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Pictures Of People
Black Lab Lyrics


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Nothing gets done
And everyone's tired
However every things fine
Everything comes in it's own good time
Pictures of people in magazines
I think that they're trying to tell me something
Pictures of people I've never met
Living inside my TV set
My heart gets so full
Driving around this town
Feel like Dr. Shivago
Lost in Chicago
Pictures of people never alone or confused
Just looking for something
Left at the side of the road
Pictures of people I never talk to
I want to say I'm pleased to meet you
Pictures of people I could believe in
If there was a way I could touch and feel them
I never see the same again
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
And I never see the same again, yeah
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
Everything gets quiet
I need help to remember
I feel no regret
The kindness of strangers
The kindness of strangers
Come down through the airwaves
Come down through the airwaves
Never alone or afraid
Never alone or afraid
Just searching for something
Left at the side of the road
Pictures of people, people around me
Never run out of things to tell them
Pictures of people, here in my mind
I carry them with me, all of the time
I never see the same again
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
And I never see the same again, yeah
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
What's left of you, what's left of you my friend
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
What's left of you, what's left of you my friend
Pictures of people
Pictures of people
How can I miss you, I've never met you
Pictures of people, pictures of people
How can I miss you, I've never met you
Pictures of people

Overall Meaning

In "Pictures of People," Black Lab sings about the disconnect between the images of happiness and perfection we see in the media and the feelings of loneliness and confusion we experience in our daily lives. The song takes on a mournful tone, with lines like "Nothing gets done and everyone's tired," conveying a sense of listlessness and aimlessness. The lyrics speak to a yearning for something more genuine than the superficial images we're bombarded with, as the singer wishes he could "touch and feel" the people he sees in magazines and on TV.


The song also references the "kindness of strangers" and the way that human connection can provide a sense of comfort and belonging. The line "I carry them with me, all of the time" suggests that even if we don't know the people we see in media, they become a sort of surrogate community for us. The final verse introduces the idea of death and loss, with the repeated refrain of "what's left of you, what's left of you my friend" suggesting that even when people are gone, they continue to exist in our memories and in the images we've seen of them.


Line by Line Meaning

Nothing gets done
No progress is made


And everyone's tired
Exhaustion is felt by all


However every things fine
Despite the exhaustion, everything is okay


Everything comes in it's own good time
Patience is necessary, as everything takes time


Pictures of people in magazines
Images of individuals in publications


I think that they're trying to tell me something
They seem to hold a message for me


Pictures of people I've never met
Photographs of strangers


Living inside my TV set
Displayed on my television screen


My heart gets so full
I feel deeply moved


Driving around this town
Navigating through the city


Feel like Dr. Shivago
Reminiscent of the singer in the novel and film "Doctor Zhivago"


Lost in Chicago
Feeling disoriented in the city of Chicago


Pictures of people never alone or confused
Images of individuals who appear to never feel isolated or uncertain


Just looking for something
Searching for a specific thing


Left at the side of the road
Abandoned and forgotten


Pictures of people I never talk to
Photographs of individuals I have not conversed with


I want to say I'm pleased to meet you
I wish to express my pleasure at making their acquaintance


Pictures of people I could believe in
Images of individuals who emit a sense of trustworthiness


If there was a way I could touch and feel them
If only I could personally interact with them


I never see the same again
My perception is permanently altered


Pictures of people
Images of individuals


Everything gets quiet
The environment becomes silent


I need help to remember
Assistance is required to recall past events


I feel no regret
I hold no remorse


The kindness of strangers
Acts of compassion from unfamiliar individuals


Come down through the airwaves
Transmitted via radio or television frequency


Never alone or afraid
Never feeling isolated or fearful


Just searching for something
Simply seeking out a particular thing


Pictures of people, people around me
Photographs of individuals in my vicinity


Never run out of things to tell them
Always having something to share with them


Pictures of people, here in my mind
Mental memories of individuals


I carry them with me, all of the time
They are always present in my thoughts


What's left of you, what's left of you my friend
The lasting impact of a departed acquaintance


How can I miss you, I've never met you
Questioning the emotional attachment to someone not physically met




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL DURHAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Kirsten Fitzner Beard

I've been a Black Lab fan since "Your Body Above Me" and can't quit them. NEVER WILL.  My favorite band. I'm also in "Pictures of People" at 14 seconds. I was in Cefalu Sicily and saw this beautiful couple at a table and had to make a point.

Terra Hottman

Beautiful voice & music💜Paul Durham's America's best kept secret🤘

Deuce Pickle

There's me at :51 with the Cowboys hat !
I remember watching this with excitement when they first released it to see if I had made the cut.
It's pretty cool to be in a video of one of your favorite bands of all time.

tokiokoetai

This song gives me chills.... makes me want to meet these people in the video and know their stories just because of the pictures.

Grant Voegtle

Lyrically my favorite Black Lab song. Raises very interesting questions about why we can attach ourselves to fictional characters and stories, or put celebrities up on pedestal even though they're really just normal people like us. At least, that's how I interpret the song.

Kirsten Fitzner Beard

real people, real moments in time :: great stuff.

sierranovember6

Awesome video. I didn't submit a picture, but I love this regardless. It is who Black Lab fans are. We are everyone. So many with one special thing in common... Black Lab.

Kevin Redding

I cannot claim to understand what this song is about, not 100%... but that is a characteristic of most of my favorite songs. Only thing I can say with certainty: its a damned good song.

tokiokoetai

This song always makes me cry *sniffle*

Mr.Matric

This song makes me look at the pictures of my Primary school friends and girlfriends,It makes me so sad that we aren't together anymore,even that i'm in the high school and i have many friends i miss my old friends that we're a real friends,that i grow up with.

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