Photographs
Kensington Prairie Lyrics
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Just like these photographs
And albums lying on
The floor next to you.
Who were we yesterday
And who are we tomorrow
Just a collage of memories-
Pictures of you and me.
If we develop all the negatives,
Can we piece together all the substance-
Of years in our hearts.
People we once knew
Separated by miles
But you're close enough to touch
Here on the black and white.
Smiles caught on a page
Captured in still life
Forced inside wooden frames -
Just like these photographs.
And if we develop all the negatives
Can we piece together all the substance-
Of years in our hearts.
Life goes by so fast,
Just like these photographs.
The song "Photographs" by Kensington Prairie is a philosophical contemplation on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of memories. The lyrics are deeply introspective, asking questions about the nature of identity and the passing of time. The opening lines, "Life goes by so fast / Just like these photographs," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer reflects on how quickly time passes, and how photographs can serve as a tangible reminder of the people and moments that make up our lives.
As the song progresses, the lyrics delve deeper into the meaning behind these images. The singer wonders who they were yesterday, and who they will be tomorrow - emphasizing the transience of identity. They suggest that the memories captured in these photographs can serve as a "collage" of our experiences, helping to define who we are in retrospect. The chorus repeats the refrain, "If we develop all the negatives / Can we piece together all the substance / Of years in our hearts?" This sentiment encapsulates the idea that memories are like undeveloped negatives - they have the potential to capture something meaningful, but it is up to us to develop them into something more.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are imbued with a sense of nostalgia and wistfulness. The references to old friends and distant loved ones suggest that the singer is reflecting on their past experiences, and wondering where the time has gone. The final lines, "Life goes by so fast / Just like these photographs," drive home the idea that our lives are fleeting, and that our memories are all we have to hold onto.
Line by Line Meaning
Life goes by so fast
The speed at which one's life passes by is similar to that of a photograph.
Just like these photographs
The comparison between photographs and life is made again to illustrate how quickly they both pass by.
And albums lying on
The presence of physical photo albums lying around is the context of the comparison between life and photographs.
The floor next to you.
The location of the albums is given as next to 'you,' the listener.
Who were we yesterday
The rhetorical question about the past is asked to the listener.
And who are we tomorrow
The rhetorical question about the future is asked to the listener.
Just a collage of memories-
The answer to the previous questions is given as a collage of memories.
Pictures of you and me.
The focus of these memories is on the listener and the singer.
If we develop all the negatives,
A hypothetical situation is posed where the negatives of all photographs are developed.
Can we piece together all the substance-
The purpose of developing all negatives is to piece together a complete representation of the past.
Of years in our hearts.
The past is described as being stored within 'our hearts.'
People we once knew
The focus shifts to the people in the photographs.
Separated by miles
The people in the photographs are now separated, perhaps by distance.
But you're close enough to touch
Despite the distance, the people in the photographs are still able to be 'touched' emotionally.
Here on the black and white.
The black and white colors of the photographs emphasize their antiquity and also represent the simplicity of the past.
Smiles caught on a page
The literal image of a smile being caught on a page is given and the smiles signify happiness and fond memories.
Captured in still life
The phrase further emphasizes the static, unchanging nature of photographs.
Forced inside wooden frames -
The confinement of photographs within wooden frames represents the way that memories are held onto and preserved.
Just like these photographs.
The chorus is repeated to reinforce the theme of life passing by quickly, just like photographs.
Contributed by Olivia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.