The road to this point wasnβt a direct path for this former metal/hardcore drummer. After a series of faltered attempts, James found his voice and new purpose for his music when he began writing songs following a move to Denver, Colorado. βIt was funny that I played in these dark hyper-aggressive bands because Iβm actually a pretty even keeled guy,β states James. βSomehow when I started to write the songs for Portrait of a Friend, I found myself taking the energy of my earlier bands but now bringing to my songs a sense of melody, meaning, and optimism that was always a part of me, but just never expressed.β Thatβs an ironic statement considering James began expressing himself musically at such a young age. Growing up in a musical household, Jamesβ parents spotted him one day beating rhythmically to household items whenever music was playing. With that, James got his first set of drums at the age of 4, and thus began his musical career.
On his debut effort, Portrait of a Friend delivers an amped up, expressive array of melodic beats, inspiring lyrics, and raw energy; proving once and for all that Indie Rock and Electronic music are not mutually exclusive. Early stand-out tracks include the songs Hollywood Love Story and New Beginning; each filled with unabashed optimism reflected in their upbeat hooks and complimenting lyrics as well as the romantic declarations of Fall and its seemingly inevitable ending in, What I Did to Myself.
Portrait of A Friend provides for us insight into the essence of James Egbertβs world; his friends, his family, his relationships and how these factors shape, mold and paint his being. This insight however is pretty universal: internal conflict, hope, insecurity, individual morality. In some ways, in Portrait of a Friend, James Egbert has created a portrait of us.
Our Song
Portrait of a Friend Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In front of the mirror
So you can hear them clearer
I simply cannot wait
To hear our voices together
They'll sound so much better
I've got your picture on my counter
I've been staring into your eyes
You seem to be staring back
What are you staring at?
I know your eyes move right past me
This could be our song
I'll sing it to you all night long
So that you know I love you
Listen to the words
We'll sing them to each other
That's how we'll know we're lovers
By singing our song
I've been writing on the wall
To help you see things clearer
Perhaps you should come nearer
I guess I realized
I've been following the blind
Now I've wasted my time
You haven't been reciting
That's not very exciting
Who will sing to me?
This has to be our song
I can't sing it to myself
I can't sing to anyone else
This could be our song
I'll sing it to you all night long
So that you know I love you
Listen to the words
We'll sing them to each other
That's how we'll know we're lovers
By singing our song
By singing our song
Now that you're gone
I have no one to sing along
Come back to me
Come back to me
Come back to me
Come back to me
The lyrics of Portrait of a Friendβs song Our Song recount the story of someone who is deeply in love with a person who they desperately want to sing a song to. The singer has been rehearsing their lines in front of the mirror to perfect them before singing them to their loved one. The individual has the personβs picture on their counter and has been staring into their eyes for at least an hour. However, despite the energy and effort that the singer has put into preparing for this moment, the recipient of the song has not been reciprocating that energy or excitement. The recipient has not been rehearsing and has not been as invested in the song as the singer has been. The song lyrics describe the singer's desire for the song to be uniquely theirs, and expresses the feeling that the song is the only way to declare their love for the person they adore. However, as the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the person they want to sing the song to is no longer in the picture, and the song becomes a lament for a lost love.
Overall, Our Song highlights the intensity of a person's love and their desire to express their feelings through music. It also explores the need for mutual investment in romance and how one-sided love can be a painful experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been reciting my lines
I've been rehearsing what I want to say
In front of the mirror
To make sure I look confident
So you can hear them clearer
So you won't miss a word
I simply cannot wait
I'm eager for our moment together
To hear our voices together
To blend our sound in perfect harmony
They'll sound so much better
Together our voices will create a beautiful melody
I've got your picture on my counter
Your image brings me comfort
I've been staring into your eyes
Trying to read your emotions
For at least the past hour
Without feeling the time passing by
You seem to be staring back
As if you're connecting with my soul
What are you staring at?
What is it about me that captivates you?
I know your eyes move right past me
You're not really seeing me for who I am
This could be our song
Our love story set to music
I'll sing it to you all night long
Until it's etched in our hearts
So that you know I love you
My words are a declaration of my feelings
Listen to the words
Pay attention to my message
We'll sing them to each other
Taking turns being vulnerable
That's how we'll know we're lovers
Through our shared experiences and feelings
By singing our song
Our special bond represented in music
I've been writing on the wall
Trying to convince you of my love
To help you see things clearer
So you can understand my perspective
Perhaps you should come nearer
Let's bridge the gap between us
I guess I realized
That I've been doing this all wrong
I've been following the blind
I've been misled by love before
Now I've wasted my time
Investing in the wrong relationships
You haven't been reciting
You're not as invested as I am
That's not very exciting
I need more from this relationship
Who will sing to me?
Who will fulfill my emotional needs?
Now that you're gone
Without you, my world feels empty
I have no one to sing along
Our love song feels incomplete
Come back to me
I need you back in my life
Come back to me
I miss what we had
Come back to me
Our love story deserves another chance
Come back to me
I know we can make beautiful music together
Contributed by Madelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gabriel de Lucca Vieira
Maybe the composer originally didn't had this situation in mind, but this lyrics remind me of my mother.
"Yeah yeah
I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we
Until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened"
Albanete, 59 years. Passed away in february 2021. Died from covid 19.
She was the strongest person that I ever knew. She was the strongest part of my life.
I have to keep moving on, carrying what she left for me - thinking what would make her proud of me.
applepearbananable
You took my hand, you showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh-huh, that's right
I took your words, and I believed
In everything you said to me
Yeah, huh, that's right
If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
'Cause they're all wrong
I know better 'cause you said forever, and ever
Who knew?
Remember when we were such fools
And so convinced and just too cool
Oh no, no, no
I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you a friend
I'd give anything
When someone said count your blessings now
'Fore they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
But they knew better, still you said forever, and ever
Who knew?
(Yeah, yeah)
I'll keep you locked in my head (my head)
Until we meet again (meet again)
Until we, until we meet again
And I won't forget you, my friend
What happened?
If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
'Cause they're all wrong and
That last kiss, I'll cherish until we meet again
And time makes it harder, I wish I could remember
But I keep your memory, you visit me in my sleep
My darling, who knew?
My darling, my darling, who knew?
My darling, I miss you
My darling, who knew?
Who knew?
Anna marie ASMR
Crazy how a lot of us listened to this as kids not really acknowledging the meaning of the lyrics ππ now weβre back years later, crying to it
Riley
Thats me today. Happy 2023
L -
ME TODAY LMFAO
For at Least Ever
Divine anchor
Ironic Weeb
Itβs weird to think this woman awoken something in me from a young age, itβs nice to go back to see the dawn of my Alternate Rock phase
Dinear Brady
Who knew .. β€
clarence campbell
The most underrated singer. Thanks for the lyrics. Always loved this song. Never really understood this song until it happened to me.
β‘οΈ Lis-! β’π
Tracy Martel ikr oml π
PiggyLIT
Ditto
Ericka
It hasnβt happened to me yet but Iβm sorry for you