Portrait
Oliver Lyrics


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Well, there’s a portrait of my grandfather
The part of me that I will never meet
I heard he liked to play alone
In bars of Italy and Rome
I’ve heard he’s not a man you’d want to meet

And there is a map upon my wall
Of places I think now I’ll never see
But I’ll hang it above my bed
And every time I rest my head
I’ll dream of the mountains and the sea

And I’ve got your book still on my shelf
He’s twisted and he’s torn at the seam
And his pages move no more
And his words dance to no chords
Just part of you that I must always keep

And there’s a song about an ancient lover
A song about the beast inside of me
But when you got no clever rhymes
And you’re tired all the time

You need a song to pass some of the time
I wrote a song to pass some of the time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Oliver's song "Portrait" delve into the complex nature of identity and heritage. The opening line, "Well there's a portrait of my grandfather," sets the tone for the rest of the song, painting a picture of a person who is grappling with the fact that a part of their identity will always be a mystery. The use of the phrase "part of me that I will never meet" highlights the frustration that comes with being unable to know a family member who is gone. It is clear that Oliver has heard stories about his grandfather's life, but he still feels a disconnection.


The second verse introduces the idea of travel and exploration. The map on the wall represents a longing to see the world, but it also symbolizes the reality that some dreams may never come true. The phrase "But I'll hang it above my bed" indicates that, even if he never gets to go to these places, they will always hold a special place in his heart. The final line of the verse, "I'll dream of the mountains and the sea," shows that there is still hope for adventure and new experiences, even if they remain unfulfilled.


The final verse touches on the idea of creative expression as a way to fill the emptiness left by the unknown parts of ourselves. Oliver mentions a book that has been "twisted and torn at the seam," but still holds value. This could represent a metaphor for himself, or for the people in our lives who may be flawed but still important to us. The line "Just part of you that I must always keep" shows that even if something is imperfect, it can still be cherished. The final lines, "But when you got no clever rhymes and you’re tired all the time / You need a song to pass some of the time / I wrote a song to pass some of the time" indicate that, even when life is difficult, there are still moments of beauty that can be created.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, there’s a portrait of my grandfather
There exists a picture of my grandfather


The part of me that I will never meet
A part of me that I will never encounter


I heard he liked to play alone
I have been told that he enjoyed solitary activities


In bars of Italy and Rome
Within bars situated in Italy and Rome


I’ve heard he’s not a man you’d want to meet
Based on hearsay, he may not be someone you would like to meet


And there is a map upon my wall
I have a map hung on my wall


Of places I think now I’ll never see
It displays locations that I presume I will never have the opportunity to visit


But I’ll hang it above my bed
Nevertheless, I will still hang it above my bed


And every time I rest my head
Whenever I go to sleep


I’ll dream of the mountains and the sea
I will dream about the mountains and the sea depicted on the map


And I’ve got your book still on my shelf
I still possess your book, which is currently situated on my shelf


He’s twisted and he’s torn at the seam
The book has been damaged, with the pages coming apart at the seam


And his pages move no more
The pages can no longer be turned


And his words dance to no chords
The words within the book are no longer accompanied by music


Just part of you that I must always keep
The book is an element of you that I must always keep with me


And there’s a song about an ancient lover
A song exists regarding a former, ancient love


A song about the beast inside of me
Additionally, there's a track about a wild aspect of myself


But when you got no clever rhymes
However, when you don't have any witty rhyming


And you’re tired all the time
Furthermore, when you're constantly fatigued


You need a song to pass some of the time
You require a song to help pass the time


I wrote a song to pass some of the time
I created a song to aid in spending time




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OLIVER BOND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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