When Summer Comes

Lyrics

The land was white

While the winter moon was absent from the night

And the blackness only pierced by far off stars

But as every day still succeeds the darkest moments we have known

When seasons turn

Springtime colours will return

And as the first pale flowers of the lengthening hours

Seem to brighten the twilight and that melancholy cloak

Then a fresh perfume just seems to burst from each bloom

Until the green shoots through each day

As it arrives in every shade of hope

When summer comes

There will be a dream of peace

And a breath that I've held so long that I can barely release

Then perhaps I may even find a room somewhere

Just a place I can still speak to you

Credits

• Words by: Elvis Costello
  Music by: Oscar Peterson

Performances

Elvis added his lyrics to an instrumental piece by Oscar Peterson, and the finished song was performed by Diana Krall as part of an 80th birthday tribute to Peterson in Toronto on 2005-08-15. A version with Elvis' lyrics has yet to receive an official release.

Recordings

As an instrumental:

• Oscar Peterson, on A Royal Wedding Suite, 1981

Bootlegs

• This section is incomplete.