Loser's Lounge Tribute to Burt Bacharach, 2008-12-19, New York 2008 Youtube
Raúl Esparza Brilliant Mistake: Broadway Sings Elvis Costello, 2005-10-31, New York 2005 YouTube
Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox performed live 2014-09-24, City Recital Hall, Sydney, Australia 2014 AllMusicinfoYouTube
Denis Fischer Death Songs 2006 AllMusicAmazon
Flor De Lis Acoustic Voice And Guitar 2010 Amazon
Cole Fortier & Kevin Bents performed live, December 2021, Long Island, New York. 2021 YouTube
The Free French (Rhodri Marsden) free digital download 2010 SoundCloud.com
Bill Frisell The Sweetest Punch 1999 AllMusicWikipediaAmazon
Heart performed live 1998 linklink
The Ice Haloes performed live at The Boîte, Collingwood, VIC, Australia 2015 band websiteYouTube
Wendy Ip performed live, 2002-08-10, Brilliant Mistakes tribute, Albany, NY 2002 reviewinfo
Karima Close to You: Karima Sings Bacharach 2015 AllMusicAmazon
Karima & The Colours Jazz Orchestra performed live, 2012, Porto Recanati, Italy 2012 YouTube
Karrie with Jimmy Smyth Home Thoughts 2020 Amazon
Hilary Kole A Self-portrait 2014 AllMusicAmazonwebsite
Ted Kooshian Underdog, And Other Stories... 2009 AllMusicAmazon
Daniel Lindström performed live, June 2007, Best Of Bacharach tour, Sweden 2007 infoYouTube
Charles Lloyd Voice In The Night 1999 AllMusicAmazon
Charles Lloyd Musiques - Printemps 99Various artists 1999 Discogs
Claire Martin Secret Love 2004 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Audra McDonald performed live, 2005, Rose Theater, New York 2005 link
Audra McDonald Build A Bridge 2006 AllMusicAmazonAmazon.uk
Audra McDonald The Nonesuch Collection Vol. 1Various artists 2006 AllMusicDiscogs
Idina Menzel I Stand 2008 Wikipedia
Bette Midler Bette 2000 AllMusicAmazon
Bette Midler Performed live on The View, ABC TV info neededYouTube
Bette Midler Songs In The Key Of SheVarious artists 2000 AllMusicAmazon
Alison Moyet Voice 2004 AllMusicAmazon
Steve Nieve instrumental, performed live, 2020-03-20, The Daily Improvisation, France 2020 Facebook - 4:20
Karen Oberlin performed live, 2015-06-18, The Triad, New York, NY 2015 AllMusicreviewYouTube
Ivette Oliveras performed live, 2008-10-04, Metropolitan Room, New York 2008 YouTubeMySpace
Trijntje Oosterhuis Who'll Speak For Love 2007 AllMusicAmazon
Trijntje Oosterhuis Best Of Burt Bacharach Live 2009 DiscogsAmazon
John Pagano performed live, with Burt Bacharach 2003 info needed
Connie Petruk The Loser's Lounge Tribute to Elvis CostelloVarious artists 2002 LosersLounge.com
Rain Pryor performed live, 2002-2003 2002 info
Denise Rosner For Good 2011 AllMusicAmazon
Alisha Ruiss performed live, 2009-09-09, The Rivoli, Toronto 2009 YouTube
Ian Shaw performed live info needed
Georgie Smit Simply The Songs Of Burt BacharachVarious artists 2008 AllMusicAmazon
Caitlin Smith performed live, 2011-02-06, Hotel Debrett, Auckland, New Zealand 2011 link needed
Duke Special performed live, 2007 2007 infoYouTube
Vargas Blues Band Love, Union, Peace 2008 AllMusicAmazon
Stella Vander Le Coeur Allant Vers 2004 infoAllMusic
Kristen Vigard Bespoke Songs, Lost Dogs, Detours & Rendezvous 1998 AllMusicAmazon
Kristen Vigard Love Scene: Romantic Movie MusicVarious artists 1999 AllMusicAmazon
Kristen Vigard God, Loves & Angels 2005 AllMusicAmazon
Ann Wilson (Heart) performed live 2000 linkYouTube
Bei Xu You Are So Beautiful 2008 AllMusicAmazon
Yammy performed live, 2013-12-15, Royal Horse, Osaka, Japan 2013 YouTube

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