Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
The Postcard
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never got much post
So it shouldn't have been too hard
You were on holiday with your school
In some French town
And while you were away
I took Debbie to the crown
I found a photograph
Of me and Kimberley
I found your postcard
And I put it on the wall
I found your picture
You know tears were bound to fall
I didn't write your songs
When we were going out
So why should I start now
You are not about
I feel as though all the past in closing in on me
I found a photograph
Of me and Kimberley
We hardly used to even drink
We didn't smoke
We'd walk home from the pub
'Cause we were always broke
So when your mother called
And said that you were dead
I thought she's talking of
Another Kim instead
I feel as though all the past is closing in on me
I found a photograph
Of me and Kimberley
She said it seemed
You accidentally overdosed
It was so long since I talked to her
And once we were so close
And I am left with all these things
I didn't say
And a picture of you in my arms
The day you went away
I feel as though all the past is closing in on me
I found a photograph
Of me and Kimberley
I feel as though all the past is closing in on me
I found a photograph
Of me and Kimberley
In the song "The Postcard" by Robbie Williams, the lyrics tell a story of nostalgia, regret, and the weight of the past. The singer starts by acknowledging that they don't remember receiving a postcard from someone, indicating that they didn't receive much communication in general. The postcard was sent during a vacation the sender took with their school to a French town, while the singer, in their absence, got involved with someone named Debbie. This introduction sets the stage for the themes explored throughout the song.
The first verse establishes a feeling of being overwhelmed by the past. The singer discovers a photograph of themselves with someone named Kimberley, reinforcing the idea that memories and reminders of the past are closing in on them. The photograph acts as a trigger for reflection and emotions, reminding them of a time long gone.
In the chorus, the singer explains that they found the postcard from the person mentioned earlier and put it on the wall. This act suggests a desire to hold onto memories, even though tears are inevitably brought forth by these reminders. The singer emphasizes that they didn't write songs about this person when they were together, indicating that they didn't express their emotions openly in the past, and wonders why they should start now when the person is no longer present.
The second verse delves deeper into the past, describing a time when the singer and the person mentioned didn't engage in vices like drinking or smoking due to financial constraints. The mention of walking home from the pub because they were always broke gives insight into their modest lifestyle. The singer then recalls a moment when their mother informed them that the person had died and realizes that they initially thought she was referring to another person named Kim. This confusion highlights a sense of detachment or distance that had developed between the singer and the person mentioned.
The final verse reveals that the person's death was due to an accidental overdose, a revelation that hits the singer hard. It is implied that the two had a close relationship in the past, but they had lost touch over time. The singer is left with unspoken words and regrets, and now holds a picture of the person in their arms, symbolizing the day they parted ways.
The repetition of the chorus at the end reinforces the overwhelming nature of the past and the lasting impact it has on the singer. By finding the photograph, they are forced to confront the memories and emotions associated with Kimberley, realizing the weight of the missing connection and the brevity of life.
Overall, "The Postcard" portrays a complex mix of emotions and reflections on past relationships and missed opportunities. It explores the theme of nostalgia, regrets, and the consequences of not cherishing meaningful connections when they are present.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't remember receiving your postcard
I have a poor memory and don't recall ever receiving a postcard from you
I never got much post
I rarely received mail, especially postcards
So it shouldn't have been too hard
It shouldn't have been difficult for me to remember if I had received your postcard
You were on holiday with your school
You were away on a school trip
In some French town
You were visiting a town in France
And while you were away
During the time you were not here
I took Debbie to the crown
I went out with a person named Debbie to a place called the crown
I feel as though all the past is closing in on me
I have a sense of the past overwhelming me and bringing back memories
I found a photograph
I discovered a picture
Of me and Kimberley
The picture was of me alongside someone named Kimberley
I found your postcard
I came across the postcard you had sent
And I put it on the wall
I placed it on the wall as a display
I found your picture
I stumbled upon your photograph
You know tears were bound to fall
Naturally, tears were expected to flow
I didn't write your songs
I didn't compose songs about you
When we were going out
During the time we were in a romantic relationship
So why should I start now
Therefore, there is no reason for me to begin writing songs about you now
You are not about
You are no longer present in my life
We hardly used to even drink
We rarely consumed alcohol
We didn't smoke
We didn't engage in smoking
We'd walk home from the pub
We would walk back home from the pub due to our limited finances
'Cause we were always broke
Because we consistently lacked money
So when your mother called
Thus, when your mother contacted me
And said that you were dead
And informed me of your demise
I thought she's talking of
I initially believed she was referring to
Another Kim instead
Another person named Kim, not you
She said it seemed
According to her, it appeared
You accidentally overdosed
You unintentionally took a fatal dose of a substance
It was so long since I talked to her
It had been a considerable amount of time since I last spoke to her
And once we were so close
And there was a time when we were very intimate
And I am left with all these things
I'm left with all these unresolved matters
I didn't say
Things I wanted to express but didn't
And a picture of you in my arms
And a photo of you being embraced by me
The day you went away
On the day you departed from this world
I feel as though all the past is closing in on me
I sense that my entire history is overwhelming me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carlos Díaz
Simple beautiful song.
happygirl7384
I've always loved this song, isn't it a Steven Duffy song?
Андрей Смуткин
great picture work. thanks