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Placebo — This Picture
Album: Sleeping With Ghosts
Avg rating:
6.9

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2532









Released: 2003
Length: 3:29
Plays (last 30 days): 2
I hold an image of the ashtray girl
Of cigarette burns on my chest
I wrote a poem that described her world
And put our friendship to the test
And late at night whilst on all fours
She used to watch me kiss the floor
What's wrong with this picture?
What's wrong with this picture?

Farewell the ashtray girl
Forbidden snowflake
Beware this troubled world
Watch out for earthquakes
Goodbye to open sores
To broken semaphore
You know we miss her
We miss her picture

Sometimes it's fated
Disintegrated
For fear of growing old
Sometimes it's fated
Assassinated
For fear of growing old

Farewell the ashtray girl
Angelic fruitcake
Beware this troubled world
Control your intake
Goodbye to open sores
Goodbye and furthermore
You know we miss her
We miss her picture

Sometimes it's fated
Disintegrated
For fear of growing old
Sometimes it's fated
Assassinated
For fear of growing old

Hang on
Though we try
It's gone

Hang on
Though we try
It's gone

Sometimes it's fated
Disintegrated
For fear of growing old
Sometimes it's fated
Assassinated
For fear of growing old

I can't stop growing old
I can't stop growing old
I can't stop growing old
I can't stop growing old

I can't stop growing old
Comments (198)add comment
6.9?! What the hell.
It's an easy 8.
Superb cover art.  Speaks eloquently to the fleeting nature of love.
 hayduke2 wrote:

ummm, ok even Decembrist's nasal shrieker sounds better than this clown


  not a decemberists fan at all, but...i love your comment.
without looking, i can pick placebo out every time because of the whiney voice. this one is a little better than beautiful james, which for me is really, really annoying.
Apparently Brian Molko is being investigated in Italy  for shouting out “Giorgia Meloni, piece of shit, fascist, racist.”  Which only increases his standing as far as I'm concerned.
Placebo is the best? 😍
Just rocks....
I especially like the vocals
this band was amazing live 20 years ago!!! godlike.
More placebo,pleaseeee😊
Photo is SO brill,
 DaidyBoy wrote:

Great sound.  Don't know why it is rated so low.

something about the vocals doesn't work for me but the album cover is interesting

Nice technique in album cover photo.

<edit, 5 mins later>  Can't stop growing old?  Obviously written by a youngster who's never attended a funeral.
That intro is begging for William Shatner's participation.
Good song from a good band.
Cool song....cool artwork...solid "8"
nice!
 hayduke2 wrote:
ummm, ok even Decembrist's nasal shrieker sounds better than this clown

 
Why be so negative? The song rocks at least.
ummm, ok even Decembrist's nasal shrieker sounds better than this clown
 jpfueler wrote:

My brain went Ben Folds and Will Shatner but the voice doesn't match.

 

I was thinking Secret Machines...
Nice tune!
Very catchy tune.  Like it!
Sometimes it's hated
Assassinated
For fear of growing old
 changodelaplaya wrote:

Because most of those who rate songs on RP are negative punks. I gave it a 9. {#Cool}

 
Right on! I just did the same. 
 DaidyBoy wrote:
Great sound.  Don't know why it is rated so low.
 
Because most of those who rate songs on RP are negative punks. I gave it a 9. {#Cool}
Great sound.  Don't know why it is rated so low.

it hasn't been played in a too long time !!! I love it ! the past hour has been amazing Bill. this is going to be a great day !! :D
 Easyrider wrote:
Love it😉
 
Love it too.  Glad to hear this on RP.  Deserves a higher rating.
 Emwolb wrote:

One of my favorite album covers.....get in line :)
 
That cover vaguely reminds me of this oldie - "Force It" by UFO, design by Storm Thorgerson.
force it
This was the "censored" version for North American release.
 DeemerDave wrote:

The guy on the cover looks like Jonny Greenwood. The girl looks like someone I would like to spend some time with.

{#Redface}



 
One of my favorite album covers.....get in line :)
I've always appreciated the uniqueness and sound of this group...would love to hear more
Placebo stole my heart with their cover version of "Running up that hill". I love that special voice and that music

The guy on the cover looks like Jonny Greenwood. The girl looks like someone I would like to spend some time with.

{#Redface}


Plus 1 for the cover art.
 ench wrote:

I had to triple-check this wasn't REM... Unfortunately I think my love of REM makes it hard to appreciate this song.

