Painter Song
Norah Jones Lyrics


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If I were a painter
I would paint my reverie
If that's the only way for you to be with me

We'd be there together
Just like we used to be
Underneath the swirling skies for all to see
And I'm dreaming of a place
Where I could see your face
And I think my brush would take me there
But only

If I were a painter
And could paint a memory
I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you

And I'm dreaming of a place
Where I could see your face
And I think my brush would take me there
But only

If I were a painter
And could paint a memory





I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you
I'd climb inside the skies to be with you

Overall Meaning

Norah Jones's song Painter Song is a melancholic and romantic ballad. The lyrics tell a story about a yearning for a lost love, the dreamer being an artist who wishes to paint his love's memory in a way that would bring them together again. The lines "If I were a painter, I would paint my reverie, if that's the only way for you to be with me" show that the singer is deeply in love, but separated from his loved one. The only way he can feel close to her is through the power of his imagination, and he imagines painting her, which would allow him to create a memory that he could hold onto.


The chorus "And I'm dreaming of a place, where I could see your face, and I think my brush would take me there, but only if I were a painter" repeats this idea of the singer's longing to be with his love. The imagery of the "swirling skies for all to see" adds to the dreamy atmosphere of the song, as the singer and his love are connected by the beauty of nature. The extended metaphor of painting reflects on the power of art to create a world where dreams and reality converge.


Overall, Painter Song is a song about loss, love, and the power of memory and imagination. The lyrics capture the feeling of a deep yearning for a loved one and the hope that the power of art can evoke feelings and memories that can transcend time and distance.


Line by Line Meaning

If I were a painter
If I had the skill and talent of a painter


I would paint my reverie
I would depict my daydreams and fantasies on a canvas


If that's the only way for you to be with me
If painting is the only way for me to express my feelings for you and be close to you


We'd be there together
We'd exist together in the painted world


Just like we used to be
Just like we were before, in the real world


Underneath the swirling skies for all to see
In a place with a dramatic and colorful backdrop that everyone can admire


And I'm dreaming of a place
I have a strong desire and longing for a specific location


Where I could see your face
Where I could be with you and gaze upon your countenance


And I think my brush would take me there
I believe my artistic ability would transport me to that place


But only if I were a painter
But that's only possible if I had the talent of a painter


And could paint a memory
And had the ability to recreate a past moment on canvas


I'd climb inside the swirling skies to be with you
I'd immerse myself in the painted environment to be close to you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J.C. Hopkisn, Lee Alexander

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Anonymous


on I Turned Your Picture to the Wall

Down by the Riverside - Noah Wall - Lyrics

I’m gonna lay down my heavy load,
Down by the riverside,
Oh yeah
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my heavy load,
Down by the riverside,
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
No I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more

I’m gonna put on my long white robe,
Down by the riverside
Oh yeah
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna put on my long white robe,
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more

Musical Interlude


Well, I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
Down by the riverside, down by the riverside
I’m gonna lay down my sword and shield,
Down by the riverside
I’m gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,
I ain’t a gonna study war no more
I ain’t a gonna study war no more,

Anonymous


on The Nearness of You

The Nearness Of You - Camille Thurman -Lyrics

Its not the pale moon that excites me
That thrills and delights me, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

It isn't your sweet conversation
That brings this sensation, oh no
Its just the nearness of you

When you're in my arms
And I feel you so close to me
All my wildest dreams do come true

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me
The right to hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night
The nearness of you

Saxophone Musical Interlude

I need no soft lights to enchant me
If you'll only grant me
The right to hold you ever so tight
And to feel in the night
The nearness, the nearness of you

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