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Slow Graffiti Lyrics
There's a portrait
In a back room
Which I keep for days upon
Which I relent
And gaze for hours on the muscle, skin, and bone
Of some imaginary friend
So how about it?
Show me, please, how I will look in twenty years
And let me please interpret history
In every line and scar that's painted there in front of me
It doesn't matter what I'm thinking
What I tell myself to do
I'll end up calling
I stay in to defrost the fridge
Now the kid has gone to bed
A feeling of dread
At least when she's around
The trouble's there
It's worse to wake up with her falling around the room
Listen, Johnny
You're like a mother
To the girl you've fallen for
And you're still falling
Listen, Johnny
You're like a mother to the girl you've fallen for
And you're still falling
And if they come tonight
You'll roll up tight
And take whatever's coming to you, boy
In a back room
Which I keep for days upon
Which I relent
And gaze for hours on the muscle, skin, and bone
Of some imaginary friend
Show me, please, how I will look in twenty years
And let me please interpret history
In every line and scar that's painted there in front of me
What I tell myself to do
I'll end up calling
Now the kid has gone to bed
A feeling of dread
At least when she's around
The trouble's there
It's worse to wake up with her falling around the room
You're like a mother
To the girl you've fallen for
And you're still falling
You're like a mother to the girl you've fallen for
And you're still falling
And if they come tonight
You'll roll up tight
And take whatever's coming to you, boy
Song Info
Submitted by
fratboy_rick On Jun 13, 2005
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I always saw the 'portrait in the back room' as being a mirror. He's staring at himself and being unable to recognize himself anymore after all the abuse and stress he's putting himself through taking care of this girl who seems to have serious issues (alcohol? drugs?). Yet he can't pull himself away, no matter what his friends advise him to do, he's still falling for her and with her into her own pit of despair.
This is one of my top 5 or so favorite songs of all time and I am dumbfounded that it has no comments. Lyrics don't get much better than those first 3 stanzas..
I agree 100%
I agree 100%
Stuarts voice is amazing in this song. I also like the way it starts out with just Stuart and the instruments come in after the first verse. Of course, B&S does this a lot. (The State I'm In, It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career, I Fought In A War, Beautiful, etc.). This is just more proof that even their B-Sides are absolutely amazing.
Stuarts voice is amazing in this song. I also like the way it starts out with just Stuart and the instruments come in after the first verse. Of course, B&S does this a lot. (The State I'm In, It Could Have Been A Brilliant Career, I Fought In A War, Beautiful, etc.). This is just more proof that even their B-Sides are absolutely amazing.
i wish i could say that i understood what this song was about does anyone know?
It's a great song (for one so short). I think it's just about a lad who has to look after his volatile girlfriend. He's worried about it's effects on him if it's a long lasting relationship and he uses this portrait to explore his fars. I used to think that there was a Dorian Grey ref in the first verse but I don't think so any more. It's intersting that the imaginary friend theme re-emerges on funny little frog.
Belle and Sebastian must be one of the most underappreciated band ever. This is amazingly beautiful.
This too is my favorite Belle and Sebastian song, yet I don't have the slightest idea what it means.. I guess I agree with Sparker, about a guy looking after his gf.
I believe it should be:
Which I keep for days Upon which I relent
The first two stanzas remind me of The Picture Of Dorian Grey.