For almost forty years of creative activity, The Cure frontman Robert Smith has given more than one hundred interviews. In many he was asked about what served as a source of inspiration for certain compositions.
Interestingly, in the stories about the history of the creation of The Cure songs, he was often not consistent and even contradicted himself.
Pictures of You by The Cure Song Story
As an example, we can recall Robert’s statements about the track “Pictures of You” from the album “Disintegration” (1989). Soon after the release of the record, he vaguely explained that the song says that you can hold on to your lover without realizing how much he has changed. Like, sometimes people are still attached to the image that they themselves have created, and are unable to break with it.
Some time later, Robert began to talk about the photos he loved, which he had lost along with his wallet. And a little later, a story surfaced about a fire in his house, during which all the personal belongings of the musician burned down. Almost the only thing that survived were photographs of his wife Mary, slightly damaged by fire. One of them was printed on the cover of the “Pictures of You” single.
But there is another, no less interesting version of what prompted Smith to write the song “Pictures of You”. Robert, after reading the essay “The Dark Power of Ritual Pictures” by author Myra Poleo, burned all personal photos, videos and other materials that reminded him of the past. When asked by an X-press reporter if “Pictures of You” came about because of this incident, Smith replied, “Yes, and I regret it. That year I destroyed almost all of my past” (“X-press”, 1997).
Draw your own conclusions. Either Robert deliberately powders the brains of journalists and music lovers (which is quite likely), or he himself is unable to explain what events formed the basis of “Pictures of You”. In any case, some ambiguity and understatement is always good for a good song.
“Pictures of You” was released as the fourth single from Disintegration in March 1990.
Rolling Stone magazine included “Pictures of You” in its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Now let’s watch the video clip of “Pictures of You” by The Cure.
Interesting Facts
- Hewlett-Packard used “Pictures of You” to advertise digital photography products.
- The Cure musicians have said more than once that they starred in the video while drunk as hell.
Pictures of You Lyrics by The Cure
I’ve been looking so long at these pictures of you
That I almost believe that they’re real
I’ve been living so long with my pictures of you
That I almost believe that the pictures are
All I can feel
Remembering
You stand still in the rain
As I ran to your heart to be near
And we kissed as the sky fell in
holding you close
How I always held close in your fear
Remembering
You running soft through the night
You were bigger and brighter and wider than snow
And screamed at the make-believe
Screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage
To let it all go
Remembering
You fell into my arms
Crying for the death of your heart
You were stone white
so delicate
Lost in the cold
You were always so lost in the dark
Remembering
How you used to be
Slow drowned
You were angels
So much more than everything
Hold for the last time then slip away quietly
open my eyes
But I never see anything
If only I’d thought of the right words
I could have held on to your heart
If only I’d thought of the right words
I wouldn’t be breaking apart
All my pictures of you
Looking so long at these pictures of you
But I never hold on to your heart
Looking so long for the words to be true
But always just breaking apart
My pictures of you
There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to feel you deep in my heart
There was nothing in the world
That I ever wanted more
Than to never feel the breaking apart
All my pictures of you
Lyrics Pictures of You by The Cure Alternate
I’ve been staring at these pictures of you for so long
I almost believe they’re real
I live so long with your pictures
I almost believe that these pictures –
All I can feel
I remember
How did you calmly stand in the rain,
And I ran to your heart to be near
And we kissed while the skies were falling
I held you tight
Like always when you get scared
I remember
How you silently ran through the night
You were bigger, brighter and whiter than snow
And screamed out loud
Screaming at the sky
In the end you mustered up the courage
And let go
I remember
How did you fall into my arms
Mourning the death of your soul
You were pale as a sheet
So weak
Lost in the cold
You were always lost in the dark
I remember
You, what you were
How slowly went to the bottom
You were like angels
More than anything else
I hold you for the last time and quietly slip away
I open my eyes
But I don’t see anything anymore
If only I had chosen the right words
I could hold your heart
If only I had chosen the right words
I wouldn’t tear
All your pictures
I’ve been looking at your pictures for so long
But I never tried to hold your heart
I’ve been looking for true words for so long
But I always tear
your pictures
There was nothing in the world
What would I like more
Than to feel you deep in my heart
There was nothing in the world
What would I like more
Than never tear
All your pictures
