image link

“Lipstick Sunset” was originally on John Hiatt’s 8th album, “Bring the Family,” released in 1987.  It features Ry Cooder on guitar, Nick Lowe on bass guitar, and Jim Keltner on drums.

The version I’m including here is from the album of live performances on the 1994 release, “Hiatt Comes Alive at Buddokan.” I did a post on this album before and will link it here. It’s the next to the last track on the album and was recorded at The Von Braun Civic Center, Huntsville, AL

Hiatt is a natural poet. Here he sings about leaving someone behind in the most gentle way he can, but he knows it’s going to hurt her no matter how he does it.

Lipstick Sunset

There's a lipstick sunset
Smeared across the August sky
There's a bitter-sweet perfume
Hanging in the fields
The creek is running high

And I left my lover waiting
In the dawn somewhere to wonder why
By the end of the day
All her sweet dreams would fade
To a lipstick sunset

And a radio was playing
And that ol' summer heat was on the rise
I just had to get away
Before some sad old song
Brought more tears to my eyes

And Lord, I couldn't tell her
That her love was only killing me
By the end of the day
All her sweet dreams would fade
To a lipstick sunset

[instrumental]

About as pretty as a picture
Red and blushing just before the night
Maybe love's like that for me
Maybe I can only see
As you take away the light

So hold me in the darkness
We can dream about the cool twilight
'Til the end of the day
When I make my getaway
To a lipstick sunset

There will come another day
When I make my getaway
To a lipstick sunset

There's gonna come another day
Then I'll make my getaway
To a lipstick sunset 

Written by: John Hiatt
Album: Bring The Family
Released: 1987

Glyn Wilton is the host of Mixed Music Bag.  Glyn wants us to find a song with August in the title and/or lyrics.