Portraits
Adam Richman Lyrics


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I woke up in a new home
Unsettled and alone, so
Desperate for a sense of
What I want to hear
The happiest of birthdays
Avoiding me as always
A child living in
Naiveté and fear

She's tearing down the portraits I had drawn
She's planning her attack and I'm her pawn
I'm crying just in dealing with the fact that she is feeling that
The love we have could easily be wrong

My knuckles had stopped bleeding
Enough to make repeating
The things that drive me crazy
Not worthwhile
And now it's just a matter
Of watching this world shatter
Over a phone that can't
Hide a false smile

Don't mistake frustration with
A lack of everything that's good




Just to reach her
I did everything I could

Overall Meaning

In "Portraits," Adam Richman is reflecting on a feeling of being lost and alone in a new environment. He wakes up in a new home, still feeling unsettled and looking for a sense of familiarity. He acknowledges that he is desperate to hear something that will make him feel better, but even the happiest of birthdays is avoiding him. Richman speaks of himself as a child, living in naiveté and fear.


The song goes on to discuss the breakdown of his relationship with someone he loves, whom he feels is tearing down the portraits he has drawn. She is planning her attack, and Richman sees himself as her pawn. He is crying in dealing with the fact that she may not feel the love they have is real. In the midst of this pain, Richman is dealing with his own frustration and trying to articulate that by reaching out to her, he is doing everything he can.


"Portraits" is a song that speaks to the experience of feeling lost, alone, and in pain, but also of the desire to hold onto love and connection even in the midst of that pain. The lyrics discuss themes of frustration, naiveté, fear, and desperation, with an honesty and vulnerability that makes the message of the song all the more powerful.


Line by Line Meaning

I woke up in a new home
I found myself in an unfamiliar environment


Unsettled and alone, so
Feeling anxious and lonely


Desperate for a sense of
Craving comprehension


What I want to hear
Wishing to listen to comforting words


The happiest of birthdays
A celebratory event


Avoiding me as always
Ignoring my presence


A child living in
An immature person who exists in


Naiveté and fear
Innocence and terror


She's tearing down the portraits I had drawn
She's destroying images I created


She's planning her attack and I'm her pawn
She's strategizing and manipulating me


I'm crying just in dealing with the fact that she is feeling that
I'm upset just because she has those emotions


The love we have could easily be wrong
Our relationship might be flawed


My knuckles had stopped bleeding
My hands have healed


Enough to make repeating
Enough to avoid reiteration


The things that drive me crazy
The things that irritate me


Not worthwhile
Not valuable


And now it's just a matter
Currently it's a question of


Of watching this world shatter
Observing everything crumble


Over a phone that can't
On a device that's incapable of


Hide a false smile
Conceal an insincere grin


Don't mistake frustration with
Don't miscalculate irritation as


A lack of everything that's good
A deficiency of positive things


Just to reach her
Merely to connect with her


I did everything I could
I put forth all of my effort




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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