Paint a Picture of Yourself (Michael) - Harry Chapin

Well I hear you are a painter now

Though you’re almost halfway through

You pulled a pallet knife, you cut away a wife

And you started something new

But it was not the strife of married life

That ordained what you would do

A quick look back through your history

Shows the same things goading you

It’s just like you to try painting

Because you’re color blind

Each time you conquer something

That’s the time you change you’re mind

And now your new preoccupations

Give you your handicap to start

Yes you’re happiest when you’re chasing clouds

With a halfway broken heart

Paint a picture of yourself

Let the images flash past

Don’t weep on watercolors

Michael make this moment last

Paint the kid with restless eyes

Yeah the way you looked back then

'Cause the man keeps getting frightened

When that boy’s not born again

I remember how you led us

Back when we all were kids

And the fact that you were older

Made us copy what you did

And that day you bought that cheap guitar

We all fell into line

We got hooked on music

But you drifted off in time

So I can see you at your easel

Splay legged there you stand

And your eyes are darting back and forth

Brush flashing in your hand

Yeah you’re reaching always for that dream

You need to make you real

Leaning in a heavy wind

That no one else can feel

Paint a picture of yourself

Let the images flash past

Don’t weep on watercolors

Michael make this moment last

Paint the kid with restless eyes

Yeah the way you looked back then

'Cause the man keeps getting frightened

When that boy’s not born again, again