The Cure — Pictures of You
Album: DisintegrationAvg rating:
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Length: 7:18
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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, standing quiet 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 whiter than snow
Screamed at the make-believe, screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage to let it all go
Remembering you, fallen 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 you, 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've 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
My 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, standing quiet 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 whiter than snow
Screamed at the make-believe, screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage to let it all go
Remembering you, fallen 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 you, 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've 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
My pictures of you
Comments (479)add comment
Nobody can generate a mood and sense of introspection like Robert and the boys. True artists.
bialia wrote:
If you want to see them live, I'm pretty sure you'll need to catch them on their upcoming tour, as I believe they are retiring after that.
Definitely in my top five artists of all time, not that that matters to all of you, who don't know me at all. I haven't seen them live yet, and I'd give nearly anything to. Robert Smith just makes so much sense to me. It's wonderful that they remain in such fine musical form.
If you want to see them live, I'm pretty sure you'll need to catch them on their upcoming tour, as I believe they are retiring after that.
Definitely in my top five artists of all time, not that that matters to all of you, who don't know me at all. I haven't seen them live yet, and I'd give nearly anything to. Robert Smith just makes so much sense to me. It's wonderful that they remain in such fine musical form.
Such angst
eileenomurphy wrote:
You must be under 40
Excellent!! I never heard this tune before. Thank You RP!
You must be under 40
The more I hear this tune, the more I like it!! Thank You RP!
Incontournable !
An important part of my teen years musical upbringing. Forever 
The „Disintegration“ album is it‘s own universe. Dark, mystic and a kind of warm.
Phenomenal.
snowcat wrote:
Right on man.
October 1988...up at my girlfriend's lake home. Her best friend came up with her boyfriend and we awkwardly shook hands and the girls disappeared into the kitchen to talk.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
Right on man.
Saw them in concert 2 years ago, before the world grounded to a halt, and it was a near-spiritual experience. When they played this song all the chatter and noise in the crowd stopped. Everyone, it seemed, was transfixed by this incredible gem of a song. I'll never forget that day.
calypsus_1 wrote:
The Cure in Boston by bradsearles
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bsearles/
Live at the Agganis Arena on Monday, May 12th, 2008
...just getting this pic back up to the top. ;)
The Cure in Boston by bradsearles
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bsearles/
Live at the Agganis Arena on Monday, May 12th, 2008
...just getting this pic back up to the top. ;)
ziggytrix wrote:
Pretty sure that "the algorithms" don't choose music on RP.
But I don't want to thumb it down in case the algorithms mean THIS version would be less likely to be played too.
Pretty sure that "the algorithms" don't choose music on RP.
unclehud wrote:
Algorithms are destroying our society's human networks. Not kidding: the machines may become self-aware in my lifetime.
Yep. I completely agree unclehud I don't know if machine self-awareness is the worst, or if it's our not being aware of it.
Sometimes I'm baffled that we're at the point (myself included) that we actually drive exactly where the little voice tells us to drive. Spooky in a way.
It's not unlike automatic translators. There's no denying they're becoming great. Still, are we not losing something asking a machine/ AI to think in our place? What do I learn about the other person if I'm not trying to speak their language? I think I'd much rather struggle with miming than speak into my phone so that it spits back my words into another language.
Algorithms are destroying our society's human networks. Not kidding: the machines may become self-aware in my lifetime.
Yep. I completely agree unclehud I don't know if machine self-awareness is the worst, or if it's our not being aware of it.
Sometimes I'm baffled that we're at the point (myself included) that we actually drive exactly where the little voice tells us to drive. Spooky in a way.
It's not unlike automatic translators. There's no denying they're becoming great. Still, are we not losing something asking a machine/ AI to think in our place? What do I learn about the other person if I'm not trying to speak their language? I think I'd much rather struggle with miming than speak into my phone so that it spits back my words into another language.
ziggytrix wrote:
Algorithms are destroying our society's human networks. Not kidding: the machines may become self-aware in my lifetime.
