When I Go Out With Artists

When I go out with artists
They talk about language
And the cubists and the dadaist
And I try to catch their meanings
And keep up with all of the martinis
I don't know which
Should be my favorite paintings

If I could see, if I could see
If I could see all the symbols
Unlock what they mean
Maybe I could, maybe I could
Maybe I could meet the artists
And get to know them personally

If I were David Byrne
I'd go to galleries and not be too concerned
And I would have a cup of coffee
And I'd find my surroundings quite amusing
And people would ask me
Which were my favorite paintings?

If I could see, if I could see
If I could see all the symbols
Unlock what they mean
Maybe I could, maybe I could
Maybe I could meet the artists
And get to know them personally

What if the artists ran the TV?
All the ads would be
For fine Scotch whiskey
Glenfiddich, Glenlivet
The whole single malt family

The artists of the future
Will make up new things
And different nomenclatures
And they'll stand amongst their pictures
And they'll sing and laugh
And quote from scriptures
And when they go home
They'll dream of brilliant paintings

If I could see, if I could see
If I could see all the symbols
Unlock what they mean
Maybe I could, maybe I could
Maybe I could meet the artists
And get to know them personally

If I could see, if I could see
If I could see all the symbols
Unlock what they mean
Maybe I could, maybe I could
Maybe I could meet the artists
And get to know them personally