When I Write The Book

Now I can remember like it was only yesterday Love was young and foolish like a little child at play But oh how lovers change, I never dreamed how easily 'cause now I'm just a shadow of the boy I used to be And when I write the book about my love It will be about a man who's torn in half About his hopes and ambitions wasted through the years The pain will be written on every page in tears When I write the book about my love I was a fool to myself when I kept on runnin' around And I fared little better when I tried settlin' down Maybe some magic moment, I've never known one, not for long For all too soon the magic is in a moment gone And when I write the book about my love It'll be a heartbreaking story about love and luck When I get down on the pages all I felt It will make the hardest-hearted of critics' hearts melt When I write the book about my love When I was young love was fun and I was so happy, I looked so good and I dressed so snappy Two-tone shoes on my feet big old smile on my face, as I moved and grooved all over the place Now I'm down in the heels my complexion is bad 'cause my love life is sadder than sad And when I write the book about my love It'll be a pop publication, tougher than tough When I get down on the pages all I missed It will shoot to the top of the best-sellers list When I write the book about my love

When I Write The Book (unreleased cover) Written by Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, Billy Bremner & Terry Williams Performed by Elvis Costello with Nick Lowe, Austin de Lone, Bill Kirchen, Bob Andrews, Derek Huston, Ruth Davies & Paul Revelli First known performance:  October 1, 2010, San Francisco, CA, early show Last known performance:  October 1, 2010, San Francisco, CA, late show      (24 known performances)

Recordings by other artists

Artist

Year

Release

Links

Rockpile

1980

Seconds Of Pleasure

Huey Lewis & The News

2001

Plan B

Andrea Re

2001

Labour Of Love: The Music Of Nick Lowe

Internal links

• Lyrics