Tears At The Birthday Party

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 by Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello Performed by Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach Produced by Burt Bacharach & Elvis Costello Arranged by Burt Bacharach Musicians Elvis Costello - voice Burt Bacharach - piano 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 Recorded June-July 1998, Ocean Way, Los Angeles Released September 28, 1998 Albums Painted From Memory, 1998 Length 4:37 First known performance:  October 13, 1998, New York, NY Last known performance:  July 11, 1999, The Hague, Netherlands      (17 known performances) Tears At The Birthday Party (Live 1998) Performed by Elvis Costello with Burt Bacharach Recorded October 18, 1998, Sony Music Studios, New York Released December 8, 1998 Videos Sessions At West 54th, 1998 Tears At The Birthday Party (Live 1999) Performed by Elvis Costello with Steve Nieve Musicians Elvis Costello - vocal Steve Nieve - piano Recorded January 27, 1999, Sydney, Australia Released April 19, 1999 Albums Toledo, 1999 Length 4:30

Internal links

• Elvis Costello Home Page: Painted From Memory  •  lyrics  •  PFM info page 1
• Lyrics  •  Covers

External links

• Elvis Costello Reissues: Painted From Memory