Story Behind The Song

Looking through a magazine, the songwriter came across a portrait of Dora Maar, the enigmatic model and mistress of Picasso. The portrait revealed much more than an ordinary photograph. It betrayed the feelings of the artist toward his subject. It gave ris to a question: is a painting a declaration of love toward the subject? Is a song?

Song Description

Is it possible to tell from Picasso's portraits of his mistress Dora Maar whether he truly loved her? What does the seeming distrotion of the painter's brush reveal that a straightforward photograph does not? In a very lyrical "portrait," this song looks at the nature of love the way you would look at a work of art in a gallery.

Lyrics

Dora Maar © 1994, Words and Music by John Gahl

Since when is love reality Since when can you define
The why?s and wherefores of the heart It doesn?t know your mind
It?s nothing that you do, it?s more like something that you are
Like Picasso?s crazy painting of the model Dora Maar

It?s not that he turned from the truth Or that he couldn?t see
He only looked at her with eyes That saw things differently
He chose the moment carefully, that?s what a moment?s for
And gave us all a perfect picture of his mistress Dora Maar

I saw them in a photograph Swiming in the sea
They looked so happy that I wished That she was you and he was me.

My eyes play with the play of light Dancing on your face
I wish I could save this day This time, this light, this place
I wish I were a painter, and could show things as they really are
And see you like Picasso saw his true love Dora Maar

With paintings and with photographs The truth is in your eye
And only eyes in love can see The beauty in a lie.

I could never find the words to show
All the things I see
But please believe me when I say
That I see you differently
You?re the only truth I know
And I see you differently