The Art Teacher
Unspoken Desires: A Canvas of Forbidden Love
Lyrics
There I was in uniform
Reflecting on a past experience when the speaker was in a uniform.
Looking at the art teacher
The speaker is observing or recalling memories of the art teacher.
I was just a girl then;
The speaker emphasizes her youth at that time.
Never have I loved since then
Expressing that the speaker has not experienced love like that since.
He was not that much older than I was
Noting a relatively small age difference between the speaker and the art teacher.
He had taken our class to the Metropolitan Museum
Recalling a visit to the Metropolitan Museum with the art teacher.
He asked us what our favorite work of art was,
The art teacher asked about the students' favorite artworks.
But never could I tell it was him
The speaker didn't realize at the time that the art teacher was her favorite.
Oh, I wish I could tell him,
Expressing a desire to tell the art teacher about her feelings.
Oh, I wish I could have told him
Reiterating the wish to have confessed her feelings to the art teacher.
I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts
Mentioning specific artists and artworks observed at the museum.
I liked the John Singer Sargents
Expressing a preference for John Singer Sargent's artworks.
He told me he liked Turner
The art teacher revealed his liking for Turner's works.
Never have I turned since then
Playfully stating that she hasn't "turned" since then, possibly referring to both physically and emotionally.
No, never have I turned to any other man
Declaring a commitment to the art teacher and not turning to other men.
All this having been said,
Reflecting on the past events and feelings mentioned.
I married an executive company head
Indicating a contrast between the past love and the present marriage to a corporate executive.
All this having been done, a Turner, I own one
Despite the marriage, the speaker still owns a Turner painting, possibly a reminder of the art teacher.
Here I am in this uniformish, pant-suit sort of thing,
Describing the speaker's current appearance in a uniform-like pant-suit and thinking about the art teacher.
Thinking of the art teacher
Reiterating the speaker's youth when she thought about the art teacher.
I was just a girl then;
Similar to line 3, emphasizing the speaker's age during the memories.
Never have I loved since then
Reiterating that the speaker hasn't loved anyone else since the art teacher.
No, never have I loved any other man
Affirming the commitment to the art teacher and the absence of love for any other man.
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