Look at this photograph
Every time I do it makes me laugh
How did our eyes get so red?
And what the hell is on Joey's head?

This is where I grew up
I think the present owner fixed it up
I never knew we ever went without
The second floor is hard for sneakin' out

And this is where I went to school
Most of the time I had better things to do
Criminal record says I broke in twice
I must of done it half a dozen times

I wonder if it's too late
Should I go back and try to graduate?
Lot's better now than it was back then
If I was them, I wouldn't let me in
Oh, whoa, whoa, oh God, I, I

Every memory of lookin' out the back door
I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye
Every memory of walkin' out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was lookin' for
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye

Good, good, good, goodbye

Remember the old arcade?
Blew every dollar that we ever made
The cops hated us hangin' out
They said somebody went and burnt it down

We use to listen to the radio
And sing along with every song we know
We said someday we'd find out how it feels
To sing to more than just a steering wheel

Kim's the first girl I kissed
I was so nervous that I nearly missed
She's had a couple of kids since then
I haven't seen her since God knows when
Oh, whoa, whoa, oh God, I, I

Every memory of lookin' out the back door
I had the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye
Every memory of walkin' out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was lookin' for
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye

(I miss) I miss that town
(I miss) I miss their faces
(You can't) you can't erase
(You can't) you can't replace it
(I miss) I miss it now
(I can't) I can't believe it
(So hard) so hard to stay
(Too hard) too hard to leave it

If I could relive those days
I know the one thing that would never change

Every memory of lookin' out the back door
I have the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye
Every memory of walkin' out the front door
I found the photo of the friend that I was lookin' for
It's hard to say it
Time to say it
Good bye, good bye

Look at this photograph
Every time I do it makes me laugh
Every time I do it makes me


Lyrics submitted by pharmdoc299, edited by AbbieT

Photograph [Acoustic] Lyrics as written by Daniel Patrick Adair Chad Kroeger

Lyrics © Regard Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Photograph song meanings
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126 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    This is succh a great song. I think of my old friends from JR. high, and high school. I miss those days. When you could play with your friends and not worry about life. All you were worried about is if you would be able to play the next night. Brings back some good memories, in the same breath makes me a little teary-eyed, know that we are getting older and knowing the past is the past and our lives must move forward. I hope the rest of the album i just as good as this song.

    dmbfan1on August 22, 2005   Link
  • +4
    Memory

    I think everyone can relate to this song Ive only been out of high school, but so much has happened since then, ive been to Iraq twice I married a girl who actually loved me back in high school but i was to dumb to notice :-)

    Minor interpretation, i always thought that he was giving the impression of kinda losing it at the end of each major section, it almost sounds like hes gonna cry before the breaks into the refrain,

    Mack1986on July 31, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I absolutely love this song. I'm young enough that I've grown up with it, and I know every word of it. Makes me nostalgic for my childhood...and wondering what memories I'll create and keep during high school.

    oceanheart13on July 25, 2011   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    One of my guy friends loved this song. unfortunately he passed away in a car accident. his death devastated us all. he was a senior in high school and a great person to be around. i didn't know him until we had p.e. together, we became pretty good friends. i remember him and another guy listening to this song on my ipod, singing along. this song played at his funeral. and shortly after his death i turned my radio on and the part of the song that played was

    "I miss that town, I miss the faces. Can't care to erase, Can't care to replace it. I miss it now, I can't believe it, So hard to stay, too hard to leave it. I could relive those days I know the one thing that would never change.

    Every memory of looking out the back door, I have the photo album spread out on my bedroom floor. It's hard to say it, Time to say it, Goodbye, goodbye."

    So of course I started crying my eyes out thinking about the irony of the song. this truly was spanky's song. and like the writer of the song, i don't think he would've changed anything about his life. R.I.P. Spanky.

    guitarbrat5592on June 11, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Hey there, This song might be a bit straightforward and indeed everyone can relate to it as mentioned below, but I'm a freak if it's about lyrics. I want to know more. Don't you think the things mentioned in the song, sneaking out, the first girl Chad kissed, the arcane and where he used to live are memories just like photo's, fragments. Both photo's and memories are snapshots. Besides that I think the song is not only about remembering, it's also about letting go, isn't it? "It's hard to say it Time to say it Good bye, good bye" sounds like the song is about realizing his youth is gone, these times have passed and he has to move on huh?"I miss the town, I miss the faces, you can't erase, you can't replace it, I miss it now, I can't believe it, so hard to stay, too hard to leave it" describing the difficulty. Agree?

    Anthorason June 07, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    First of all, i want to say that nickelback rocks and if anyone says they try or tried to be "pop rock" i think think they need to buy all their Cds and listen to them because they are WRONG. And yes im talking to you NO CODE 79. However, i would agree with you in the sense that their album Curb was pretty bad for Nickelback. Anyway, Photograph is an awesome song and its definetly about Chads home town and how he remembers what happened their and how much he misses it, but its time to let it go and move on. This is a really great song and i would advise anyone who doesnt have it to go out there and buy it.

    dmk89on November 08, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is about rememboring the good times uve had and then realizing that u have to grow up even tho you really dont want to

    this is the perfect song to listen to on a hot summer day when your by urself

    sobored916on December 28, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    to those guys who say that all of the Nickelback songs are the same: well this is realy distinguished from their other songs, actually the whole album is quite different. despite of being simple, its realy beautiful. i also like "figured you out" cuz its Unique too

    ColdenScenceon February 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    what the hell IS on Joey's head??? will someone please tell me

    k8t11on August 25, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    remembering the old times.. ^_^

    kevonovon November 09, 2010   Link

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