Painted From Memory (song)

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
And so this had to be painted from memory
Funny, now I can see how looks can be deceiving

Painted From Memory
Written by	Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Performed by	Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach
Produced by	Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
String orchestration	Johnny Mandel
Musicians	Elvis Costello - voice Burt Bacharach - piano Steve Nieve - piano Jim Keltner - drums Greg Cohen - bass Dean Parks - guitar Eddie Karam - conductor Donna Taylor, Lisa Taylor, Sue-Ann Carwell - vocal group plus additional musicians
Recorded	June-July 1998, Ocean Way, Los Angeles
Released	September 28, 1998
Albums	Painted From Memory, 1998 The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, 2023
Singles	She, 1999
Length	4:11

First known performance:
October 3, 1998, New York, NY
Last known performance:
June 2, 2006, Tokyo, Japan
(57 known performances)

Alternate versions

Painted From Memory (Live 1998)
Performed by	Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach
Recorded	October 18, 1998, Sony Music Studios, New York
Released	December 8, 1998 (video) September 4, 2001 (audio)
Albums	The Best Of Sessions At West 54th Vol. 1, 2001
Videos	Sessions At West 54th, 1998
Length	4:27

Painted From Memory (Live 1999)
Performed by	Elvis Costello with Steve Nieve
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal Steve Nieve - piano
Recorded	February 16, 1999, Melbourne, Australia
Released	April 26, 1999
Albums	Painted From Memory (2CD Limited Tour Edition), 1999
Length	4:25

Painted From Memory (Live 1999)
Performed by	Elvis Costello with Steve Nieve and The Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Musicians	Elvis Costello - vocal Steve Nieve - piano
Recorded	January 5, 1999, Stockholm, Sweden
Released	March 3, 2023
Albums	The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, 2023
Length	4:11