If I Were An Artist
Jake Coco Lyrics


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And I could paint you red
Like the passion you feel
It might not be colorful
But atleast it'd be real

And I can paint you green
Like the envy you know
When you're all alone and I
With nowhere to go

And I can paint you grey
To show how you're empty
To show how you don't care
So the world can all see

And I can paint you clear
I'd make you graceful
I'd make you beautiful
Cause that's what you are

And I can paint you taupe
Because they say that it's soothing
But you're like a drug to me
And I could use some abusing

And I can paint you gold
To show you're a mourner
That'd make you honest
Make you sincere

And I can paint you clear
I'd make you graceful
I'd make you beautiful
Cause that's what you are

Ohh oh

No starting and hovering
All the things we talked about
Bothered and breathed
And the world in between
Gray skies, blue eyes
Broken and I'm drowning you know

And I can paint you clear
I'd make you graceful
I'd make you beautiful
Cause that's what you are

And I could be clear
Yeah you could see through me
But I could be beautiful
Just to be yours
Just to be

And I could paint you clear
I'd make you graceful
I'd make you beautiful
Cause that's what you are

I could be clear
I could be graceful
I swear I'd be colorful
Just to be yours

If I would have been honest
Then I would be yours

Overall Meaning

In the song "If I Were An Artist" by Jake Coco, the artist explores the power of art to capture one's complicated emotions through painting. The artist explains how he would paint the subject in different colors to reflect the different emotions the individual experiences. The first color mentioned in the lyrics is red, which represents the passion and intensity that the subject feels. Even though it might not be colorful, it would still be an accurate representation of who the individual is. Then the artist mentions green, which symbolizes envy and loneliness that the individual faces when they are alone. The third color the artist mentions is grey, a color that reflects the subject's emptiness and indifference towards the world.


The song continues with the artist mentioning that he would paint the individual clear, to make her graceful, charming, and beautiful, just as she is. Taupe is mentioned as a soothing color, but the individual is more like a drug to the artist, and he would prefer some abuse than to be without that person. Gold is used to signify that the individual is a mourner, and to show that she is sincere and honest.


The song ends with the artist admitting that he would be clear and transparent to the individual, but he would still be beautiful just to be hers. He genuinely wishes he had been honest, then he would be with her. The song beautifully showcases how colors can symbolize emotions and how art is one way of expressing one's feelings without words.


Line by Line Meaning

And I could paint you red
I have the ability to portray your passion through the color red


Like the passion you feel
This red represents the strong emotions you experience


It might not be colorful
This color may not satisfy society's expectations of beauty


But atleast it'd be real
However, it would be authentic and true to your feelings


And I can paint you green
I can also use the color green to depict your feelings of envy


Like the envy you know
This green represents the jealousy you experience


When you're all alone and I
Especially when you feel alone without me


With nowhere to go
Feeling lost and unsure of where to turn


And I can paint you grey
I have the ability to show your emptiness through the color grey


To show how you're empty
This color will represent the void within you


To show how you don't care
This color will portray a lack of concern or interest


So the world can all see
This will make your emptiness and indifference visible to others


And I can paint you clear
I can also depict your beauty and grace through the color clear


I'd make you graceful
This transparency will make you appear elegant and refined


I'd make you beautiful
This clearness will bring out your natural beauty and radiance


Cause that's what you are
You possess an inherent beauty and grace that deserve to be highlighted


And I can paint you taupe
I can also use the color taupe to convey a sense of calm and peace


Because they say that it's soothing
This earthy color is known for its ability to relax and soothe the mind


But you're like a drug to me
However, you have a strong hold on me, like an addictive substance


And I could use some abusing
I may even desire to be mistreated or abused by you


And I can paint you gold
I have the ability to depict you as a mourner through the color gold


To show you're a mourner
This warm color reflects the sorrow and grief you have experienced


That'd make you honest
Being vulnerable and mourning would illustrate your honesty and authenticity


Make you sincere
This honesty would showcase your sincerity and genuineness


No starting and hovering
Avoiding beginning anything substantial and avoiding commitment


All the things we talked about
All the conversations we've had about a potential relationship


Bothered and breathed
Feeling anxious and struggling to take deep breaths


And the world in between
The gap and obstacles between us are too many to bridge


Gray skies, blue eyes
The gloomy and uncertain future and my sad and longing eyes


Broken and I'm drowning you know
Feeling shattered and drowning in sorrow, which you are aware of


And I could be clear
I may even make myself transparent and open


Yeah you could see through me
I will not hide anything from you; you will know everything


But I could be beautiful
Despite being transparent, I can still appear beautiful


Just to be yours
I am willing to do this just to be with you


If I would have been honest
If I had been truthful from the beginning


Then I would be yours
Then I would have been with you and dedicated to you




Contributed by Alyssa S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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