Primitive Painters
Felt featuring Elizabeth Fraser Lyrics
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I hold out but there's no way of being what I want to be
Dragons blow fire angels fly spirits wither in the air
I'm just me I can't deny I'm neither here, there nor anywhere
[Chorus]
Oh you should see my trail of disgrace,
It's enough to scare the whole human race
It's enough to scare the whole human race
I don't care about this life, they say there'll be another one
Defeatist attitude I know will you be sorry when I've gone
Primitive painters are ships floating on an empty sea
Gathering in galleries were stallions of imagery
[Chorus]
The song "Primitive Painters" by Felt featuring Elizabeth Fraser is a beautifully enigmatic piece that explores the desire to escape the mundane and ordinary aspects of life. The first verse expresses a longing for a life that is as "strange as a conspiracy," suggesting that the singer desires something out of the ordinary, something that sets them apart from the norm. Yet despite this desire, they feel trapped, unable to be what they truly want to be. The imagery of dragons blowing fire and angels flying suggests a world of magic and fantasy, a world that exists beyond the confines of everyday life. The chorus emphasizes the sense of shame and failure that the singer feels, as they describe their "trail of disgrace" that is "enough to scare the whole human race."
The second verse continues this theme, expressing a sense of detachment and indifference towards life. The singer speaks of a "defeatist attitude" and suggests that there is no point to caring about this life when there may be another one to come. They look to primitive painters as a source of inspiration, describing them as "ships floating on an empty sea" and their art as "stallions of imagery." In this way, the song suggests that perhaps the only way to escape the confines of reality is through art, that the imagination can take us to places that reality cannot.
Overall, "Primitive Painters" is a poignant and poetic exploration of the desire for something more, something that sets us apart from the mundane aspects of everyday life. It speaks to the power of art and imagination to transport us to new worlds and to inspire us to be something more than we are.
Line by Line Meaning
I just wish my life could be as strange as a conspiracy
I long for a life as intriguing and full of mystery as a plot involving secret plans or schemes.
I hold out but there's no way of being what I want to be
I persist in striving for my aspirations, even though it seems impossible to achieve them.
Dragons blow fire angels fly spirits wither in the air
My world is filled with fantastical creatures and occurrences, where dragons breathe flames, angels soar, and ethereal beings fade away into nothingness.
I'm just me I can't deny I'm neither here, there nor anywhere
I acknowledge that I exist, yet I cannot define my place in the world as I feel neither rooted in one location nor anywhere at all.
Oh you should see my trail of disgrace,
My actions have resulted in a shameful and distressing path for myself.
It's enough to scare the whole human race
My trail of disgrace is so alarming that it could frighten every single person on earth.
I don't care about this life, they say there'll be another one
I have no concern for this existence and have been told that there will be another life beyond this one.
Defeatist attitude I know will you be sorry when I've gone
I recognize my negative outlook, and I wonder if those around me will regret not helping me when I am no longer here.
Primitive painters are ships floating on an empty sea
The unsophisticated artists of old are like vessels adrift on an endless expanse of nothingness.
Gathering in galleries were stallions of imagery
These paintings are now on display in prestigious exhibitions, where they are revered as prime examples of vivid and striking imagery.
Oh you should see my trail of disgrace,
My actions have resulted in a shameful and distressing path for myself.
It's enough to scare the whole human race
My trail of disgrace is so alarming that it could frighten every single person on earth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cocteautwinned
I just wish my life could be as strange as a conspiracy
I hold out hope but there's no way of being what I want to be
The dragons blow fire, angels fly, spirits wither in the air
I'm just me I can't deny I'm neither here, there nor anywhere
Oh you should see my trail of disgrace
(Oh oh you should see my trail of disgrace)
It's enough to scare the whole human race
I said, oh you should see my trail of disgrace
(Oh, oh you should see my trail of disgrace)
It's enough to scare the whole human race, yeah, eminence
I don't care about this life, they say there'll be another one
Defeatist attitude I know, will you be sorry when I've gone?
Primitive painters are ships floating on an empty sea
Gathering in galleries were stallions of imagery
Oh you should see my trail of disgrace
(Oh, oh you should see my trail of disgrace)
It's enough to hold the whole human race
I said oh you should see my trail of disgrace
(Oh, oh you should see my trail of disgrace)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(You should see my trail of disgrace)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(You should see my trail of disgrace)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear I said it thinner
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(I just swear, light on me)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
(Your bitter trance)
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(Yeah, yeah)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
(Hold on)
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(Hold on love, on and on)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(The way I see it, yeah yeah)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(In your father's life)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(Painters of my life)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(Swear I'm your life)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(Do you feel it?)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
(I'm good)
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
(Yeah, we?re jamming on)
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
(I can feel through your head)
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
This is a new trance, yeah, an entrance too
(All through your life)
And there's a look on your face, it's a human race
And if you just can't stand it, ah, I swear
This is a new trance
robert schaefer
One of my all time favorite tracks that I return to over and over again.
andreaiskittenz
Me too
Dave Bonk
Same here
CocteauTwin49
Is there nothing that she brushed with her angelic wings that did not turn instantly to gold? What a track!
Bahman Ghahremani
Those true stories are the hardest to sell.
Carlos Fandango
..............and so poetically put. The woman breathed Angel breath and sang the Devil's harmonies.
Spike Burst
The Dif Juz & Felt coops are supreme works.
cocteautwinned
Nothing. Like her.
Di Dinx
Nope not really and still freaking awesome.
Ebbywebby
LIZ!!! This is such an incredible, exhilarating track. I could listen to it for a half-hour on endless loop, no problem.