The dialogue sample heard multiple times throughout the song (“Is it some devil that crawls inside of you?”) is taken from the 1971 film ‘A Clockwork Orange’.
[Verse 1]
I watched as the black sky parted back
Through fields of tar and thread
A tourniquet of lace and dialect
Our ceremony
I fall as the comfort rushes in
No terrifying dreams
I'll shed my skin for you
[Chorus]
Have I broken my addiction dead inside
Have I broken my addiction dead inside
A picture of my genocide
[Verse 2]
Paralyze the light fell from your eyes
My hope is faded grey
Our wickedness we share
This ceremony
I watched as the antique sky turned black
Through fields of heroin
I'll shed my skin for you
[Chorus]
Have I broken my addiction dead inside
Have I broken my addiction dead inside
A portrait of my genocide
Have I broken my addiction dead inside
Have I broken my addiction now
A portrait of my genocide
[Bridge]
A portrait of the artist, a portrait of a young man
To sing this song in silence is grand
[Outro]
My addiction
Dead inside
Broken
Genocide
Addiction
Dead inside
Broken
My genocide
A Portrait of The Artist was written by William Control.
A Portrait of The Artist was produced by William Control.
Aiden (Band) released A Portrait of The Artist on Tue Mar 29 2011.