The Kooks formed at the Brighton Institute of Modern Music, where they were all students. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Luke Pritchard, got bassist Max Rafferty involved in a college project, which formed the base of the band. After getting lead guitarist Hugh Harris and drummer Paul Garred involved, they took their name from the song Kooks on the 1971 David Bowie album Hunky Dory. When they tried to trademark the name, they found that in the late/mid 1990s a Swedish band by the same name released an album in Sweden called Too Much is Not Enough.
The Kooks released a debut EP and played gigs around Brighton, where they were based at the time. They were signed to Virgin Records.
2. Swedish indie rock/alternative band - It consisted of members Henrik Berglund, Leo Dahlin, Michael Lohse and Josef Zackrisson, and was active between 1998 and the early 2000's. Micke Lohse and Henrik Berglund are currently members of the band Atomic Swing.
Picture Frame
The Kooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But the picture in your picture frame
It was drawn of a fountain in your body
Bought for a fiver most probably
Didn't mean a lot to me, a lot to me
You tell me that you'd never sell this
That the artist himself was beneath this
And I looked at the sky to worship the ground
And you never asked for nothing at all
But you asked me to close your door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
Time will make fools of us all
It's time to find meaning or control
Every time we go out now you pretend
Pretend we're not lovers, just friends
And it gets to me, gets to me
Tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
But you've never lost something you loved
But I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
When you never asked for nothing at all
Even afterwards cluttered your door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
And unfold me again
And it gets to me, gets to me
Tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
But you've never lost something you loved
But I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
When you never asked for nothing at all
But you asked me to come in from the cold
And you do your best as you fold me and unfold me again
And your never asked for nothing at all
In "Picture Frame" by The Kooks, the lyrics explore the dynamics of a relationship that is both confusing and complex. The singer initially seems oblivious to any issues, stating that they didn't notice anything strange. However, they mention a picture in a picture frame that depicts a fountain in the other person's body, suggesting a deeper meaning and significance.
The second verse reveals that the other person values this picture greatly, believing that it encompasses life itself and holds immense worth. The singer looks at the sky, potentially seeking guidance or understanding from something higher, but ultimately finds themselves worshipping the ground instead. This could imply a sense of confusion or lost faith in the relationship.
Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of the other person never asking for anything, yet the singer feels compelled to fulfill certain requests. They mention closing the other person's door and being folded and unfolded, symbolizing a sense of vulnerability and manipulation within the relationship.
Towards the end of the song, the singer questions the meaning of life, suggesting that happiness and detachment from loss may be the answer. However, they counter this idea by acknowledging that the other person has never experienced losing something they loved. Despite feeling frustrated at times, the singer realizes they cannot be angry because the other person never asked for anything in the first place.
The overall interpretation of "Picture Frame" suggests a relationship that is filled with confusion, unspoken expectations, and a struggle to find meaning and happiness amidst the complexities. It explores the balance between individual desires and the sacrifices made for the sake of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't notice anything strange
I was oblivious to any abnormalities
But the picture in your picture frame
Except for the artwork displayed in your photo frame
It was drawn of a fountain in your body
It depicted a fountain within your soul
Bought for a fiver most probably
Likely purchased for a small amount of money
Didn't mean a lot to me, a lot to me
It didn't hold much significance for me
You tell me that you'd never sell this
You insist that you would never part with it
That the artist himself was beneath this
Claiming that the creator's worth goes beyond this piece
That life itself is within this
Asserting that this artwork embodies life itself
And I looked at the sky to worship the ground
In awe, I raised my eyes to the sky but grounded myself
And you never asked for nothing at all
You never requested anything from me
But you asked me to close your door
However, you specifically asked me to shut your door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
You put effort into both embracing and unraveling me repeatedly
Time will make fools of us all
As time passes, we all become foolish
It's time to find meaning or control
Now is the moment to seek purpose or take charge
Every time we go out now you pretend
Each occasion we go out, you feign
Pretend we're not lovers, just friends
Acting like we're acquaintances, not lovers
And it gets to me, gets to me
And it affects me deeply
Tell me the meaning of life is
Inform me that life's purpose is
To be happy and to give up loss
To attain happiness and let go of grief
But you've never lost something you loved
Yet, you've never experienced losing something beloved
But I turn around
However, I change my perspective
How could I be angry at you?
