Patrick Park is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Park gr… Read Full Bio ↴Patrick Park is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Park grew up in Morrison, Colorado. He was exposed to the arts at an early age: his mother was a published poet, and his father was a doctor who enjoyed playing folk and blues records and the guitar at home. Park himself began to write songs in his early teens and played in bands starting in middle school.

He moved to New York City to try and start a music career, but left after less than eight months for Los Angeles, working numerous odd jobs that ranged from clothing store retail clerk to karate teacher to support himself.

In 2000, Park completed his first demo collection, now known as The Basement Tapes. He recorded the songs in the back of a store owned by a friend's girlfriend since he did not have enough money to use a studio.

Park befriended producer Dave Trumfio (Wilco, Earlimart) later that year. He and Trumfio wrote, recorded, and mixed material for Park's debut album during the summer months of 2002. Singer/songwriter Tim Easton, pedal steel player Eric Heywood, and drummer Dave Kostiner joined them in the studio. During this time, Park also played live concerts as the opener for Julia Fordham, Gomez, Beth Orton, and Richard Buckner.

He signed a deal with Hollywood Records in 2003, and Under the Unminding Skies EP was released that February. Park's first studio album, Loneliness Knows My Name, followed in 2004. Disappointed by low sales, he later commented: "[Hollywood Records] had no idea what to do with me. They're a pop label, so they were always trying to fit a square peg in a round hole." He has since moved to Curb Appeal Records and released his second full-length album, Everyone's in Everyone, while continuing to tour across the U.S.

Park received moderate attention following airplay for "Life is a Song", which was chosen as the final song on the series finale of the Fox teen drama The O.C.

Your Smile
Patrick Park Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I should lay around and curse the day
That I fell upon your sword
Cause I'm a poor boy
And your smile is a drug
That I can't afford
Anymore

You're a tongue-tied talker with sleepy eyes

That always gets the last word
You're not broken
You're just tired and it shows

When you're done acting tough
You only take two and a quarter to get fucked up
And when you say you're in love
You just sound like you're giving up

When you're done acting tough
You only take two and a quarter to get fucked up
And when you say you're in love
You just sound like you're giving up

To say I'll be alright would be a risky bet
Cause I'm about as good as I'm going to get
These chains are tight
And the courage that I showed
Left a long time ago
Just so you know

When you're done acting tough
You only take two and a quarter to get fucked up
And when you say you're in love
You just sound like you're giving up

When you're done acting tough
You only take two and a quarter to get fucked up

And when you say you're in love
You just sound like you're giving up

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Patrick Park’s “Your Smile” is a melancholic contemplation on love and addiction. The singer opens the song with self-pity, blaming himself for falling in love, knowing that he can't afford it. The loved one is like a drug, and the singer is just a poor boy who cannot sustain this addiction. The loved one, on the other hand, is described as a “tongue-tied talker with sleepy eyes," one who always has the last word. She may not be broken, but she is tired, and it shows.

The chorus expresses the emptiness of their relationship. They are both pretending to be tough, and she can’t seem to feel love the way they perceived it. The two and a quarter refers to the amount of time in minutes that it takes to play the song, hinting that maybe the singer is self-medicating with the music. The line, “When you say you're in love, you just sound like you're giving up,” highlights the harsh reality that love alone cannot fix everything.

The final stanza talks about the emotional and physical chains that bind the singer. The courage he once had is gone, leaving him hopeless. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the hollowness of their relationship. The song is a beautifully crafted narrative that opens up a conversation about the complexities of addiction and how love can be one of its driving forces.

Line by Line Meaning

I should lay around and curse the day
I am filled with regret and resentment

That I fell upon your sword
That I fell in love with you

Cause I'm a poor boy
I am not wealthy and cannot afford to be with you

And your smile is a drug
Your smile is intoxicating and addictive

That I can't afford anymore
I can no longer handle the emotional weight of being near you

You're a tongue-tied talker with sleepy eyes
You struggle to express yourself and appear worn out

That always gets the last word
You consistently have the final say

You're not broken
You are not damaged or flawed

You're just tired and it shows
You are simply exhausted and it is evident

When you're done acting tough
When you stop pretending to be strong

You only take two and a quarter to get fucked up
You turn to substance abuse to cope