 
My brain went Ben Folds and Will Shatner but the voice doesn't match.
like the lyrics
More Placebo please!
 palad1 wrote:
Felt
Thanks Bill. This song triggered a satori moment for me. In a UK supermarket. Felled like the 90s all over again. 

Thanks.  
I really like this song and group...a good example of a group that has grown on me...many years ago a friend loaned me the Cd and i did not think much of it
I really like this, too.  Fun.
couldn't help but notice that the album cover of this record is similar in color and look to the preceding tune's album art (Moby's "Play")
 Segue wrote:
Sounds like REM at 45 RPM

 
I had to triple-check this wasn't REM... Unfortunately I think my love of REM makes it hard to appreciate this song.
 Segue wrote:
Sounds like REM at 45 RPM

 
"I saw GOD, man!" (Tommy Chong)
no matter how much people critisize placebo they will always have their unique sound and songwriting... and the albums placebo and without you i'm nothing are amazing... and all you that play it hard ask david bowie who made a douet with them from the second album...
amazing live as well!
Love it😉
Good song, though I imagine several of the negative reviews would disappear if Bill could mix "Protect Me From What I Want" into a cleverly-themed playlist. 
 Nadine wrote:
had a short (& enthusiastic) affair with their "without you I'm nothing" release in '98. i opted OUT really quick...

nowadays I simply can't get over his voice...it touches the bad nerves in my temporal lobe...or however that brainarea is called responsible for hearing...
 
{#High-five} 

bought "Without you..." on the strength of the opener, Pure Morning, alone. I later realized that it was the only good song on the disk, teaching a valuable lesson about making sure to listen critically through whole albums before buying.
 DarkieDark wrote:

Well like Brian Molko (The guy "with the Adam's Apple") once said to a reporter who asked him if he's a man or a woman:
"I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman you'll ever get"
;-)

 
{#Lol} - BTW, cover sorta looks like Ghost in reverse, yes? Where Demi dies (hmm, ponder this) and Swayze lives?
had a short (& enthusiastic) affair with their "without you I'm nothing" release in '98. i opted OUT really quick...

nowadays I simply can't get over his voice...it touches the bad nerves in my temporal lobe...or however that brainarea is called responsible for hearing...
The first song I have heard on RP to date that has made me remove my headphones.
Is this a great song or does it just seem that way because I expected it to?
More Placebo!
 jpfueler wrote:
Like Common People?
 

If William Shatner remade this song, I think I would enjoy it more.
 apd wrote:
Beautiful cover art - just the right mix of weird and sexy. And I love how the dudes hand is casting a shadow on the ghost.
 
Yeah, the cover art is a wet dream, literally. (it looks like she is in the shower)
Thank goodness for the PSD button!!!

Ouch.


don't normally like them, but thissong has got me groovin{#Dancingbanana}
Play Special Needs next time, I would like to hear that one too. :)
Beautiful cover art - just the right mix of weird and sexy. And I love how the dudes hand is casting a shadow on the ghost.
a row of icky songs. Still Love RP despite. cool cover though!
Hard on the ears.
 plaice3 wrote:
unnerving noise to my ears ... eeek!
 
kill this song, not good enough

 
unnerving noise to my ears ... eeek!
 jpfueler wrote:
Like Common People?
 

funny, I thought the same thing.
Like Common People?
Me like Placebo too....{#Lol}
I like Placebo. Has anyone else had problems finding their stuff on iTunes, too? I have.
6 + 1 for the artwork.
Kind of strange listening to a song that sounds like a bad Suburbs song coming after a song called the Suburbs.
 ick wrote:
This guys voice makes me want to punch him in the adam's apple!  (If he has one.)
 
Well like Brian Molko (The guy "with the Adam's Apple") once said to a reporter who asked him if he's a man or a woman:
"I'm more of a man than you'll ever be, and more of a woman you'll ever get"
;-)

 annie_fannie wrote:


i almost blew soda out my nose when i read this. thanks for the laugh!
 
You're welcome.

Best band in the world!
Been following them for over 10 years now, and they only keep getting better.
Thanks Bill, and would LOVE to hear more from them.
 ick wrote:
This guys voice makes me want to punch him in the adam's apple!  (If he has one.)
 

i almost blew soda out my nose when i read this. thanks for the laugh!
This guys voice makes me want to punch him in the adam's apple!  (If he has one.)


The beginning of the song reminded me of "Detachable Penis."
Interesting album cover
 handyrae wrote:
Do you think they considered what the name Placebo would say about them as a band?
 