Why would I feel anger towards you?
When you never asked for nothing at all
Because you never made any requests
Even afterwards cluttered your door
Even though mementos still crowd your doorway
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
And you persistently try to embrace and release me
And unfold me again
And repeatedly unravel me
And it gets to me, gets to me
And it deeply affects me
Tell me the meaning of life is
Inform me that life's purpose is
To be happy and to give up loss
To attain happiness and let go of grief
But you've never lost something you loved
Yet, you've never experienced losing something beloved
But I turn around
However, I change my perspective
How could I be angry at you?
Why would I feel anger towards you?
When you never asked for nothing at all
Because you never made any requests
But you asked me to come in from the cold
Yet, you requested me to seek warmth inside
And you do your best as you fold me and unfold me again
And you make a sincere effort while embracing me and letting me go repeatedly
And your never asked for nothing at all
And you never made any requests
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brandon Friesen, Luke Pritchard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adriana Santana
Lyrics :D
[Verse 1]
I didn't notice anything strange
About the picture in your picture frame
It was drawn of a fountain in your body
Bought for a fiver most probably
Didn't mean a lot to me, a lot to me
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me that you'd never sell this
That the artist himself was beneath this
That life itself was within this
And I looked at the sky to worship the ground
[Chorus]
And you never asked for nothing at all
Even as the wolves glowered at my door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
[Verse 2]
Time will make fools of us all
It's time to find meaning or control
Every time we go out now you pretend
Pretend we're not lovers, just friends
And it gets to me, gets to me
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
But you've never lost something you loved
But I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
[Chorus]
When you never asked for nothing at all
Even as the wolves glowered at my door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
And unfold me again
Ohh oohhh
[Pre-Chorus]
And it gets to me, gets to me
Tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
You never lost something you love
And I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
[Chorus]
When you never asked for nothing at all
But you ask me to come in from the cold
And to warm your bed as you fold me and unfold me again
And you never asked for nothing at all
Parag
Not a single bad song, this album is perfect.
Adriana Santana
Lyrics :D
[Verse 1]
I didn't notice anything strange
About the picture in your picture frame
It was drawn of a fountain in your body
Bought for a fiver most probably
Didn't mean a lot to me, a lot to me
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me that you'd never sell this
That the artist himself was beneath this
That life itself was within this
And I looked at the sky to worship the ground
[Chorus]
And you never asked for nothing at all
Even as the wolves glowered at my door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
[Verse 2]
Time will make fools of us all
It's time to find meaning or control
Every time we go out now you pretend
Pretend we're not lovers, just friends
And it gets to me, gets to me
[Pre-Chorus]
You tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
But you've never lost something you loved
But I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
[Chorus]
When you never asked for nothing at all
Even as the wolves glowered at my door
And you do your best to fold me and unfold me again
And unfold me again
Ohh oohhh
[Pre-Chorus]
And it gets to me, gets to me
Tell me the meaning of life is
To be happy and to give up loss
You never lost something you love
And I turn around
How could I be angry at you?
[Chorus]
When you never asked for nothing at all
But you ask me to come in from the cold
And to warm your bed as you fold me and unfold me again
And you never asked for nothing at all
Kenny Haak
The description also contains the lyrics. However it says "It was drawn of a fountain in your Paris" in the third line using "Paris" with the french pronunciation instead of "body"
Kieran Haze
Was wondering what would happen to this song, loved it when I first heard acoustic
Fernando R
Esta canción es hermosa, estoy obsesionado con ella 💙
Carlos Tyler
The kooks por siempre ❤️ amo esa canción aunque ya salio en dos disco de el 🤭🎉
Michelle Posse
Que balada kookera maravillosa, gracias los amo
Marcos Vinicius Silva
Um amor chamado The Kooks 🇧🇷❤
JP Mantero
I knew I had heard it somewhere years ago. Loved that acoustic. It's in my top 3 Let's Go Sunshine songs
Melissa Smith
I LOVE this song! So excited to see The Kooks in Atlanta it's been years.....TOO LONG!!