The Photographer
Philip Glass Lyrics


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All that white hair
A Gentleman's honor
And a long white beard
Burns up in fever

And this is artificial moonlight
An artificial sky
Horses in the air
Feet on the ground
Never seen
This picture before

And this is artificial moonlight
An artificial sky

Horses in the air
"Whose baby is this"




Never seen
This picture before

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Philip Glass's song The Photographer tell a tale of a man, described as an honorable gentleman, who succumbs to a fever that burns up his long white beard and all his white hair. The imagery of the artificial moonlight and sky depicts an industrialized era where even nature is not immune to human interference. The following line, "Horses in the air, feet on the ground," is an interesting image that seemingly represents a contradiction or impossibility. It could be interpreted as a metaphor for the photographer's subject matter being surreal or otherworldly. The final line, "Whose baby is this? Never seen this picture before," reinforces the idea of capturing something unique or unusual and also suggests a sense of wonder and curiosity.


Line by Line Meaning

All that white hair
A symbol of wisdom and experience, suggesting that the photographer is older and has seen a lot in his life.


A Gentleman's honor
A reference to the photographer's demeanor and professionalism. He conducts himself with respect and integrity, as a true gentleman would.


And a long white beard
Another symbol of age and wisdom. The photographer has lived a long life and has much knowledge to share.


Burns up in fever
The photographer is passionate about his work and becomes consumed by it. His intense dedication can sometimes take a toll on him.


And this is artificial moonlight
The photographer is creating his own environment to capture the perfect shot. He controls the lighting to set the mood he desires.


An artificial sky
Similar to the artificial moonlight, the photographer is manipulating the sky to fit his vision for the photograph. He creates his own reality.


Horses in the air
A surreal image that the photographer is able to create through his artistry. He can capture the impossible and make it seem real.


Feet on the ground
Despite the fantastical elements he may capture in his photographs, the photographer remains grounded and practical in his approach to his work.


Never seen
The images the photographer captures are unique and one-of-a-kind. No one has ever seen anything quite like what he creates.


This picture before
Each photograph the photographer takes is a new and original piece of art. He never repeats himself and is always pushing himself to create something new and exciting.


"Whose baby is this"
The photographer is capturing moments that are deeply personal and emotional for his subjects. He is able to connect with them on a level that allows them to trust him with their most intimate moments.




Contributed by Mila E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mauro Balbino

The Photographer - Act 1: A Gentleman's Honor

All that white hair
A Gentleman's honor
And a long white beard
Burns up in fever

And this is artificial moonlight
An artificial sky

Horses in the air
Feet on the ground
Never seen
This picture before

And this is artificial moonlight
An artificial sky

Horses in the air
"Whose baby is this"
Never seen
This picture before



All comments from YouTube:

Walperion Music

Philip Glass somehow manages to create pieces of music that sound so unique it doesn't sound like any other pieces of music in the world.
And throughout his career he managed to create such tracks dozens of times!

"Religion", "A Gentleman's Honor (Instrumental)", "Koyaanisqqatsi"...
Every single one of those tracks sound so unique like no other music in the universe!

Zero Kelvin

Glass does a fantastic job of making repetitive sound non-repetitive and engaging. 

Shombie

Well-put!

Ethan Hill

You might listen more often to sub Saharan west African drummers and drumming for same effect.

Zero Kelvin

Also, I meant this as a compliment. Nobody can say this doesn't repeat a lot - but they can say that it's done so well you never get tired of it. Was not a criticism. 

Travis Nielsen

@*****  Dude lay off the guy a bit! He's warming up to Glass's music and does not to answer to an internet troll.

Walperion Music

20:32 - my favourite bit.
I never heard a piece of music that sounds like that!

Such a unique magical music.
Philip Glass is unique in making music sound like no other piece of music in the world.

Jeremy Colson

Philip Glass no longer surprises me, but he never fails to amaze me. Many thanks for the upload. Much appreciated

TheHapexamendios

Act III is the only piece of music I've ever heard that never fails to bring a tear to my eye at the end. Not of sadness but pure joy. A tear of astonishment and awe. I love all of Glass' music … but this really is something else.

Gustave Muhozi

Philip Glass is a master at creating a feeling of awe.

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