After last week’s 80s blast from the past, this song of the week is of a more mellow hue. Taken from eleven-time Grammy Award winner, Norah Jones, the Pax Plena song of the week is whimsically titled, Painter Song.

Musically, the song carefully opens with the melded strains of acoustic guitar and Jones’ soft vocals. The initial ambiance created by the sound is one which transports the mind to distant places in time as much as it creates a sound which lulls and enchants. What ultimately makes the sound especially unique is its use of the accordion which enters softly for a solo after the opening verse. As the accordion plays, one immediately thinks of Italy and cool summer nights, which only helps to stretch the mind and make the music listening experience last much longer than it really is. The smooth sound of Jones’ vocals provide the closing chorus as the song reaches its clear, folksy end.

Although yours truly is utterly bereft of any artistic ability whatsoever, with its eponymous title, Painter Song tells the story of an individual who yearns to be an artist that she might paint memories of a love past. The thought is not one far removed from most but Jones’ song gives it a unique narration that makes it eminently translatable. Accordingly, more than any particular feature of the song, it is Jones’ peerless voice which prods the mind to reflect upon such distant memories and reconsider those with whom we would meet again in a picture framed only by our mind’s eye.

A video of the song with lyrics is below (no real music video exists to my knowledge). Lyrics follow after the jump.

Painter Song Lyrics

If I were a painter
I would paint my reverie
If that’s the only way for you to be with me

We’d be there together
Just like we used to be
Underneath the swirling skies for all to see

And I’m dreaming of a place
Where I could see your face
And I think my brush would take me there
But only…

If I were a painter
And could paint a memory
I’d climb inside the swirling skies to be with you
I’d climb inside the skies to be with you

And I’m dreaming of a place
Where I could see your face
And I think my brush would take me there
But only…

If I were a painter
And could paint a memory
I’d climb inside the swirling skies to be with you
I’d climb inside the skies to be with you