This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I took pictures of houses with the light on behind them
It reminded me of time I spent with you
It was beautiful
It was beautiful
It was beautiful, oh
Oh, to think of you
The unbreakable humming of the birds outside my window
Draw away all I used to ignore
It was so simple
It was so simple
It was so simple, oh
Oh, to be with you
Oh, come on say it plainly before words lose their meaning
Surround me and everyone that I love
I can feel things are changing
Summertime is slowly sinking
And I remember that I still believe
In purity
In purity
In purity, oh
Oh, I still believe
Will I ever wake from this dream
To untie all the ships saling away from me?
It will be beautiful
It will be beautiful
It will be beautiful, oh
Oh, to watch them leave
Oh yeah
It reminded me of time I spent with you
It was beautiful
It was beautiful
It was beautiful, oh
Oh, to think of you
The unbreakable humming of the birds outside my window
Draw away all I used to ignore
It was so simple
It was so simple
It was so simple, oh
Oh, to be with you
Oh, come on say it plainly before words lose their meaning
Surround me and everyone that I love
I can feel things are changing
Summertime is slowly sinking
And I remember that I still believe
In purity
In purity
In purity, oh
Oh, I still believe
Will I ever wake from this dream
To untie all the ships saling away from me?
It will be beautiful
It will be beautiful
It will be beautiful, oh
Oh, to watch them leave
Oh yeah
Lyrics submitted by Stephen Flow
Pictures of Houses Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
this one is good but i can't really define what it means, its just so pretty and woo! is an amazing album
maybe she's starting to see the details in every little thing and it reminds her of someone...like those objects/details pull on strings attached to memories. i do that. i pull strings of thoughts and memory then i choke myself with it to forget about her. or in this case "untie all the ships sailing away from me" i really don't know anything.
I love this song so much. The lyrics are amazing and I love the sound, too.
this is the kind of love i want. simple and beautiful. this song captures it so well.
woo!
purity is a word that is rarely used these days.
i love hearing it in this song. it gives me goosebumps.
isn't it "the 'unbreakable' humming of the birds outside my window" ?
i guess its not crucial to the lyrics even if it is. Just what I hear.
I thought it was 'breakable', too. This is the first Tilly song I ever heard, and I didn't think much of it until a few years later (i'e' a few weeks ago), when I heard 'Beat Control' on the radio. Then I looked up all the Tilly songs I could listen to for free via the internet. I'm glad I did. It is corny but true to say that my life would be a little different without them.
"Will I ever wake from this dream To untie all the ships sailing away From me It will be beautiful To watch them leave"
some of my favorite lyrics ever. i can definitely relate to this. you have this dream of being with someone but you know it will never happen...so you have to 'wake up' from it and let it go...let them go. and you know it will just be so beautiful to 'watch them leave'. i can't wait