Postcard
Julianna Zachariou Lyrics

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forever on a postcard
is where forever you will be
just a stack of tourist photos
in the mailbox down the street

you’re just faded ink and cardstock
a shadow tac’d upon my wall
you say your searching is almost over

and you’ll be back before the fall

but love you’ve fallen for the island
your heart you’ve given to the sea

my dear forever on a postcard
is never coming home to me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Julianna Zachariou's song "Postcard" depict a bittersweet longing for a loved one who is away and unreachable. The singer describes their beloved as being forever trapped on a postcard, symbolizing their absence and distance. The image of tourist photos in a mailbox down the street further emphasizes the physical separation and the fading nature of their connection.

The second stanza explores the ephemeral and transient nature of their relationship. The reference to faded ink and cardstock portrays the fading memories and emotions associated with their love. The shadow tacked upon the wall portrays the presence of their beloved, but only as a ghostly image. The lyrics suggest that the person on the postcard promises to come back before fall, indicating a temporary absence. However, it becomes clear that the loved one has fallen for the island and the sea, which implies that their heart now belongs elsewhere. The singer realizes that their beloved will never return, remaining forever on a postcard, and the hope of them coming home dissipates.

Despite the brevity of the lyrics, the emotional impact of "Postcard" lies in its poignant portrayal of longing, distance, and the realization of a love lost. It expresses the longing for a connection that is forever out of reach and the heartache of accepting that their beloved will never return.

Line by Line Meaning

forever on a postcard
Eternity captured in a small printed image

is where forever you will be
Your existence will forever reside in this limited space

just a stack of tourist photos
Merely a collection of pictures taken by visitors

in the mailbox down the street
Contained within a mailbox nearby

you’re just faded ink and cardstock
You've become a blurred impression on paper

a shadow tac’d upon my wall
A silhouette hanging with a pushpin on my wall

you say your searching is almost over
You claim to be reaching the end of your quest

and you’ll be back before the fall
You promise a return before autumn arrives

but love you’ve fallen for the island
Yet, my dear, you've grown enamored by the island

your heart you’ve given to the sea
You've surrendered your heart to the embrace of the ocean

my dear forever on a postcard
My beloved, eternally captured in a small printed image