Camera
Pavement Lyrics


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In the corporate land
In the offices of double-digit floors
Eyes on a wayward move
It's a shame you never played
Never learned to remind you
I've gotta remember
Do you remember my trust lost?
Descending from a crowd
And all the city streets are loud
You were born to be a camera
A pocket of memories
An installation set up on your bedroom floor
Makes you sing about the photographs before
Before you run off to the lazy store
Run back there ask for more

Ascending from a crowd
(Ascending Ascending Ascending)
These city streets they are too loud
(And all the city streets are loud)
You were born to be a camera




(Born born born to be a camera)
And all, all the flutters shut

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pavement's song "Camera" explore themes of nostalgia and the power of photography to evoke memories of the past. The first stanza suggests a sense of regret for missed opportunities and unrealized potential, with the lines "It's a shame you never played / Never learned to remind you." This sense of loss is further emphasized by the line "Do you remember my trust lost?" which hints at a betrayal or disappointment that still haunts the singer. Despite this, the song is ultimately about the positive role that photographs can play in preserving memories and capturing moments of beauty and joy, as evidenced by lines like "An installation set up on your bedroom floor / Makes you sing about the photographs before."


The second stanza continues this theme, with the images of city streets and bustling crowds suggesting the chaos and noise of everyday life. In the midst of this, the camera becomes a symbol of stillness and focus, a tool for capturing and framing moments of significance. The repetition of the line "born to be a camera" highlights the idea that some people are naturally drawn to capturing images, whether through photography or simply through their own memories. The final line, "And all, all the flutters shut," is somewhat ambiguous, but may suggest a sense of closure or resolution as the singer reflects on the power of the camera to capture and preserve moments that might otherwise be lost.


Line by Line Meaning

In the corporate land
Starting in a business-like atmosphere


In the offices of double-digit floors
Amidst towering buildings


Eyes on a wayward move
Observing a mistake


It's a shame you never played
Regretful that you missed out


Never learned to remind you
Failed to teach a lesson


I've gotta remember
I need to recall


Do you remember my trust lost?
Did you forget about my misplaced faith?


Descending from a crowd
Leaving a large group of people


And all the city streets are loud
The urban sounds are overwhelming


You were born to be a camera
Your purpose is to capture images


A pocket of memories
A container of past experiences


An installation set up on your bedroom floor
An arrangement of photos at home


Makes you sing about the photographs before
Inspires you to reminisce about old pictures


Before you run off to the lazy store
Before you go to a nearby shop


Run back there ask for more
Return to see if there are additional items


Ascending from a crowd (Ascending Ascending Ascending)
Rising above a large gathering


These city streets they are too loud (And all the city streets are loud)
The sounds of the city are too much


You were born to be a camera (Born born born to be a camera)
Your intended purpose is to take pictures


And all, all the flutters shut
The shutter on the camera closes




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Mills, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Michael Stipe

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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