Lawrence had success on the record charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s with such hits as "Go Away Little Girl" (U.S. No. 1), "Pretty Blue Eyes" (U.S. No. 9), "Footsteps" (U.S. No. 7), "Portrait of My Love" (U.S. No. 9), and "Party Doll" (U.S. No. 5). "Go Away Little Girl" sold over one million copies and was awarded a Gold record. Much of Lawrence's musical career centered on nightclubs and the musical stage.
Portrait of My Love
Steve Lawrence Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For nobody can paint a dream
You will never see a portrait of my love
For miracles are never seen
Anyone who sees her, soon forgets the Mona Lisa
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
And he would need the glow of dawn to paint the skies above
In the first verse, Steve Lawrence talks about how his love is indescribable and impossible to capture in a physical portrait. He explains that a portrait can only depict reality, but his love is like a dream that cannot be painted. The use of the word 'miracles' suggests that his love is extraordinary and perhaps transcends the physical world.
The second verse goes on to illustrate how his love is so unique that it outshines the famous Mona Lisa - a painting that is widely considered one of the greatest art pieces of all time. The hyperbolic language used here emphasizes the extent to which his love surpasses even the most celebrated art piece in history. Lawrence goes on to suggest that even great artists like Michelangelo would require the 'glow of dawn' to paint the skies above in order to even attempt to capture the essence of his love.
Overall, the song is a declaration of love that is so deep and profound that it defies description. Even the most gifted artists would struggle to depict the complexity and beauty of it in a mere portrait.
Line by Line Meaning
There could never be a portrait of my love
My love is so unique and special that it cannot be captured in a portrait.
For nobody can paint a dream
My love is like a dream that can only be experienced, but never captured or replicated.
You will never see a portrait of my love
There is no physical representation of my love that exists or can be created.
For miracles are never seen
My love is so rare and special that it is considered a miracle, and therefore cannot be captured or replicated.
Anyone who sees her, soon forgets the Mona Lisa
My love is so beautiful and captivating that even the most famous piece of art in the world (Mona Lisa) pales in comparison.
It would take I know, a Michaelangelo
Capturing the essence of my love would require the skills of a master artist like Michaelangelo.
And he would need the glow of dawn to paint the skies above
Even with the skills of a master artist, capturing the unique beauty of my love would require a special kind of light, something like the glow of dawn.
To try and paint a portrait of my love
Creating a portrait of my love would be an impossible feat, even for the most talented artist.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Cyril Ornadel, Norman Newell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind