Rilo Kiley – Pictures of Success

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Send "Pictures of Success" Ringtone to Cell

Build your own television receiver
Staying home can't be that bad for me
Because I'm not scared, but I'd like some extra spare time
Easily earn me big money
I'm a modern girl, but I fold in half so easily
When I put myself in the picture of success
I could learn world trade or try to map the ocean

When you're dead, in hospitals and freeways
When you're dead, in resting homes and clinics
When you're dead, it must be nice to finish
When you're dead

I've had it with you, and Mexico can fucking wait
And all of those French films about trains
Because I'm not scared, but I'd like some extra spare time
I'm not scared, but the bills keep changing colors

When you're dead, in hopsitals and freeways
When you're dead, in dress shirts and neck ties
When you're dead, in apartments and on beaches
When you're dead

They say California is a recipe for a black hole
And I say I've got my best shoes on, I'm ready to go
Ready to go, ready to go, I'm ready to go
Ready to go, ready to go, I'm ready to go

These are times that can't be weathered
And we have never been back there since then
These are times that can't be weathered
And we haven't been back there since then
These are times that can't be weathered
And we have never been back there since then
These are times that can't be weathered
And we haven't been back there since then

Send "Pictures of Success" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by watchthefireworks

Track duration: 06:52


Pictures of Success song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment:It's about trying to make it in this world, trying to work, pay the bills, fend for yourself, be successful. She's a "modern girl" she has been raised in a culture that told her she can do anything she wants but it's still so overwhelming to think about. I think almost anyone in America can relate. Working for this and that, constatly making to-do lists, thinking of your "next move" in the plan. It's a never ending struggle. Sometimes it just makes you want to crawl into a hole and run away from it all because it seems like no matter what you're always going to be broke, or not at the place you want to be. So why not just stay in bed, make your home all cozy and never leave? Give up your problematic relationship, that Mexico vacation you wanted to take, give up all your dreams of seeing the world and doing all the things you wanted to do, your "bucket list" (like traveling or watching French films). Because the real world is fucking scary, you know? But you can't admit that. Even though we all feel that way sometimes.

    I love the chorus because it's so true. Won't it be nice in a way when we are old and everything on our to-do list will be done? We'll have completed our education, career, family, saved all the money we're going to save, do all the things we're going to do. And there will be nothing left to worry about.

    Rilo Kiley is a Los Angeles based band and having grown up in California myself I relate to the last part a lot. If you're a Californian and you travel to other states you'll get people who tell you that California is about to fall apart. An earthquake is coming that will break it into pieces. The immigrants are going to tear down the economy. The societal morals are disningrating to nothing. The fires will burn down Southern California. It's a black hole, basically. It's going to suck itself up into nothing. A disaster waiting to happen. California is also a place where what you are doing, and how successful you are is on everyone's minds. There is a lot of cultural pressure there to be doing *something*. To have a good job, lifestyle, etc. To be as close to perfect is possible. I think she sounds overwhelmed in this song. So California is a black hole? Well okay then, fine. Take me. I'm sick of the hamsterwheel. I want off. I'm ready to go.
    Flag oceanphoenixon September 03, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    Song Meaning:She's talking about death here because she's talking about rest and about what's coming next. You've done everything you're supposed to do, now what? Get a hobby and die. When do you get spare time? Not until you die. It's such a realistic song about adulthood, the bills changing colors and everything. It makes me sad that people are so tickled by the one swear in the song that they completely bypass its actual meaning. "Mexico can fucking wait" is not the best line in the song and if you think so, you're not getting it.
    Flag bonanzajellybeanon November 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I always thought it was saying "ease away; burn me, big money". Doesn't that make more sense?
    Flag Fionnon November 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I've never understood this song. I still don't. Oh well.
    Flag 8394147on August 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Anyone realize that this song and Science vs. Romance have really similar instrumental parts?
    Flag rocklobster407on July 22, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Has anyone considered that "dead" could mean not physically dead, but mentally dead, exhausted by being in the the fast track? That is possible in the line "When you're dead, in hospitals and freeways". It is not as clear in the following line. In the second chorus, when you're dead refers to lots of materialistic items "When you're dead, in dress shirts and neck ties
    When you're dead, in apartments and on beaches".
    The song has a beautiful syncopated opening with the guitar work.
    Flag eigenv1on September 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ok i alreday wrote my commennt. but i changed it.

    I think this song is about being ready to die
    Flag thembraincellson July 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:ok i alreday wrote my commennt. but i changed it.

    I think this song is about being ready to die
    Flag thembraincellson July 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not sure if any of you are Buffy fans, but in the episode "Older and Far Away," "Pictures of Success" can be heard in the background near the beginning of the episode. It isn't credited, but it's most definitely intelligible.

    I thought it was an interesting choice, or a quite eerie coincidence for the episode, considering the lyrics fit the protagonists situation flawlessly, right up to the line "They say California is a recipe for a black hole."

    Simply amazing.
    Flag Seahighsteron July 21, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:see i always thought of the bills keep changing colors thing as shes traveling alot, like the currency keeps changing... idk im prob wrong.

    and i think the "when youre dead" is just like her fear or wonderment about death. dont we all have that???
    Flag roxyjl186on July 15, 2008   Link

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