A Portrait of The Young Man As An Artist
Antimatter Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Look at you all, clutching your guitars
As if it makes a difference to who you really are
Does the picking of a string stop the ticking of the clock?
When will this curtain fall?

How did you carve that psalm?
I'm sorry but your intellect is really not that sharp
You're drowning so you plagiarize what you wish to become
A stone masquerade so cold

What's real about this story?
What's real?

Am I safe? am I safe to be alone?
When all around are lost
Consumed by my indifference and left to count the cost
Of all the bleeding hearts who suffered you because you told them
You told them you were someone





What's real about this story?
What's real about this picture?

Overall Meaning

In "A Portrait of The Young Man As An Artist," Antimatter provides a scathing critique of the music industry and the self-aggrandizing tendencies of young musicians. The first stanza dismisses the notion that playing guitar can fundamentally alter one's identity or stop the march of time. The implied message seems to be that many musicians use their instruments as a way to obscure their own sense of meaninglessness or mortality.


The second stanza speaks more directly to the ways in which many young artists try to present themselves as intellectual or profound, often through superficial means. Antimatter argues that this kind of posturing is simply a form of self-delusion, a way to evade the overwhelming sense of uncertainty and pointlessness that comes with being young and inexperienced. The final lines of the song suggest that these efforts at self-aggrandizement often come at great personal cost, as someone is left behind "counting the cost" of the artist's narcissism.


Overall, "A Portrait of The Young Man As An Artist" is a strikingly bleak take on the idea of youthful artistic ambition, and a powerful commentary on the ways in which the music industry often encourages its own worst instincts.


Line by Line Meaning

Look at you all, clutching your guitars
Observing a group of people all holding onto their guitars.


As if it makes a difference to who you really are
As if owning and playing a guitar defines one's true identity and character.


Does the picking of a string stop the ticking of the clock?
Is playing a guitar enough to escape or pause the passage of time?


When will this curtain fall?
Questioning when the show or performance will end.


How did you carve that psalm?
Asking how one created a religious hymn or song.


I'm sorry but your intellect is really not that sharp
Apologizing but also stating that someone's intellectual capability is lacking.


You're drowning so you plagiarize what you wish to become
Suggesting that someone is struggling and copying what they aspire to be.


A stone masquerade so cold
Using a tough or unfeeling facade to mask one's true emotions or personality.


What's real about this story?
Questioning the authenticity or truthfulness of the tale being told.


What's real?
Asking what is genuine or factual in a situation or story.


Am I safe? am I safe to be alone?
Questioning whether it is safe or okay to be by oneself.


When all around are lost
When everyone else seems to be struggling, confused, or misguided.


Consumed by my indifference and left to count the cost
Feeling unaffected or uninterested in the problems of others and leaving them to face the consequences alone.


Of all the bleeding hearts who suffered you because you told them
Referring to all the people who were hurt or betrayed by the person in question because of their false promises or stories.


You told them you were someone
Conveying that someone misled or pretended to be someone they were not.


What's real about this story?
Repeating the earlier question to emphasize the skepticism or doubt.


What's real about this picture?
Asking what elements of reality exist within an image or situation.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Łukasz Bobek

Beautiful


Look at you all clutching your guitars
As if it makes a difference to who you really are
Does the picking of a string stop the ticking of the clock?
When will this curtain fall?

How did you carve that psalms?
I'm sorry but your intellect is really not that sharp
You're drowning so you plagiarize what you wish to become
A stone masquerade so cold

What's real about this story?
What's real?

Am I safe? Am I safe to be alone?
When all around are lost
Comsumed by my indifference and left to count the cost
Of all the bleeding hearts who suffered you because you told them...
You told them you were someone

What's real about this story?
What's real about this picture?



All comments from YouTube:

GoreChyld

One of the very few musicians that sends chills down my spine with every song.

Big Cheese Man

Holy shit. This song is about the person I used to be back when I was listening to these guys and other down tempo musicians. This song hits so much harder when you know its targeted at you.

Don Cav

The best. Mick Moss is a genius. Modern day songwriter. Excellent

Titus Chase

i realize it is kinda off topic but do anybody know a good place to watch new series online ?

Maximiliano Rey

@Titus Chase I dunno I watch on flixportal. You can find it through google:) -maximiliano

Titus Chase

@Maximiliano Rey Thanks, signed up and it seems to work =) I appreciate it !!

Maximiliano Rey

@Titus Chase you are welcome xD

Primewill

Saw Mike live yesterday and was blown away! beautiful performance

Dimmie Nas

Ειναι πολυ πιο δυνατος ο πόνος της ψυχης απ το φτωχο μου το κορμι ρε Σύλβια..Εάν δε πεθάνω εδώ..εαν δεν χαθείς εσύ..ποιός έρωτας ανέραστα για αγάπη θα μιλήσει?

Łukasz Bobek

Beautiful


Look at you all clutching your guitars
As if it makes a difference to who you really are
Does the picking of a string stop the ticking of the clock?
When will this curtain fall?

How did you carve that psalms?
I'm sorry but your intellect is really not that sharp
You're drowning so you plagiarize what you wish to become
A stone masquerade so cold

What's real about this story?
What's real?

Am I safe? Am I safe to be alone?
When all around are lost
Comsumed by my indifference and left to count the cost
Of all the bleeding hearts who suffered you because you told them...
You told them you were someone

What's real about this story?
What's real about this picture?

More Comments

More Versions