Sweet Painted Lady by Elton John

Album: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

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Written in the style of the British composer Noël Coward, this song is about sailors back from the sea and the "sweet painted ladies" - prostitutes - waiting for them at harbor brothels. As usual, Bernie Taupin wrote the lyric and Elton John put it to music. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Ken - Louisville, KY
A deep cut from the double album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, "Sweet Painted Lady" was played live only a handful of times in Elton's career.

Comments: 5

Hey Bulldog from UkA bit of Sexy Sadie melody near the end of this song?
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThis came out around the same time as Looking Glass's "Brandy" and I always thought of it as the darker side of the same genre.
Maybe the sailor Brandy loved found it easier to turn her down because he was sampling the fares of a sweet painted lady.
AnonymousI think it’s a beautifully worded song, maybe an ode to where someone has been. It’s melancholy in the sense of loneliness it tells.
Dan from UsaGreat song! Listening to it right now
Chezchez from New York, NyElton and Bernie, I'm listening to this song after many many years and i still get the same feeling as i did the very first time i heard it. The both of you are pure genius, i love you both now even more than i did in the early 70's. Bless you both! xoxoxoxoxo -chezchez, Bronx NY

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