I'm sure they did, and it could be interpreted as a clever commentary on the state and role of music - something with no efficacy which yet affects its users because they expect it to be efficacious. (As it happens, there's considerable empirical evidence that placebos work in themselves, even when users know they're taking placebos - weird, or what? As they say in Yorkshire, there's nowt as queer as folk. )

 skogman wrote:
I still hear "goodbye to open source" :) M$ lover, I bet ;)
 
 {#High-five}   Take a look at page 1 of the comments :)

 25demayo wrote:

Sounds like William Shatner singing "Common People" {#Stupid}


 
HA HA! That song is worth a great laugh. 
Nothing like this though
{#Think}

i can't help it... i love the sound of these guys. it all started with "every you, every me"... {#Jump}
Sounds like REM at 45 RPM
 rdo wrote:


Yeah, right.  I was thinking the same thing.  I would say it's the worst name of a rock band since Status Quo.
 

If you have the chance to see them live: try it! Great rock-music, great live-act!

I still hear "goodbye to open source" :) M$ lover, I bet ;)
Bill: Somehow, I've never heard this before. Thank you - and thanks for this whole evening (to you and whoever helps with programming - I don't think I've ever enjoyed RP as much as I am tonight - and that's saying something, believe me.
Haven't heard this in a long time.
Thanks Bill.

Sounds like William Shatner singing "Common People" {#Stupid}


After the incredible Steven Wilson song prior to this, but this is quite a let down.  Meh.
Nice! A bit like a hard-edged REM with even more vibrato in the lead singer's vocals. ;)  I dig it!{#Yes}
 handyrae wrote:
Do you think they considered what the name Placebo would say about them as a band?
 

Yeah, right.  I was thinking the same thing.  I would say it's the worst name of a rock band since Status Quo.
Do you think they considered what the name Placebo would say about them as a band?
 Wolf825 wrote:
They are channeling the Pet Shop Boys.
 
I don't hear that; I don't remember The Pet Shop Boys having much guitar sound, especially of the distorted variety.

 TeleFrank wrote:
Placebo live: one of my Top10-concerts I've seen so far!
{#Bananajam}
Rock on!
 
Funny I saw them at Festival Nyon in Switzerland many years ago and I had never heard of them!  

BLOWN AWAY!

Then came Ben Harper for 3 hours "OMG - I can't believe he's blowing away the band I was just blown away by!"
Life was beautiful that night. 
They are channeling the Pet Shop Boys.
Placebo live: one of my Top10-concerts I've seen so far!
{#Bananajam}
Rock on!
 manbirdexperiment wrote:
Sounds like something Bill Shatner should be 'singing'.
 
And, I might be wrong on this, but did John McCain come up with the title for this cut?


Sounds like something Bill Shatner should be 'singing'.

Thanks for playing this Bill. At least once or twice a day I have to write down a CD I must pull out when I get home; this is another. Love it!



esotericderek wrote:
I don't know....this pill's not working for me, and I can't figure out why. Oh, wait! Maybe it's because there's nothing substantial in it!
Try sticking it up your ass
cathenley wrote:
Wish I had thought of that band name...
I don't know....this pill's not working for me, and I can't figure out why. Oh, wait! Maybe it's because there's nothing substantial in it!
Wish I had thought of that band name...
I DO like them, I LIKE them, Sam I am. I DO like . . . Placebo
huebdoo wrote:
I hear Rush in his voice... am I the only one?
I hear it too, now that you mention it. So this is what Rush would sound like if they recorded good rockin' music.
DigitalJer wrote:
I love the cover art...deeply sad!
indeed...great observation.
I love the cover art...deeply sad!
Great band
I hear Rush in his voice... am I the only one?
The singer sounds quite a bit like the guy from Alpinestars--at least on the song "Carbon Kid." ...After diligent research: whoops, dey it is: Brian Molko of Placebo *did* show up on Alpinestars' album "White Noise", including "Carbon Kid." Who sounds like who here?
Had to stop coding in order to be sure that I can trust my ears.... Placebo is just awesome!
I like the insanity in his voice
YES! Love Placebo!!
Thanks Bill! I really needed this after the agony of Leonard Cohen - 'The Future'! Waaaaa!!!!
I dig the cover art
Hey - what a cool mix? Low Cohen plus High Placebo. Does not make Cohen better - this song is too fast 4 him.
Milfweed wrote:
This one was pretty good..I just have such a hard time getting into these guys.
... isn't it terrific?
PURE NOISE
This one was pretty good..I just have such a hard time getting into these guys.
If only rock always rocked this much.
channeling Getty Lee?
OldFrenchie wrote:
love Placebo
it's the best song! ... and the cover art, wow, so good!