Released: February 28, 1995
Songwriter: Jewel
Producer: Ben Keith
[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
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
Pieces of You (25th Anniversary Edition)
- Chime Bells (The Yodeling Song) (Live)
- Angel Needs a Ride (Outtake)
- Foolish Games (No String Overdubs)
- See Sassy Wake Up (Outtake)
- Walk Away (Outtake)
- Quiet Warrior
- Dance Between Two Women
- You Were Meant For Me (Juan Patiño Version)
- I’m Sensitive (Live)
- Flower (Live)
- Race Car Driver
- My Own Private God’s Gift To Women
- She Cries (Live)
- 1000 Miles Away (Live)
- Tiny Love Spaces (Demo)
- Nicotine Love (Demo)
- Sometimes It Be That Way (Demo)
- Flower (Outtake)
- Race Car Driver (Outtake)
- Quiet Warrior (Live)
- Foolish Games (Piano Demo)
- Amen (Live)
- Angel Standing By (Live)
- Daddy (Live)
- Don’t (Live)
- I’m Sensitive (Live / Complete Version)
- Adrian (Live)
- Morning Song (Live)
- Painters (Live)
- Near You Always (Live)
- Little Sister (Live)
- Pieces of You (Live)
- Who Will Save Your Soul (Live)
- Sov Gott (Live)
- Who Will Save Your Soul (Unedited Master Take)
- Down So Long (Demo)
- His Pleasure Is My Pain (Demo)
- I’m Sensitive
- Emily
- Painters
- Who Will Save Your Soul
- Amen
- Angel Needs a Ride
- Morning Song
- Little Sister
- Rocker Girl
- Daddy
- Pieces of You
- Angel Standing By
- Cold Song
- Don’t
- You Were Meant For Me
- Foolish Games
- Near You Always
- Foolish Games (Radio Edit)
- See Sassy Wake Up (Demo)
- Amen (Demo)
- Angel Standing By (Demo)
- Daddy (Demo)
- Don’t (Demo)
- Painters (Demo)
- Near You Always (Demo)
- Adrian (Demo)
- Foolish Games (Demo)
- Little Sister (Demo)
- Pieces of You (Demo)
- Who Will Save Your Soul (Demo)
- Morning Song (Radio Mix)
- You Were Meant For Me (Album Edit)
- You Were Meant For Me (Demo)
- Everything Breaks (25th Anniversary Edition Version)
- Adrian
- Pieces of You (1995)
- Pieces of You (25th Anniversary Edition) (2020)
- You Were Meant For Me
- Foolish Games
- Hands
- Who Will Save Your Soul
- Pieces of You
- Intuition
- Standing Still
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Adrian
- I’m Sensitive
- Sleigh Ride
- Stronger Woman
- Sweet Home Alabama
- Daddy
- Raven
- Innocence Maintained
- 1000 Miles Away
- Gloria
- Run 2 U
- Rocker Girl
- Count on Me
- This Way
- Little Sister
- Morning Song