In the late 1980s Brickell was the lead singer with the (now renamed) folk-rock group Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, whose 1988 debut album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars was a critical and commercial success. The band's follow-up album, Ghost of a Dog (1990), fared less well. As a solo artist, Brickell released Picture Perfect Morning (1994) and Volcano (2003). In 2006 she reunited with some of the original members of the New Bohemians and they released the Stranger Things album.
Brickell had a role as a folk singer in the 1989 film Born on the Fourth of July. Her version of Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" is featured on the film's soundtrack. Many computer users know her from the "Good Times" video which was included as part of the multimedia samples on the Windows 95 installation CD-ROM.
Brickell married songwriter Paul Simon in 1992. They have three children.
Picture Perfect Morning
Edie Brickell Lyrics
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Hello itself is hard enough
It kills to let a good thing die
And I don't want to see it go bad
Picture perfect morning
Just before the dawn
And city lights are dyingSing in the cathedral
Face in the stained glass is crying
I won't let myself look at you
And see you like I really do
It's hard to believe
That you're really here
So I just pretend that you're not there
Picture perfect morning
Just before the dawn
And city lights are dying
Sing in the cathedral
Face in the stained glass is crying
Picture perfect morning
Just before the dawn
And city lights are dying
Sing in the cathedral
Face in the stained glass is crying
And when my plane flew through the rain
It shook the wings and people screamed
But I was so sure that I'd see you again
I was not afraid of anything
The lyrics to Edie Brickell's song "Picture Perfect Morning" express a sense of hesitancy and reluctance to let go of something good, even if it may not be perfect. The first verse highlights the difficulty the singer has with goodbyes and how just saying hello can be challenging enough. They express a fear of allowing something good to die or go bad, indicating a desire to hold on to positive things as long as possible.
The chorus of the song describes a picture perfect morning just before dawn, with city lights dying and singing in the cathedral. The face in the stained glass is crying, a visual metaphor that could symbolize the singer's inner emotions. Here, the singer seems to be grasping at the beauty of the moment, despite any underlying sadness or worries they might be feeling. In the second verse, the singer struggles to acknowledge their true feelings about someone, possibly a lover or a friend. They admit it's hard to believe that this person is really here, so they pretend that they're not there.
Finally, the last verse speaks of flying through the rain and not being afraid of anything because the singer is so sure that they will see this person again. Here, the singer may be addressing the anxiety and uncertainty that often accompanies long-distance relationships or separations. Overall, the song conveys a bittersweet sense of appreciation for good things and the struggle to let go of them.
Line by Line Meaning
I haven't learned to say goodbye
Saying goodbye is difficult and I have not yet learned how to do it.
Hello itself is hard enough
Starting new relationships or even conversations is just as difficult as ending them.
It kills to let a good thing die
Ending something good can be emotionally painful and may cause grief.
And I don't want to see it go bad
It's better to keep a good thing, even if it's not perfect, than to let it get worse.
Picture perfect morning
A morning that is so beautiful and perfect it looks like a picture or painting.
Just before the dawn
A time of day when light is just starting to break, but the sun has not yet risen.
And city lights are dying
The street lights and other lights in the city are turning off as the sun rises and it becomes lighter outside.
Sing in the cathedral
Singing in a cathedral, which is a large and often beautiful church, can be a very spiritual and emotional experience.
Face in the stained glass is crying
Looking at the colorful and intricate designs in the stained glass windows in a cathedral can evoke strong emotions, such as sadness or mourning.
I won't let myself look at you
I am avoiding looking at you because I am afraid of my true feelings for you.
And see you like I really do
If I allow myself to look at you without any filters or defenses, I would see you in a more vulnerable and honest light.
It's hard to believe
I have a hard time accepting or understanding something that seems unlikely or too good to be true.
That you're really here
I can't believe that you are physically present and in my life.
So I just pretend that you're not there
I am avoiding interacting with you or acknowledging your presence because it is too overwhelming or confusing for me.
And when my plane flew through the rain
During my flight, there was heavy rain and turbulence.
It shook the wings and people screamed
The turbulence was so intense that it caused the airplane wings to shake and other passengers to scream or panic.
But I was so sure that I'd see you again
Despite the danger and stress of the flight, I had a steadfast belief that I would be reunited with the person I care about.
I was not afraid of anything
My love and commitment to this person gives me the strength and courage to face any challenge or obstacle.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDIE ARLISA BRICKELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind