This song is not about the Bilble, nor is it about 2 different women. It is in facts depicts and honors the revolutionary artistry, of Edouard Manet (a cowboy artist) who flew by instict, and his favorite model Victorine Meurent. As a part time professor of art history, I am floored at the elegant simplicity in Mr. Lee understated expression which showcase's the artists mind, capturing the mood of the era and in modern times.
" The sharks in the tank
Oh, the man in the bank
he wants my money to loan
I can't understand
What the hell is his plan?
he ain't even got a home
Ain't got a home":
Well connected from birth, Manet was considered an aristocratic painter. He had private income. He was able to indulge in leisure and recreational activities that other artists could only dream of. This could be the reason he was able to buck the academic system of the time which put value in photographic painting. He is said to have been the man responsible for the transition between Realism and the more instictual, emotive Impressionsm Movement.
Refusing to take a regular job as his parents wished, he pursued what was important to him. The above verse is Manet's feelings of isolation. It seemed he was alone at times with his understanding of the brevity of life. The impact of his onfusion at white collar pursuits, and the general population's emphasis on money, instead of examining life.
"Girl on the street
with holes in her feet
looks through the eyes of a clown
She don't look a mad
She's feeling kinda sad
so i just walk around":
Introducing Manet's favorite model, Victorine Meurent. Young and poor with parents who are artists. They say Manet met he on the street, while she was carrying her guitar. She inspired the great work of art titled: Street Singer. "Holes in her feet" or "Holes in her shoes" says Manet thought she was looking for wealth. An embarrassingly male way of thinking about women which leads us to harbor resentment, toward independent women, (which Victorine was) "She just wants my money." Victorine is said to have dispised this depiction of her and stopped talking to Manet because of it. Ms. Meurent was said to have to endure more than Manet's perception - that she was an actual prostitute.
"I reassess
She's down on her luck
She's reading a book of lies":
Manet HAD to reassess because Victorine was admitted into the salon with her own paintings. She was poor, but not following well known artists around because she wanted their money. Even Manet fell victim to "common" thoughts about the female sex.
"She's reading a book of lies" refers to her attraction to realism and academic painting at the admonishment of Manet. The salon refused Manet certain years, while hanging her work instead.
" I don't know when
I'll be coming home baby
but I sure sympathize
Can sympathize
Can sympathize"
Manet was married with a son. His artistic indulgences and leisure activities kept him away from home. He is known for not recognizing his son, painting him, but never really seeing him.
"Angels spread the wings
on all the dirty things
that you
do"
Angels, goddesses and muses are often interchanged in poetry, art and song. Such as in Paul Cezzanne's (Kiss of the Muse / Dream of the Poet) as well as Goethe's poem: "Muse's Mirror".
"She drops to the floor
Her heads by the door
Her bible is by her side
Heaven is calling
The new world is falling
and she ain't got a
single person left to confide
No one to confide
No one to confide
Ah, to confide"
Victorine died of natural causes in a house that she shared with a friend. She was also a model for Degas and other well known, male artists of the time. She had a front row seat and clear view of popular male behavior. She is said to have reached financial independence as an artist, and never lived with a man to support her, thus the Bible by her side, or the story of life. Manet was known for being supportive with her artistic pursuits, even helping her with her career - they are said that their conversations led to 2 of Manet's most famous paintings: Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass. Artists being Victorine's confidants - they died before her. With so few like minds - she was bound to a life of solitude - "No one to confide" Manet could sympathize. He couldn't have a conversation with his parents, his own family, the salon and most of the world's population.
I sympathize
Can sympathize
It ain't no jive
I was burnin' alive (Manet died at 51 in 1883 from complications relating to syphilis, then incurable)
whenever you walk in the room
It happened so quickly
I was feelin' so sickly
like a lover who lost his muse
Hats off again and again to the masterful Amos Lee for bringing the folk back home to our artistic roots.
This song is not about the Bilble, nor is it about 2 different women. It is in facts depicts and honors the revolutionary artistry, of Edouard Manet (a cowboy artist) who flew by instict, and his favorite model Victorine Meurent. As a part time professor of art history, I am floored at the elegant simplicity in Mr. Lee understated expression which showcase's the artists mind, capturing the mood of the era and in modern times.
" The sharks in the tank Oh, the man in the bank he wants my money to loan I can't understand What the hell is his plan? he ain't even got a home Ain't got a home": Well connected from birth, Manet was considered an aristocratic painter. He had private income. He was able to indulge in leisure and recreational activities that other artists could only dream of. This could be the reason he was able to buck the academic system of the time which put value in photographic painting. He is said to have been the man responsible for the transition between Realism and the more instictual, emotive Impressionsm Movement.
Refusing to take a regular job as his parents wished, he pursued what was important to him. The above verse is Manet's feelings of isolation. It seemed he was alone at times with his understanding of the brevity of life. The impact of his onfusion at white collar pursuits, and the general population's emphasis on money, instead of examining life.
"Girl on the street with holes in her feet looks through the eyes of a clown She don't look a mad She's feeling kinda sad so i just walk around": Introducing Manet's favorite model, Victorine Meurent. Young and poor with parents who are artists. They say Manet met he on the street, while she was carrying her guitar. She inspired the great work of art titled: Street Singer. "Holes in her feet" or "Holes in her shoes" says Manet thought she was looking for wealth. An embarrassingly male way of thinking about women which leads us to harbor resentment, toward independent women, (which Victorine was) "She just wants my money." Victorine is said to have dispised this depiction of her and stopped talking to Manet because of it. Ms. Meurent was said to have to endure more than Manet's perception - that she was an actual prostitute.
"I reassess She's down on her luck She's reading a book of lies": Manet HAD to reassess because Victorine was admitted into the salon with her own paintings. She was poor, but not following well known artists around because she wanted their money. Even Manet fell victim to "common" thoughts about the female sex. "She's reading a book of lies" refers to her attraction to realism and academic painting at the admonishment of Manet. The salon refused Manet certain years, while hanging her work instead.
" I don't know when I'll be coming home baby but I sure sympathize Can sympathize Can sympathize" Manet was married with a son. His artistic indulgences and leisure activities kept him away from home. He is known for not recognizing his son, painting him, but never really seeing him.
"Angels spread the wings on all the dirty things that you do" Angels, goddesses and muses are often interchanged in poetry, art and song. Such as in Paul Cezzanne's (Kiss of the Muse / Dream of the Poet) as well as Goethe's poem: "Muse's Mirror".
"She drops to the floor Her heads by the door Her bible is by her side Heaven is calling The new world is falling and she ain't got a single person left to confide No one to confide No one to confide Ah, to confide" Victorine died of natural causes in a house that she shared with a friend. She was also a model for Degas and other well known, male artists of the time. She had a front row seat and clear view of popular male behavior. She is said to have reached financial independence as an artist, and never lived with a man to support her, thus the Bible by her side, or the story of life. Manet was known for being supportive with her artistic pursuits, even helping her with her career - they are said that their conversations led to 2 of Manet's most famous paintings: Olympia and Luncheon on the Grass. Artists being Victorine's confidants - they died before her. With so few like minds - she was bound to a life of solitude - "No one to confide" Manet could sympathize. He couldn't have a conversation with his parents, his own family, the salon and most of the world's population.
I sympathize
Can sympathize
It ain't no jive I was burnin' alive (Manet died at 51 in 1883 from complications relating to syphilis, then incurable) whenever you walk in the room It happened so quickly I was feelin' so sickly like a lover who lost his muse
Hats off again and again to the masterful Amos Lee for bringing the folk back home to our artistic roots.