Tears At The Birthday Party

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Think back now when we were young
There were always tears at the birthday party
You know how children can be so cruel
That's how it starts
But what if we never learn how to behave?
I did something, and you never forgave me
I never thought that it could be like this

But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

And it's the same every year
Seems that I remember it as something more
But you know how children can grow so strange
I still adore you
What if we never learn from our mistakes?
But then, you'll never know how my heart aches
I never thought that it would be like this

But now I see
I see you share your cake with him
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

One day I know he'll forget
To pay you the compliments you're after
You'll hang your sad, aching head
Behind a brittle smile or a shrill of laughter
What if we only get what we deserve?
Somehow I couldn't quite summon the nerve

Upon each anniversary
Then do you ever think of me?
Unwrapping presents that I should have sent
What can I do?
Must I watch you?

Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again
Close the door, dim the lights, blow out the candles
So Happy Birthday again

Tears At The Birthday Party
Written byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Performed byElvis Costello with Burt Bacharach
Produced byBurt Bacharach & Elvis Costello
Arranged byBurt Bacharach
MusiciansElvis Costello - voice
Burt Bacharach - piano, conductor
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Jim Keltner - drums
Greg Cohen - bass
Dean Parks - guitar
Dan Higgins - baritone sax
Donna Taylor, Lisa Taylor, Sue-Ann Carwell - vocal group
plus additional musicians
RecordedJune-July 1998, Ocean Way, Los Angeles
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1998
AlbumsPainted From Memory, 1998
The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello, 2023
Length4:37

First known performance:
October 13, 1998, New York, NY
Last known performance:
July 11, 1999, The Hague, Netherlands
     (17 known performances)


Alternate versions

Tears At The Birthday Party (Live 1998)
Performed byElvis Costello with Burt Bacharach
RecordedOctober 18, 1998, Sony Music Studios, New York
ReleasedDecember 8, 1998
VideosSessions At West 54th, 1998

Tears At The Birthday Party (Live 1999)
Performed byElvis Costello with Steve Nieve
MusiciansElvis Costello - vocal
Steve Nieve - piano
RecordedJanuary 27, 1999, Sydney, Australia
ReleasedApril 19, 1999
SinglesToledo, 1999
Length4:30
Painted From MemoryPFM album cover large.jpg

Sessions At West 54th (video)Sessions At West 54th VHS cover.jpg

Single: ToledoToledo (Part 1) UK CD single front insert.jpg

The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello album cover.jpg

Covers

Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox performed live 2014-09-24, City Recital Hall, Sydney, Australia 2014 AllMusicinfoYouTube
Bill Frisell The Sweetest Punch 1999 AllMusicWikipediaAmazon
Savannah Love Simply The Songs Of Burt BacharachVarious artists 2008 AllMusicAmazon

Internal links

External links