I think this song may be a distant reference to an amazing but true story that happened in the early 1900s.
There was a painter named Andre Marcellin who did beautiful landscapes - people would often ask him to do portraits, but he would refuse. At last, a banker persuaded Andre to paint him, and 2 days after the portrait was finished, the banker died.
6 months later, a lady came to him and asked to have her picture done - Andre agreed to paint her, but alas, 2 days later, the woman died.
After this, Andre was sure his paintings were cursed. He vowed never to paint a portrait of anyone again. And he kept his vow - until he met a lovely woman who he became engaged with. She begged him to do a portrait of her, and if he didn't, she wouldn't marry him. He was persuaded at last, and a week after he finished her portrait, she died.
Marcellin was filled with sadness and guilt. For weeks he sat alone in his studio, doing nothing. Finally, he started to work on another picture. This one was of himself. A few days after it was finished, Andre Marcellin, the great painter, was dead.
If you read the lyrics in this song, you can see where that historical true event could fit in. The end of the song is when tragedy strikes - he wants to draw a portrait of himself and is hoping for death, but in the morning, he awakens; death won't come to those who desire it.
I think this song may be a distant reference to an amazing but true story that happened in the early 1900s.
There was a painter named Andre Marcellin who did beautiful landscapes - people would often ask him to do portraits, but he would refuse. At last, a banker persuaded Andre to paint him, and 2 days after the portrait was finished, the banker died.
6 months later, a lady came to him and asked to have her picture done - Andre agreed to paint her, but alas, 2 days later, the woman died.
After this, Andre was sure his paintings were cursed. He vowed never to paint a portrait of anyone again. And he kept his vow - until he met a lovely woman who he became engaged with. She begged him to do a portrait of her, and if he didn't, she wouldn't marry him. He was persuaded at last, and a week after he finished her portrait, she died.
Marcellin was filled with sadness and guilt. For weeks he sat alone in his studio, doing nothing. Finally, he started to work on another picture. This one was of himself. A few days after it was finished, Andre Marcellin, the great painter, was dead.
If you read the lyrics in this song, you can see where that historical true event could fit in. The end of the song is when tragedy strikes - he wants to draw a portrait of himself and is hoping for death, but in the morning, he awakens; death won't come to those who desire it.
Thats exactly what this song is about. I heard Tony about it once. He explained it. And he also said it was a true story.
Thats exactly what this song is about. I heard Tony about it once. He explained it. And he also said it was a true story.