My Pandora station has started playing the radio edit of this song, and it bugs me so much. It's like constant vocals, no breaks for the guitar melodies, and it just doesn't have the soul of this cut.
But I don't want to thumb it down in case the algorithms mean THIS version would be less likely to be played too.
But I don't want to thumb it down in case the algorithms mean THIS version would be less likely to be played too.
Algorithms are destroying our society's human networks. Not kidding: the machines may become self-aware in my lifetime.
snowcat wrote:
What happened after 20 years?!
October 1988...up at my girlfriend's lake home. Her best friend came up with her boyfriend and we awkwardly shook hands and the girls disappeared into the kitchen to talk.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
What happened after 20 years?!
snowcat wrote:
Great! But you and your friend certainly smoked that evening because they started recording this in November 1988...
October 1988...up at my girlfriend's lake home. Her best friend came up with her boyfriend and we awkwardly shook hands and the girls disappeared into the kitchen to talk.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
Great! But you and your friend certainly smoked that evening because they started recording this in November 1988...
I remember the first time I saw them in concert. They opened with this song. Simply amazing.
Simply their best song. Period.
I never truly appreciated this when it came out as a middle school kid. Now after listening to it so many times over the years on RP I finally appreciate it. Thanks Bill and Rebecca.
This is one of my top songs of all time.
Sublimely sweet, sad and painful. I'm a recent convert to The Cure. So many introductions to great bands as a result of RP. Thank you.
They played this at Glastonbury last year. A highlight of the festival.
Beautiful tune.
Thanks for the description. Those moments are what make life awesome. Hope you are still getting them occasionally.
snowcat wrote:
snowcat wrote:
October 1988...up at my girlfriend's lake home. Her best friend came up with her boyfriend and we awkwardly shook hands and the girls disappeared into the kitchen to talk.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
sfyi2001 wrote:
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
Robert almost looks like Ben Affleck on this. Fancy Robert Smith as Batman? That would be something!! Spiderman is having me for dinner tonight :-)
And what a great song :)
Nice. Thanks for sharing.
Robert almost looks like Ben Affleck on this. Fancy Robert Smith as Batman? That would be something!! Spiderman is having me for dinner tonight :-)
And what a great song :)
Fellows, I'm 60 and I listening to The Cure to the present day and Picture Of You, Shake Dog Shake, Boys Don't Cry, Lullabay and A Forest - my favorite tracks. Amazing collective!
snowcat wrote:
For me , this is what the "post comment" is all about.
But we use it more to "rate " songs.
October 1988...up at my girlfriend's lake home. Her best friend came up with her boyfriend and we awkwardly shook hands and the girls disappeared into the kitchen to talk.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
More awkward silence, then he suggests we grab the boom box and go out onto the dock to check out the full moon. He pops in Disintegration, we roll one and smoke it, and become best friends for 20 years after. And I go out and buy everything this band ever recorded.
For me , this is what the "post comment" is all about.
But we use it more to "rate " songs.
obankenobi wrote:
Me too. I missed out on some good music/concerts at that time because I was too loyal to just one genre (hard rock). One of the reasons I appreciate RP so much now.
Wow I hated this when I was in high school and it came out. Only took 30 odd years for me to appreciate
Me too. I missed out on some good music/concerts at that time because I was too loyal to just one genre (hard rock). One of the reasons I appreciate RP so much now.
Wow I hated this when I was in high school and it came out. Only took 30 odd years for me to appreciate
Awful snare drum!
The Cure are one of the most underrated bands in the world. Sheer brilliance!
This one a 10. It just hurts that perfectly.
10. Quite simply 10. Magnificent.
The remixed version on Mixed up is excellent also. You can feel the sadness.
A simply beautiful song with great guitar as only Robert Smith can do
My Pandora station has started playing the radio edit of this song, and it bugs me so much. It's like constant vocals, no breaks for the guitar melodies, and it just doesn't have the soul of this cut.
But I don't want to thumb it down in case the algorithms mean THIS version would be less likely to be played too.
