Harlem River marked the solo debut. Known for his work as the singer/guitarist for the Brooklyn band The Babies and bassist for Woods, the Kansas City native and new Los Angeles resident, calls the record “an homage to New York City,” his adopted home for the past five years.
This is a photograph
Kevin Morby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A window to the past
Of your father on the front lawn
With no shirt on
Ready to take the world on
Beneath the West Texas sun
The year that you were born
The year that you are now
His daughter and his baby boy
Got a glimmer in his eye
Seems to say, this is what I'll miss after I die
And this is what I'll miss about being alive
My body
My girls
My boy
The sun
Now time's the undefeated
The heavyweight champ
Laughing in his face
As it dances like Sugar Ray
Used to be, "C'mon, c'mon"
But now, "No mas, no mas"
Used to be "C'mon, c'mon"
But now "No mas, no mas"
And this is a photograph
A window to the past
Of your mother in a skirt
In the cool Kentucky dirt
Laughing in the garden
Back where it all started
With a smile on her face
Everything in its place
Got a glimmer in her eye
Seems to say, this is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss after I die
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss after I die
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss about being alive
This is what I'll miss after I die
This is a photograph
A window to the past
Of me on a front lawn
Ready to take the world on
Beneath the Tennessee sun
Inside the kingdom
Got a glimmer in my eye
Seems to say
"These lyrics describe the power and nostalgia of photographs as windows into the past. The song opens with a photograph of the singer's father on the front lawn, shirtless and ready to face the world, symbolizing his strength and determination. It reflects the year the singer was born as well as their current age, highlighting the passage of time. The presence of the father's wife behind the camera and their daughter and baby boy in the picture portrays a sense of family and love. The glimmer in the father's eye suggests his awareness of the fleeting nature of life and his appreciation for the simple joys it offers, such as his body, his children, and the warmth of the sun. It reflects his contemplation of what he will miss after his death and what he cherishes about being alive."
The lyrics then shift to the concept of time as an undefeated opponent, comparing it to the heavyweight champion Sugar Ray. Time's relentless advance is depicted through the phrase "Used to be, 'C'mon, c'mon'" turning into "Now, 'No mas, no mas'," emphasizing how it becomes harder to keep up with and accept the passage of time.
The second verse introduces another photograph, this time of the singer's mother in a skirt, capturing a joyful moment in the Kentucky dirt. Laughing in the garden symbolizes the simplicity and happiness of their beginnings. The smile on her face and the feeling that everything is in its place depict contentment and appreciation. The glimmer in her eye reflects her realization of what she will miss about being alive and what she holds dear.
Overall, "This is a Photograph" conveys a bittersweet reflection on the transience of life and the importance of treasuring the meaningful moments and connections we have.
Line by Line Meaning
This is a photograph
This image captures a moment in time
A window to the past
It allows us to look back and reminisce
Of your father on the front lawn
Showing your father standing outside
With no shirt on
Without a shirt covering his torso
Ready to take the world on
Prepared and determined to face any challenges
Beneath the West Texas sun
Underneath the intense heat of the West Texas sun
The year that you were born
During the same year you came into existence
The year that you are now
In the present year of your life
His wife behind the camera
His spouse capturing the shot
His daughter and his baby boy
His young daughter and recently born son
Got a glimmer in his eye
There's a sparkle in his eyes filled with emotion
Seems to say, this is what I'll miss after I die
It appears as if he's expressing what he'll long for when he's gone
And this is what I'll miss about being alive
He is acknowledging the things he'll yearn for while alive
My body
The physical aspect of himself
My girls
His daughters, his female offspring
My boy
His son, his male offspring
The sun
The warmth and light of the sun
Now time's the undefeated
Time always emerges victorious
The heavyweight champ
Like a heavyweight boxing champion
Laughing in his face
Mocking and taunting him
As it dances like Sugar Ray
Moving and swaying gracefully, reminiscent of Sugar Ray Leonard
Used to be, 'C'mon, c'mon'
Previously, full of enthusiasm and encouragement
But now, 'No mas, no mas'
But now, surrendering and admitting defeat
Of your mother in a skirt
Depicting your mother wearing a skirt
In the cool Kentucky dirt
Standing on the refreshing and earthy Kentucky ground
Laughing in the garden
Finding joy and amusement in the garden
Back where it all started
Returning to the place of origin
With a smile on her face
Wearing a cheerful expression
Everything in its place
All things arranged properly
This is a photograph
Another image captured
Inside the kingdom
Within the realm or domain
Of me on a front lawn
Showing myself standing on the front lawn
Ready to take the world on
Prepared and motivated to face any challenges
Beneath the Tennessee sun
Under the radiant sun of Tennessee
Got a glimmer in my eye
My eyes gleam with a flicker of excitement
Seems to say
Indicates or suggests
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kevin Morby
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@collinmc90
Nothing hits like the first time you hear a song like this.
@davidbuck7850
And yet, it still grows with subsequent listenings.
@mirogster
Had chills trough my spine, deep into to the soul. My hair instantly stood on end of my head.
Saw my parents, at old black& white photo. With me, 2 years old on his shoulder. Her laughing.
This song is what's humanity has its best. Insanely good lyrics & score. An obsession to hear it again and again.
@arisioz9360
Imagine listening to it live for the first time. Levitation was so f rad.
@shawfestify
Right on, sometimes you have to just pull the car over, to avoid traffic accidents. In the old days, there’d be one, I said, I instantly pulled a U-turn on Lake Shore Drive (which is not actually possible), drive to music stairs and bought the CD, because hearing it made me lose me gd mind! <—like that
@shawfestify
Yeah look, I’ve been saying it since I began to have daily awareness of my own mortality, 30 years ago! I want to make my funeral video NOW, before I have to wear Depends. Since I’d want many photographs of those I have loved in this short life, I thought maybe an 11-minute-‘er, like, In My Timee of Dying by Lad Zepp—never goes out of style—optimistic about Death, “feels pretty good up here!” Etc.
But this song kills. It. No better for my funeral video!
Don’t you want one? Everyone I know wants one (except certain sects of Christianity , Islam, Hindu, Buddhism, and Shinto who are averse to electricity at their events.
Where are the Funerals-R-Us businesses, all you unemployed Film majors?!
It’s a good idea, freely given to you, no patent pending. Sure, I’ll take a free personalized video for my brilliant idea! It’ll be this song, and the six minute, Not, by Big Thief front woman Adrienne Lenker, another goddess of my funeral video. :-)
@LowerHuttHorsesense
This song has about 8 levels. It just goes up and up. So good
@tee21137
Quintessential Morby. Wistful and nostalgic without sounding so. Great, great, great
@andrewwaters9928
Incredible! This song is blowing me away. Made me cry twice now!
@RiverLynch
I love how the song just keeps building and building and building til the end. Can't wait for the full album!