Pictures in an Exhibition
Producer
Pictures in an Exhibition Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I think you caught me on the down slide, downturn
I was busy writing with a pen and paper-thin dream
And all your plastic people with plastic hearts and smiles
They had the worst intentions all along after all, all, all, all
[Verse 2]
The royal castle holds the melodrama kings and queens
And all their dazzling children, they’re so regal, so clean
With pristine fingertips, they wash behind their ears
Then let their hair down till the audiences leave, leave, leave, leave, leave
[Hook]
I’m definitely shaking
The silence isn't breaking
Backwashed and stranded memories
Of something I thought could be
[Hook]
I’m definitely shaking
The silence isn't breaking
Backwashed and stranded memories
Of something I thought could be
[Outro]
I’m definitely shaking
I'm definitely shaking
I’m definitely shaking
I'm definitely shaking
I think you caught me on the down slide, downturn
I was busy writing with a pen and paper-thin dream
And all your plastic people with plastic hearts and smiles
They had the worst intentions all along after all, all, all, all
[Verse 2]
The royal castle holds the melodrama kings and queens
And all their dazzling children, they’re so regal, so clean
With pristine fingertips, they wash behind their ears
Then let their hair down till the audiences leave, leave, leave, leave, leave
[Hook]
I’m definitely shaking
The silence isn't breaking
Backwashed and stranded memories
Of something I thought could be
[Hook]
I’m definitely shaking
The silence isn't breaking
Backwashed and stranded memories
Of something I thought could be
[Outro]
I’m definitely shaking
I'm definitely shaking
I’m definitely shaking
I'm definitely shaking
About
Genius Annotation
Track #3 from Death Cab For Cutie’s debut demo album You Can Play These Songs with Chords, “Pictures in an Exhibition” also appears as the 5th track on their follow-up album, Something About Airplanes.
The title of the song may have been inspired by the 1874 piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
What did Death Cab for Cutie say about "Pictures in an Exhibition"?
Genius Answer
I still really like “Pictures In An Exhibition” is kind of a pop song. It’s the most accessible on the record. I’m not saying it’s “There She Goes” by the The La’s or anything, but it’s just a pop song in its very, most basic structural sense.
– Ben Gibbard on Rolling Stone, 2008
- 3.Pictures in an Exhibition
- 4.Hindsight
- 6.Amputations
- 7.Two Cars
- 10.TV Trays
- 11.New Candles
- 12.Tomorrow
- 15.Wait
Credits
Producer
Writer
Performer
Recording Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Mastering Engineer
Release Date
January 1, 1997
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