Thematically the track sees Cole examining the state of romance and relationships in the social media era. Social media these days can be seen as a drug, relating to the album’s title.
Photograph
J. Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't even know your name
Wonder if you'd follow back
I hope to see you one day
I won't show my niggas now
I'll keep this one for myself
Love today's gone digital
And it's messing with my health (yeah)
Damn, I love your sense of humor
You don't get caught up in rumors
You don't be talking 'bout who fuckin' who
And I notice the way you maneuver
Sexy, but never show too much
Ain't heard from you in like, two months
All of a sudden, you pop on my line
You could make time stop on a dime
I think you mastered the art of sublime
Your type is harder to find
You could turn water to wine, yeah
You could turn water to wine, yeah
I think you mastered the art of sublime
Your type is harder to find
You could turn water to wine, yeah
You could turn water to wine, feel me
Niggas be talkin' so slick (uh)
I'm not the nigga for lip (yeah)
Puttin' my heart in the click (yeah)
Can't see my heart, it don't fit (yeah)
Don't think I'm built for this shit (yeah)
Too busy thinking what if (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
Niggas be talkin' so slick (yeah)
I'm not the nigga for lip (yeah)
Puttin' my heart in the click (yeah)
Can't see my heart it don't fit (yeah)
Don't think I'm built for this shit (yeah)
Too busy thinking what if (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (mm)
Fell in love through a photograph
I don't even know your name
Wonder if you'd follow back
I hope to see you one day
I won't show my niggas now
I'll keep this one for myself
Love today's gone digital
And it's messing with my health (yeah)
Feel like I gotta say somethin'
Thought of you got my heart jumpin'
But I can't come up with nothin' (no)
But I can't come up with nothin'
I put it off for a day, I come back around your way
Searching for what I could say
That accurately could convey
The way that I feel in the word
That's different than what you done heard
So many done hit you with game
So many been sent to the curb
And I did not come here to play
And I did not come to observe
And I did not come here to play
But I did not come to observe
Feel me
Niggas be talkin' so slick (uh)
I'm not the nigga for lip (yeah)
Puttin' my heart in the click (yeah)
Can't see my heart, it don't fit (yeah)
Don't think I'm built for this shit (yeah)
Too busy thinking what if (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
Niggas be talkin' so slick (yeah)
I'm not the nigga for lip (yeah)
Puttin' my heart in the click (yeah)
Can't see my heart it don't fit (yeah)
Don't think I'm built for this shit (yeah)
Too busy thinking what if (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I shoot my shot and it brick (mm)
Fell in love through a photograph
I don't even know your name
Wonder if you'd follow back
I hope to see you one day
I won't show my niggas now
I'll keep this one for myself
Love today's gone digital
And it's messing with my health
In J.Cole's song "Photograph," the artist expresses the experience of falling in love with someone they have never met in person, but rather through a photograph. The opening bars introduce the concept of falling in love with someone you don't know, wondering if they'd reciprocate the feelings if they knew you existed. J.Cole expresses the fear of showing anyone the photograph, perhaps out of fear of judgment or ridicule from his peers. He reflects on the ways in which love has changed in the digital age, that physical interaction has been replaced by virtual connections.
The song then shifts to describing the mystery person behind the photograph, with J.Cole admiring their sense of humor and non-judgmental personality. He acknowledges that their traits are rare, and adds that these days, people who embody these characteristics are hard to come by. J.Cole notes the infrequency of communication between himself and the mysterious figure, but when they do speak, it feels like time stops, emphasizing the importance of the connection despite the lack of physical presence.
The lyrics continue to describe J.Cole's hesitancy and uncertainty in navigating romantic relationships. He admits to being inexperienced and also being aware of how other men have mistreated the object of his affection. The repetition of the line, "Niggas be talking so slick, I'm not the nigga for lip," suggests that J.Cole recognizes the pressure to speak and act confidently in order to impress a potential romantic partner, but he can't bring himself to do so because it doesn't feel genuine. In the final verse, J.Cole expresses his hesitancy to reach out to the person in the photograph, as he struggles to find the right words to express his feelings, but remains committed to doing so at some point in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
Fell in love through a photograph
I developed feelings for someone I only saw in a picture
I don't even know your name
I am not acquainted with the person I fell in love with
Wonder if you'd follow back
I hope the person I am in love with will follow me back on social media
I hope to see you one day
I am hopeful to someday meet the person I have fallen in love with
I won't show my niggas now
I want to keep my feelings for this person a secret from my friends
I'll keep this one for myself
I want to keep this love interest to myself for now
Love today's gone digital
The way we experience love has become more reliant on technology
And it's messing with my health
This reliance on technology for love is negatively impacting my well-being
Damn, I love your sense of humor
I am attracted to the person's sense of humor
You don't get caught up in rumors
I appreciate that the person is not involved in gossip or drama
You don't be talking 'bout who fuckin' who
I like that the person is respectful and not discussing people's sex lives
And I notice the way you maneuver
I admire the way the person carries themselves
Sexy, but never show too much
I find the person attractive, but appreciate that they don't show too much skin or act in a way that is overly suggestive
Ain't heard from you in like, two months
I have not had any contact with the person for a couple of months
All of a sudden, you pop on my line
The person unexpectedly contacts me
You could make time stop on a dime
The person has a powerful effect on me
I think you mastered the art of sublime
I think the person has mastered the art of being subtle and refined
Your type is harder to find
I think this person is special and rare
You could turn water to wine, yeah
I think the person has the ability to create something amazing out of nothing
I think you mastered the art of sublime
I think the person has mastered the art of being subtle and refined
Your type is harder to find
I think this person is special and rare
You could turn water to wine, yeah
I think the person has the ability to create something amazing out of nothing
Niggas be talkin' so slick (ugh)
Some people speak in a manipulative or insincere manner
I'm not the nigga for lip (yeah)
I am not interested in insincere or manipulative talk
Puttin' my heart in the click (yeah)
I am opening up and being vulnerable online
Can't see my heart, it don't fit (yeah)
I am being vulnerable online, but it's not easy for me
Don't think I'm built for this shit (yeah)
I am unsure if I have the emotional capacity to handle online dating and relationships
Too busy thinking what if (yeah)
I am too preoccupied with what could go wrong in this relationship
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I try to make advances towards the person, but it doesn't work out
I shoot my shot and it brick (yeah)
I try to make advances towards the person, but it doesn't work out
Feel like I gotta say somethin'
I feel compelled to tell the person how I feel
Thought of you got my heart jumpin'
Thinking about the person makes me feel excited and nervous
But I can't come up with nothin' (no)
I struggle to find the right words to express myself to the person
I put it off for a day, I come back around your way
I delay expressing my feelings, but eventually make my way back to the person
Searching for what I could say
I am trying to come up with the right words to express myself
That accurately could convey
I want my words to accurately express how I feel
The way that I feel in the word
I want to express how I feel in a way that is authentic and genuine
That's different than what you done heard
I want the person to know that my feelings are genuine and unique to them
So many done hit you wit game
The person has been pursued by many insincere suitors
So many been sent to the curb
People who have pursued the person have been rejected
And I did not come here to play
I am serious about pursuing a relationship with the person
And I did not come to observe
I am not just watching from the sidelines, I want to actively pursue a relationship
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jermaine Cole, Jay Livingston, Francis Victor Walter Hime, Raymond B. Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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