But I don't want to thumb it down in case the algorithms mean THIS version would be less likely to be played too.
I can't and won't get tired of this gem. 
In 1989 I was listening to Def Leppard and Poison. Damn I missed a lot of great music. I guess I wasn't mature enough for this, but I sure do enjoy it now.
Tomasni wrote:
Not really a fan, I remember my now Wife ostentatiously falling asleep in the front row at a London gig (Dominion I think) about the time of A Forest. This is great though.
For me this is 8 - Most Excellent
Not really a fan, I remember my now Wife ostentatiously falling asleep in the front row at a London gig (Dominion I think) about the time of A Forest. This is great though.
redmachine wrote:
that's for sure...
Still magical after all these years.
that's for sure...
Still magical after all these years.
izycrzy wrote:
LOL!
Why do I feel like I'm getting dumped?
LOL!
Bill plays The Cure a lot. (which is fine by me!)
Seems like he experienced real love in his life which is nice to hear musically.
bumped from 8 to 9
love the whole album
love the whole album
izycrzy wrote:
You feel like you're "getting dumped", because you swim in the shallow end, where the water is waist deep.
The death of a loved one will be difficult for you.
Why do I feel like I'm getting dumped?
You feel like you're "getting dumped", because you swim in the shallow end, where the water is waist deep.
The death of a loved one will be difficult for you.
LOL, had this song from a PSD a few minutes ago, but it's good for the ears.
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that Robert Smith's makeup face looks a bit like The Joker?
izycrzy wrote:
Were the locks changed?
Why do I feel like I'm getting dumped?
Were the locks changed?
Why do I feel like I'm getting dumped?
kingart wrote:
And he took the flux capacitor!
Yawn. When I'm not annoyed. Someone call Arcade Fire, I think they're drummer has gone missing.
And he took the flux capacitor!
VH1 wrote:
Oops, yes you are right, I meant they are together since they were 14, sorry! Mea Culpa!
" Smith is married to Mary Theresa Poole (born 3 October 1958), whom he met in drama class at St Wilfrid's when he was 14"
You are very observant, never the less, if married or not, they are together since 43 years! Which is quite an achievment!
yes, I agree and thanx for the other Robert Smith info
Oops, yes you are right, I meant they are together since they were 14, sorry! Mea Culpa!
" Smith is married to Mary Theresa Poole (born 3 October 1958), whom he met in drama class at St Wilfrid's when he was 14"
You are very observant, never the less, if married or not, they are together since 43 years! Which is quite an achievment!
yes, I agree and thanx for the other Robert Smith info
Skydog wrote:
43 years? They were married in 1988.
Oops, yes you are right, I meant they are together since they were 14, sorry! Mea Culpa!
" Smith is married to Mary Theresa Poole (born 3 October 1958), whom he met in drama class at St Wilfrid's when he was 14"
You are very observant, never the less, if married or not, they are together since 43 years! Which is quite an achievment!
43 years? They were married in 1988.
Oops, yes you are right, I meant they are together since they were 14, sorry! Mea Culpa!
" Smith is married to Mary Theresa Poole (born 3 October 1958), whom he met in drama class at St Wilfrid's when he was 14"
You are very observant, never the less, if married or not, they are together since 43 years! Which is quite an achievment!
VH1 wrote:
43 years? They were married in 1988.
Robert is always so sad, but he is married to his wife for 43 years now, this is quite an amazing achievement, nothing to be sad about.
43 years? They were married in 1988.
Robert Smith's heartache is a blessing for all of us.
kingart wrote:
Yawn. When I'm not annoyed. Someone call Arcade Fire, I think they're drummer has gone missing.
This song was released in 1989 where as Arcade Fire was formed in 2001. Maybe AF's drummer was inspired by The Cure VH1 wrote:
indeed
Robert is always so sad, but he is married to his wife for 43 years now, this is quite an amazing achievement, nothing to be sad about.
indeed
Perfect song for the mid-week working blues while at work.
Yawn. When I'm not annoyed. Someone call Arcade Fire, I think they're drummer has gone missing.
