This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds)

Peter Gabriel

Flying birds
Excellent birds
Watch them fly, there they go
Falling snow
Excellent snow
Here it comes. watch it fall

Long words
Excellent words
I can hear them now

This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture

I'm sitting by the window
Watching the snow fall
I'm looking out
And I'm moving, turning in time
Catching up. moving in
Jump up! I can land on my feet. look out!

This is the picture, this is the picture
This is the picture, this is the picture

Looking out. watching out
When I see the future I close my eyes
I can see it now

I see pictures of people, rising up
Pictures of people, falling down
I see pictures of people
They're standing on their heads, they're ready
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!
They're looking out, look out!
They're watching out, watch out!

I see pictures of people
I see pictures of people


Lyrics submitted by Golgotha

This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) Lyrics as written by Laurie Anderson Peter Gabriel

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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This Is the Picture (Excellent Birds) song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +2
    My InterpretationThis song is most likely a criticism of lazy television watchers. Especially how they vicariously live through the TV set without ever doing a thing. The stuff in the present tense is mocking of what is going on in the brain when you watch TV, which - by the way - induces the same brain patterns as staring at a wall.
    scytheyeon April 01, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentA good example of how lyrics can be interpreted based on one's personal experiences. When I was much younger, and even more stupid, I had been listening to the "So" album a lot. I had a terrifying drug experience while in the woods outside my school. I could see the soccer fields from where I was laying (I was immobile) There were seagulls walking around and it was raining and this song kept playing in my head over and over again. I was positive that the seagulls were the excellent birds. Now whenever I hear it, I am so thankful that I survived my stupid years!
    gobeyinstraineron April 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is a weird fuckin song hahaha
    its a really cool one though...quite trippy. although, not on e of the best on So
    TheSyndicate88on January 07, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIt sounds like both singers are hypnotized in this song. I don't know if that's intentional...
    EnduringChillon June 05, 2012   Link

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