In 2011, Leftwich released his debut album, "Last Smoke Before the Snowstorm," produced by Ian Grimble. The album achieved commercial success, peaking at number 35 on the UK charts. Critically acclaimed, it was praised by The Fly as a "majestic debut" and received positive reviews from publications like The Skinny and the Sunday Express, with the latter describing it as "lovely." Songs such as "Shine" gained popularity, becoming Spotify's "Most addictive track of 2014" and accumulating over 150 million global Spotify plays. Additionally, "Atlas Hands" was featured in the Zillow TV commercial titled "Lake House" in 2015. During the same year, Leftwich co-wrote the song "Grow" with British artist Frances, which was featured in an Amazon UK TV advert.
Leftwich's second album, "After the Rain," was released in August 2016. Following the album's release, he embarked on an extensive tour from April 2016 to August 2017, performing songs from both his second album and his debut. The tour covered various countries, including the UK, Canada, USA, China, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and several Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Indonesia.
In recent years, Leftwich has released a series of single cover-tracks, including "Pure Morning" by Placebo, "Rebellion (Lies)" by Arcade Fire, "When You Were Young" by The Killers, and "Because of Toledo" by The Blue Nile. These releases showcase his versatility as an artist and his ability to reinterpret songs from diverse genres.
Throughout his career, Benjamin Francis Leftwich has made a significant impact, selling over 100,000 copies of his debut album and garnering millions of streams on digital platforms like Spotify. With his soulful folk-pop sound and introspective lyrics, he continues to captivate audiences around the world.
Pictures
Benjamin Francis Leftwich Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your best friend's house
Would you be quiet as
Words came out of their mouth
Stop, don't do it
I have been waiting for it
Stop, I knew it would come
If you find a god next to
Your girlfriend's bed
Would it be hard to
Sort out your spinning head
Stop, don't say that, dear
That you wanted him here
Stop, don't give him the clear
Take a picture of them
Take a picture of them
If you are afraid, don't be
I have the whole thing planned
We'll start in the ocean, baby
And when we find the land
We will be thankful to
All of our friends
That they didn't leave us
As we got to the end
Take a picture of them
Take a picture of them
Take a picture of them
Take a picture of them
If you find your faith in
Your parents' God
Don't be so quick to
Point out the flaws in it
You've been around and you've seen
The way that things work
But you need a compass to
Get around your house
The lyrics of Benjamin Francis Leftwich's song "Pictures" revolve around the consequences of our actions and decisions in life. The first verse describes the aftermath of damaging a friend's property and the fear of their reaction. The repetition of "stop" highlights the singer's awareness of the consequences and how the friend's reaction is inevitable. The second verse talks about infidelity, and how the guilt and confusion that come with it can be overwhelming. The phrase "take a picture of them" can imply wanting to preserve the moment or capturing something that's about to be gone.
The bridge of the song takes a turn to a more optimistic tone, where the singer tells themselves not to be afraid, as they have everything planned out. There is an underlying sense of trust and gratitude towards their friends, who will be there for them until the very end. The final verse talks about finding faith in something bigger than ourselves, specifically, the singer's parents' religion. Though it's not perfect, it's still a compass to find one's way around the chaos of the world.
Overall, the song urges listeners to be conscious of their decisions and actions, as they can have a profound effect on everything around them. The lyrics can also be interpreted as a reminder to appreciate the people around us and not take their support for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
If you crash a car into
If you make a mistake that hurts someone close to you
Your best friend's house
Someone you care deeply about
Would you be quiet as
Would you accept responsibility for your actions
Words came out of their mouth
As they react to what you've done
Stop, don't do it
Think twice before you act
I have been waiting for it
This is predictable behavior
Stop, I knew it would come
Don't act surprised
If you find a god next to
If you discover something unexpected that challenges your beliefs
Your girlfriend's bed
In a place that is intimate to you
Would it be hard to
Would it be difficult to process
Sort out your spinning head
To understand your thoughts and feelings
Stop, don't say that, dear
Don't reveal what you're really feeling
That you wanted him here
That you're not over your attraction to someone else
Stop, don't give him the clear
Don't make a decision you'll regret
Take a picture of them
Capture the moment before it disappears
If you are afraid, don't be
Don't let fear control you
I have the whole thing planned
Trust me, I have a plan
We'll start in the ocean, baby
We'll begin this adventure together
And when we find the land
We'll reach our destination
We will be thankful to
We'll appreciate
All of our friends
Everyone who supported us along the way
That they didn't leave us
They stuck with us even when it wasn't easy
As we got to the end
As we accomplished our goal
If you find your faith in
If you discover meaning in
Your parents' God
Your family's belief system
Don't be so quick to
Be cautious of
Point out the flaws in it
Critique or dismiss it
You've been around and you've seen
You have life experience
The way that things work
You understand how the world operates
But you need a compass to
But you still need guidance to
Get around your house
Navigate your personal life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN J. PETER ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RADTRIP
If you crash a car into
Your best friend's house
Would you be quiet as
Words came out of their mouth
Stop, don't do it
I have been waiting for it
Stop, I knew it would come
If you find a god next to
Your girlfriend's bed
Would it be hard to
Sort out your spinning head
Stop, don't say that, dear
That you wanted him here
Stop, don't give him the clear
Take a picture of them
Take a picture of them
If you are afraid, don't be
I have the whole thing planned
We'll start in the ocean, baby
And when we find the land
We will be thankful to
All of our friends
That they didn't leave us
As we got to the end
@BenjaminLeftwich
Thanks for all the kind comments. 'Pictures' will be my next single, released on February 20th. I will also be touring the UK in February, dates on sale now! x
@NaCreaters
This song makes me sad, but also gives me a sensation of comfort at the same time
@mahmudhassan9021
Duality inside our imagination.
@audrina7023
I feel the same thing
@waynecampbell5928
Melancholic... perhaps...
@waynecampbell5928
Seems to be speaking to the sense of betrayal endured and overcome after catching a lover cheating...
Take a picture of it... grow through it... and find strength in your legacy of faith to live on... move on.
@xDDrobii
Yess, me too
@fairydust15
I found my old iPod the other day. I haven't used it in about three years and when I began listening to an old playlist, I rediscovered this song. I'm so annoyed with myself for forgetting this song but on the other hand I'm so happy I discovered it again. Listening to it is like taking a trip down memory lane, like looking at a picture from the past.
@Animindstudio
I used to listen to this album when I drove to and from work as an accountant apprentice... it was with the help of this man and his music which drove me to quit my job and follow my heart and study to become a filmmaker. Best decision I've ever made. Thanks Benjo.
@Whateverable111
God I need to talk to someone about how GOOD this is... It makes me feel so alone, especially at 3 AM while thinking about life and reading some great books... There's no way to explain what I'm feeling right now.