Pablo Picasso
David Bowie Lyrics

Swinging on the back porch
Pablo Picasso is enjoying a relaxing moment on his back porch.

Jumping off a big log
Pablo Picasso is feeling carefree and adventurous, jumping off a large log.

Pablo's feeling better now
Pablo Picasso is in a happier and more positive state of mind.

Hanging by his finger nails
Pablo Picasso is feeling playful, perhaps hanging upside down from a tree branch or other support by his fingers.

Well some people try to pick up girls
Some men try to attract or pursue women romantically.

They get called assholes
These men are often criticized or rejected by women.

This never happened to Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso was successful in attracting women and was never rejected or criticized by them.

The girls would turn the color of a juicy avocado
Women would become visibly excited or aroused when they saw Pablo Picasso, like the skin of a ripe avocado.

When he would drive down their street in his El Dorado
When Pablo Picasso would cruise down their street in his luxurious Cadillac El Dorado, women would be especially drawn to him.

He could walk down your street
Pablo Picasso had a magnetic and attractive presence, even if he was just walking down the street.

Girls could not resist his stare
Women were captivated by Pablo Picasso's gaze and found him very appealing.

So Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole
Because women were so attracted to him, Pablo Picasso never experienced rejection or criticism from them and was never called an asshole like other men.

Not like you
The singer contrasts Pablo Picasso's success in attracting women with the failed attempts of other men, perhaps including the listener.

Well he was only 5'3"
Despite his relatively small stature, Pablo Picasso was still very successful with women, which adds to his mystique.

But girls could not resist his stare
Women found Pablo Picasso's gaze captivating and alluring, regardless of his height or physical appearance.

Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
The singer repeats that Pablo Picasso never experienced rejection or criticism from women and was always successful in attracting them.

Not in New York
The success and allure of Pablo Picasso was not limited to a particular location or city, even the urban and cosmopolitan New York City.

Hanging by his picture nails
The singer changes the phrasing of the final line to be a play on words with Pablo Picasso's profession as a painter, suggesting that he is literally hanging pictures by nails and continuing to enjoy his playful and carefree attitude.