DAWN has been one of music’s most distinctive voices and songwriters since … Read Full Bio ↴DAWN has been one of music’s most distinctive voices and songwriters since 2004, as a member of Danity Kane and then Diddy-Dirty Money, releasing the cult R&B classic Last Train to Paris. However, it’s as a solo artist that she’s really soared.
 
Across three solo albums, DAWN has honed a style of music that she describes as “genderless and genreless”.
 
DAWN’s 2019 album New Breed was her most successful to date. Showcasing her home city New Orleans and the Carnival Indian culture makes her latest album a one of a kind masterpiece. Her vocal and dance ability are matched with her production and songwriting skills making her one of most extraordinary talents of our time. New Breed was named as one of the year’s best albums by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Vogue, FACT, LA Times, Spin, Rap Up and many more. DAWN continues to push the boundaries of music and visual technology with her videos and live show, becoming the first artist to perform live in 360 on YouTube. She has also released a VR album debuted by WIRED as well as collaborated with her long time partners Adult Swim making her the first black female singer to do so. What makes DAWN a unique pop sensation and a phenomenon is that she does this all DIY. Being completely Independent with no label or team she has broken ceilings for women, POC, LGBTQ, and so many others. DAWN is more than just her music, she is a movement.

The Louvre
Dawn Richard Lyrics

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I stare at you like you′re a work of art
You should be on a wall instead of hanging in my heart
But I'm too greedy to share your wonderful parts
So I′ll frame you with me and hope that's enough

Oh, you're work of art
Oh, you′re work of art
Oh, you′re work of art

Oh, you're work of art

You belong sitting in the Louvre
Next to Achilles and Mona Lisa too
But I′m too greedy to let others celebrate you
So I'll curate you just for me and hope that′s not rude

Oh, you're work of art
Oh, you′re work of art
Oh, you're work of art, baby
Oh, you're work of art

You belong sitting in the Louvre
But for now I′ll hang you in my room

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "The Louvre" by Dawn Richard convey a sense of admiration and possessiveness towards someone the singer considers to be a "work of art." The first verse sets the tone by suggesting that the person being addressed is so beautiful and captivating that they should be displayed on a wall like a valuable painting, rather than being confined within the singer's heart. However, the singer admits to being selfish and unwilling to share this person's wonderful qualities with others, so they choose to keep them close by "framing" them within themselves in the hope that it will be enough.

In the chorus, the repetition of the phrase "Oh, you're work of art" reinforces the notion that the person being addressed is seen as a masterpiece, something to be admired and cherished. This admiration is so profound that the singer wishes the subject of their affection could be showcased in the world-renowned Louvre Museum, surrounded by other iconic works like Achilles and Mona Lisa. However, the singer's possessive nature prevents them from allowing others to share in celebrating this person's beauty, leading them to "curate" and keep them exclusively for themselves, albeit with a sense of uncertainty about whether this is acceptable or rude.

The final verse echoes the sentiment expressed in the previous verses, emphasizing that although the person being addressed deserves a place in the prestigious Louvre, the singer is content with having them in their own personal space for now. By hanging them in their room, the singer symbolically surrounds themselves with this person's presence, allowing their beauty to fill their private world.

Overall, these lyrics evoke a mixture of intense admiration, possessiveness, and a struggle between the desire to showcase and share someone's beauty with the world and the fear of losing them by doing so. It captures the complexities of being deeply infatuated with someone and wanting to keep them close, while also recognizing the need for personal connection and intimacy.

Line by Line Meaning

I stare at you like you're a work of art
I gaze at you with admiration and awe, seeing you as a masterpiece

You should be on a wall instead of hanging in my heart
Your beauty and value are so immense that you deserve to be prominently displayed for all to see, rather than being confined to my emotions

But I'm too greedy to share your wonderful parts
I have such a strong desire to possess and keep all the amazing qualities and attributes that make you special

So I'll frame you with me and hope that's enough
I will enclose you within the walls of my own life, hoping that having you close to me will satisfy my longing for your presence

Oh, you're work of art
Oh, you are truly a masterpiece

You belong sitting in the Louvre
You deserve to be displayed in the prestigious Louvre museum, alongside renowned artworks

Next to Achilles and Mona Lisa too
Just like these iconic masterpieces, you possess a timeless and captivating essence

But I'm too greedy to let others celebrate you
I am possessive and unwilling to share and allow others to appreciate and admire your greatness

So I'll curate you just for me and hope that's not rude
I will carefully select and preserve all the aspects of you that I find captivating, hoping that it doesn't come across as selfish or impolite

Oh, you're work of art, baby
Oh, my love, you are a true masterpiece

But for now I'll hang you in my room
While you deserve a grander display, I will settle for keeping you close to me by hanging you within the personal space of my room

Writer(s): Derek Bergheimer, Travis W Stewart, Dawn Angelique Richard

Contributed by Joseph D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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