Robert is always so sad, but he is WITH his wife for 43 years now, this is quite an amazing achievement, nothing to be sad about.
note to self - must listen to the whole of this album very soon. This is a great song. Lots of others on the album too.
I`m so happy - Cure are coming back to Germany in October.
Hope they are still in good shape. Anyone who has seen them recently?
Hope they are still in good shape. Anyone who has seen them recently?
The Cure is one of a very few bands I like from the 80thies. This is a sweet song.
beautiful romantic sad song cure style
remembering my youthness :-)
remembering my youthness :-)
I wonder if there is a Cure song that has ever been done that I haven't loved?
very nice song!
Sorry, but it's godlike
That whole Smiths, Cure etc era, I spent researching other music not overly played on radios on the island (GB). Subsiquently, I never formed a deep appriciation for the sub sub genre, but there are a few Im very fond of ... very few.
HEY MAN!
thank you so much!!!
I love this song!!!
thank you so much!!!
I love this song!!!
I was 14 'ish on or about when The Cure as well as The Smiths, and a few other 80s punk bands were big at my high school for the select few eclectics. Interestingly, probably more punks at my school in light of that had started bands than for any other music genre within my peer age group. One of my girl friends from highschool thought she was in love with The Cure lead singer, haha..I thought he was certainly entertaining looking, and tried to see what she had seen. Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands looked way way more better to me though ;) Anyway, The Cure wasn't my favorite, but they weren't just tolerable for me, so, I suppose I would give them somewhere just above tolerable? I'd much rather listen to The Smiths given the choice..
CoYoT51 wrote:
I agree. I know we are in the minority here but yawn!
Sooooooooooo booooooriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing... 
I agree. I know we are in the minority here but yawn!
I recognize the high qualty of songwriting and musicianship... I recognize Robert Smith is a great vocalist, but every little utterance from him sounds like a crying infant. WAAAH WAAAH WAAAH.
Cannot like it.
Cannot like it.
Still amazes me that so many bought this music. I quite like it, but it seems so un-mainstream.
I actually know why I hate The Cure so much: when I was 16, *ALL* my (female) (?) classmates would fall in love with the trashy lipstick and the never-seen-a-ray-of-sunlight skin complexion, arguing that THIS guitar was thousand times more brilliant than, e.g. Yngwie Malmsteen (taken at random. There was choice at that time). Perhaps it's time for me to undergo a sofa analysis and peacefully reunite with that past. But as of today, this is still an assertive 1. 
9->to a rare 10
LizK wrote:
They (including Robert Smith) are still performing live concerts, and there was talk last year of a new album . Don't know what came of it.
Instantly recognized the voice. How clear, how pristine. What a loss.
They (including Robert Smith) are still performing live concerts, and there was talk last year of a new album . Don't know what came of it.
They seem to play this alot.
The Cure drives me sick... ironical! 
Sooooooooooo booooooriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing...
Steely_D wrote:
I don't hear that at all, but we all hear different things.
Lou Reed called from the dead. He wants his Sweet Jane back.
I don't hear that at all, but we all hear different things.
'Pictures of You' chords:
Verse: A - D - A - D - A - D
Chorus: E - D - E - Bm7 - A
Secondary verse: A - Bm7 - A/C# -D - A/C# - D -A/E - D/F# - A
'Sweet Jane' chords:
Verse: D - D - A - G - G - Bm - A - D - D - D - A - G - G - Bm- A - D - D
Chorus: D - G - D - G - D - G - D - G
Lou Reed probably had a substantial influence on these guys though.
The music, the lyrics, the goosebumps on my arms. The Cure was such a great band, so many classics and this is my favorite..
Classic 1980's, please keep playing this.
Steely_D wrote:
Lou would lose that lawsuit.
Lou Reed called from the dead. He wants his Sweet Jane back.
Lou would lose that lawsuit.
Lou Reed called from the dead. He wants his Sweet Jane back.
LizK wrote:
????
