Portrait
Kansas
Lyrics currently unavailable…
10 facts about this song
Album Classification"Portrait (He Knew)" is a song from the American rock band Kansas' fifth studio album, "Point of Know Return," which was released in 1977.
|
Chart RankingsThe song didn't make much of an impression on the mainstream charts, but it remained a fan favorite and a staple of Kansas' live performances.
|
Songwriting Credits"Portrait (He Knew)" was written by Kansas band members Kerry Livgren and Steve Walsh.
|
Musical StyleTypical of Kansas' sound, "Portrait (He Knew)" displays a fusion of progressive rock and heartland rock—a fusion that made the band unique in the 1970s rock scene.
|
Subject MatterMany fans believe that "Portrait (He Knew)" is about Jesus Christ, though others think it may refer to Albert Einstein. The band itself has never confirmed who the person in the song's title might be.
|
Live PerformancesThe track is particularly well-known for its live performances, with an intense violin and guitar duet that showcases the band's instrumental prowess.
|
Cover VersionsThe Christian rock band Petra covered "Portrait (He Knew)" in 1989 for their album "Petra Praise: The Rock Cries Out."
|
LegacyEven if "Portrait (He Knew)" wasn't a big chart hit, it remains one of Kansas' most revered tracks because it encapsulates the band's unique blend of complex progressive rock arrangements and more straightforward heartland rock storytelling.
|
Song Length"Portrait (He Knew)" is 4 minutes and 32 seconds long, making it an average length song for the commercial music scene of the 1970s.
|
Einstein ReferenceThe lyrics of the song reference famous physicist Albert Einstein's theory of relativity when they say, "He knew about the universe/ He knew about science/ He knew about the relativity."
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Portrait Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19159111/Kansas/Portrait>.
Discuss the Portrait Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In