Video hit Pink

P!nk - Family Portrait

Family Portrait is a song written by Pink and Scott Storch for Pink's second album Missundaztood (2001).

The song is about relationships and her family that was about to fall to pieces, portraying the conflict through the eyes of her as a child.

It was released as the album's fourth and final single in December 2002. It peaked in the top 20 in both the U.K. and U.S.

Pink told Q magazine that the song got her into trouble with her mother. The singer commented: "She went to the National Enquirer. We laugh about it now, but it wasn't the best way to address family problems."

Cultural impact

According to Pink's father, James Moore Jr., during an E! Entertainment's E! True Hollywood Story, this song has been unofficially named the national anthem for young kids who have been through the harsh effects of divorce of their parents: "I have got letters from parents thanking us from this song."

The song, which she wrote and composed in collaboration with Scott Storch, was still going strong as of late April 2012, with millions of hits on YouTube and millions of albums sold from Missundaztood. "It took me a while to listen to 'Family Portrait' without getting emotional," Pink's mother told E! True Hollywood Story.

Although the song addresses how Pink struggled through her parents's divorce, it is also addressed to kids, to encourage them to talk with their parents about how they feel about their divorce.

The lyrics:

Mama please stop cryin'

I can't stand the sound

Your pain is painful

And it's tearin' me down

I hear glasses breakin'

As I sit up in my bed

I told Dad you didn't mean

Those nasty things you said

You fight about money

'Bout me and my brother

And this I come home to

This is my shelter

It ain't easy, growin' up in World War III

Never knowin' what love could be

You'll see, I don't want love to destroy me

Like it has done my family

Can we work it out?

(Can we?)

Can we be a family?

(Can we?)

I promise I'll be better

(I promise)

Mommy, I'll do anything

(I'll do anything)

Can we work it out?

Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

Daddy, please don't leave

Daddy please stop yelling

(Stop)

I can't stand the sound

(Can't stand the sound)

Make Mama stop cryin'

'Cause I need you around

My mama, she loves you

(I know it)

No matter what she says is true

I know that she hurts you

But remember I love you too

I ran away today

Ran from the noise, ran away

(Ran away)

Don't wanna go back to that place

But don't have no choice, no way

It ain't easy growin' up in World War III

Never knowin' what love could be

That I've seen, I don't want love to destroy me

(I don't want love to destroy me)

Like it did my family

Can we work it out?

(Can we work it?)

Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

(I promise I'll do anything)

Mommy, I'll do anything

(To keep you better)

Can we work it out?

Can we be a family?

I promise I'll be better

(I promise, I promise)

Daddy, please don't leave

(Stay)

In our family portrait

(In our family portrait)

We look pretty happy

(We look pretty happy)

Let's play pretend

(Let's play pretend)

Let's act like it comes naturally

(That's right)

(That's right)

I don't wanna have to split the holidays

(No, no)

I don't want two addresses

(No)

I don't want a stepbrother anyways

And I don't want my Mommy

Have to change her last name!

In our family portrait

We look pretty happy

We look pretty normal

Let's go back to that

In our family portrait

We look pretty happy

Let's play pretend

Act like it goes naturally

In our family portrait

(Can we work it out?)

We look pretty happy

(Can we be a family?)

We look pretty normal

(I promise I'll be better)

Let's go back to that

(Mommy I'll do anything)

In our family portrait

(Can we work it out?)

We look pretty happy

(Can we be a family?)

Let's play pretend

(I promise I'll be better)

Act like it goes naturally

(Daddy please don't leave)

Oh let's go back oh lets go back to that

In our family portrait

(Can we work it out?)

We look pretty happy

(Can we be a family?)

We look pretty normal

(I promise I'll be better)

Lets go back to that

(Mommy I'll do anything)

In our family portrait

(Can we work it out?)

We look pretty happy

(Can we be a family?)

We look pretty normal

(I promise I'll be better)

Let's go back to that

(Mommy I'll do anything)