Instantly recognized the voice. How clear, how pristine. What a loss.
????
Grad school, late 80's coming to a close, The Cure...
Remembering you, running soft through the night
You were bigger and brighter and whiter than snow
Screamed at the make-believe, screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage to let it all go
Remembering you, running soft through the night
You were bigger and brighter and whiter than snow
Screamed at the make-believe, screamed at the sky
And you finally found all your courage to let it all go
LizK wrote:
"What a loss"?
that sounds like someone died....
Wikipedia:
Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1959) is an English musician
Instantly recognized the voice. How clear, how pristine. What a loss.
"What a loss"?
that sounds like someone died....
Wikipedia:
Robert James Smith (born 21 April 1959) is an English musician
I can really hear the blues influence in this one.
(that was sarcasm)
(that was sarcasm)
palatin8 wrote:
plus The Smiths, Stone Roses, Elvis Costello etc.
Imagine the 1980's without The Cure, The Dream Syndicate, Big Country, and a few else like Midnight Oil. Without those a decade of plastic music it was.
plus The Smiths, Stone Roses, Elvis Costello etc.
Imagine the 1980's without The Cure, The Dream Syndicate, Big Country, and a few else like Midnight Oil. Without those a decade of plastic music it was.
bluejay08003 wrote:
I think this tune is most excellent, but I can understand why others might not care for it. There's no accounting for taste. Leaving aside your pun, there's no need to poke someone who doesn't share your taste. Live and let live.
Your comment should better be addressed to user ziakut, not justin4kick.
I think this tune is most excellent, but I can understand why others might not care for it. There's no accounting for taste. Leaving aside your pun, there's no need to poke someone who doesn't share your taste. Live and let live.
Your comment should better be addressed to user ziakut, not justin4kick.
...... enjoying this and is a very worthy "most excellant"Bumped up one.
My, how it glistens and shimmers. So good.
justin4kick wrote:
I think this tune is most excellent, but I can understand why others might not care for it. There's no accounting for taste. Leaving aside your pun, there's no need to poke someone who doesn't share your taste. Live and let live.
There´s no Cure for bad taste.
I think this tune is most excellent, but I can understand why others might not care for it. There's no accounting for taste. Leaving aside your pun, there's no need to poke someone who doesn't share your taste. Live and let live.
From elbow to the cure....my dual fav trax after a horrible week... thanks RP!!!
PSD' from ween to this so good on a very hot Sat arvo.. Currently 37c and about to head back into the pool... What a pleasure.....
Still one of my favourite albums of all time. Dim the lights and let the blue light of a cold winter evening flood your room. Then add "Disintegration". Perfect.
ziakut wrote:
We really are not interested in a weather report for your area...................
d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l I
We really are not interested in a weather report for your area...................
Beautiful, and reminds me that "Like Cockatoos" is sadly missing from the list. Anyone?
ziakut wrote:
There´s no Cure for bad taste.
d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l
There´s no Cure for bad taste.
Great song from one of my fave Cure albums!
Never get tired of this one.
The Cure Palabras Mayores
Very nice!
Lazarus wrote:Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... we love this vivid song... it tweaks our nipples and squeezes our gizzards... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Everybody in my mushrooming multitude of churches be dancing buck ass naked all across the world like bowlegged gypsy muleskinners... we love this vivid song... it tweaks our nipples and squeezes our gizzards... love sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll...
Perfection.
Barftastic.
Bill, please bring back the barfing emoticon.
Bill, please bring back the barfing emoticon.
d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l - d u l l
They played this song as well as others from this album at Osheaga (montreal) this summer. Awesome show. Aging well (weird thing to say but true of the music).
I decided that I didn't like the Cure when i was in highschool in the 80's. I regret closing that door then because i abslutely love about a dozen of their songs now... I can't be sure if i grew into liking them or if i would've liked 'em if i'd just given them a chance. Eiither way, this song is great IMHO.
hanssachs wrote:
In a good way.
This just goes on and on, doesn't it?
In a good way.
This just goes on and on, doesn't it?