"Heather Dale's songs express something that honors tradition, but in keeping with the best of traditions they break new ground." WDVR FM (USA)
Renaissance Man
Heather Dale Lyrics
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With pigment, shell, and brush
My angels seem to swagger
And my devils seem to blush
And I think I'll never fancy
Being scared of poison dust
But I've tried it, and may try it yet again
On a swatch of linen fine
My patience seems to wander
As I paint each tiny line
Though I rather like the colors
I just never have the time
But I've tried it, and may try it yet again
Well I thought of learning fighting
But I haven't got a truck
And I always get a bruising
Even if my shield arm's up
And I'm still a little nervous
That they make you wear a cup
But I've tried it, and may try it yet again
I've puttered in the kitchen
With a dish or two I'll cope
But after ten or twenty-five
I reach my end of rope
I am only good with dishes
When I'm rubbing them with soap
But I've tried it, and may try it yet again
Well I must be good at something
Something rare and undefined
Like raising bats for hunting
Maybe adding spice to wine
And perhaps I'll be a laurel
Or I'll put it all behind
But I'll try it, and may try it yet again
Oh, I will try it, and may try it yet again
The song “Renaissance Man” by Heather Dale is an ode to the pursuit of breadth of experience and skills. The singer acknowledges that they may not excel in any particular field like painting, embroidery, fighting, or cooking, but they are willing to try and learn from their failures. In fact, the singer seems to enjoy the process of trying new things more than the final result. They express an aspiration to find their niche, something “rare and undefined” that they could be good at, even if it means leaving behind their previous endeavors. The overall message is one of resilience, curiosity, and the joy of exploration.
The lyrics of “Renaissance Man” illustrate the concept of the Renaissance individual, a person who possesses a wide range of knowledge, skills, and interests. The song’s title itself refers to the ideal of the Renaissance man or woman, who pursued excellence in multiple fields, from art and science to philosophy and politics. The Renaissance was a time of great humanistic values, which emphasized the importance of education, curiosity, and creativity. Heather Dale’s song captures the spirit of the Renaissance by celebrating the spirit of experimentation and the willingness to try and fail.
Line by Line Meaning
I may never be a painter
I doubt that I have the talent to become an artist who uses pigments, shells, and brushes
With pigment, shell, and brush
These are the tools artists use to paint or create artworks
My angels seem to swagger
When I try to paint good things, it seems like they're showing off
And my devils seem to blush
When I try to paint bad things, it seems like they're ashamed
And I think I'll never fancy
I don't think I'll ever enjoy
Being scared of poison dust
I don't think I'll ever like the idea of being afraid of toxic materials
But I've tried it, and may try it yet again
I attempted to paint and may attempt it again in the future
I don't think I could embroider
I doubt that I could sew decorative designs onto fine linen fabric
On a swatch of linen fine
This is a type of delicate textile fabric
My patience seems to wander
I lose my patience quickly
As I paint each tiny line
As I add intricate details to my embroidery work
Though I rather like the colors
I appreciate the different shades and hues of thread used in embroidery work
I just never have the time
I am usually too busy to complete such projects
Well I thought of learning fighting
I considered learning how to fight in hand-to-hand combat
But I haven't got a truck
I don't have a vehicle big enough to transport the required fighting equipment
And I always get a bruising
I tend to get injured during fights
Even if my shield arm's up
Even if I try to protect myself with a shield, I still get hurt
And I'm still a little nervous
I'm still a bit scared
That they make you wear a cup
I'm afraid of having to wear a protective cup while fighting
I've puttered in the kitchen
I've tried to cook a few dishes
With a dish or two I'll cope
I can manage cooking one or two dishes
But after ten or twenty-five
But after cooking ten or twenty-five dishes
I reach my end of rope
I get exhausted and lose my patience
I am only good with dishes
I'm only skilled at washing dishes, not cooking them
When I'm rubbing them with soap
I'm only good at washing dishes when I'm using soap
Well I must be good at something
I must have some talent or skill
Something rare and undefined
Something unique and hard to describe
Like raising bats for hunting
Perhaps I could breed bats that are trained to assist in hunting
Maybe adding spice to wine
Perhaps I could come up with new ways of creating better-tasting wine through spices and flavorings
And perhaps I'll be a laurel
I could become a person who is highly regarded for excellence in a certain field
Or I'll put it all behind
Alternatively, I might abandon my search for a particular skill
But I'll try it, and may try it yet again
Regardless, I'll keep trying to find my hidden talent
Oh, I will try it, and may try it yet again
I am determined to keep experimenting and searching for my hidden talent
Contributed by Brayden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.