Painters

[Verse 1]

Eighty years, an old lady now, sitting on the front porch

Watching the clouds roll by

They remind her of her lover, how he left her, and of times long ago

When she used to color carelessly, painted his portrait

A thousand times, or maybe just his smile

Her and her canvas would follow him wherever he would go

[Chorus]

'Cause they were painters and they were painting themselves

A lovely world

[Verse 2]

Oil-streaked daisies covered the living room wall

He put water-colored roses in her hair

He said, "Love, I love you, I want to give you mountains, the sunshine

The sunset too

I just want to give you everything as beautiful as

You...are...to...me."

[Chorus]

'Cause they were painters and they were painting themselves

A lovely world

[Verse 3]

So they sat down and made a drawing of their love

They made it an art to live by

They painted every passion, every home, created every beautiful child

In winter they were weavers of warmth

In summer they were carpenters of love

They thought blueprints were too sad so they made them yellow

[Chorus]

And they were painters and they had painted themselves

A lovely... world

[Verse 4]

Until one day the rain fell as thick as black oil

And in her heart she knew something was wrong

She went running through the orchard screaming

"No God, don't take him from me!"

But by the time she got there, she feared

He already had gone

She got to where he lay, water-colored roses in his hands for her

She threw them down screaming, "Damn you man, don't leave me

With nothing left behind, but these cold paintings, these cold portraits

To remind me!"

[Bridge]

He said, "Love I only leave a little, but try to understand

I put my soul in this life we created with these four hands

Love, I leave, but only a little, this world holds me still

My body may die now, but these paintings are real."

[Harmonizing]

[Verse 5]

So many seasons came and many seasons went

And many times she saw her love's face

Watering the flowers, talking to the trees, and singing to his children

And when the wind blew, she knew he was listening

And how he seemed to laugh along, and how he seemed to hold her

When she was crying

[Chorus]

'Cause they were painters and they had painting themselves

A lovely... world

[Verse 6]

Eighty years, an old lady now, sitting on the front porch

Watching the clouds roll by, they remind her of her lover and how he left her

And of times long ago, when she would color carelessly

Painted his portrait a thousand times, or maybe just his smile

Her and her canvas would follow him wherever they would go

Yes, her and her canvas still follow

[Outro]

Because they are painters and they are painting themselves

A lovely world