When I Was a Painter

The Breeders' song 'When I Was a Painter' delves into themes of nostalgia, regret, and the passage of time. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a past filled with artistic passion and emotional complexity. The protagonist reflects on a time when they were a painter, capturing the essence of someone significant in their life. This period is remembered with a mix of fondness and sorrow, as the protagonist acknowledges the inevitability of death and the transient nature of their artistic endeavors.

The recurring imagery of 'lakes of Quarterly' and 'air velveteen' suggests a dreamlike, almost surreal quality to these memories. These phrases evoke a sense of otherworldliness, as if the protagonist's past experiences were part of a different, more ethereal reality. The mention of 'bad sex and bad TV' contrasts sharply with the earlier, more poetic descriptions, highlighting the protagonist's current disillusionment and the mundane, unsatisfying aspects of their present life.

The chorus, with its repetitive 'go, go, go' and 'on and on,' underscores a sense of relentless forward motion, perhaps symbolizing the unstoppable march of time. The protagonist's lament that they 'have to die' adds a layer of existential angst, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of mortality. The song captures the bittersweet essence of looking back on a time of creative and emotional intensity, juxtaposed with the stark reality of the present.