This Picture

Placebo, known for their dark and melancholic sound, often explores themes of pain, love, and existential angst in their music. 'This Picture' is no exception, with lyrics that paint a vivid portrait of loss and the passage of time. The song's protagonist seems to be grappling with the memory of someone referred to as the 'ashtray girl,' a metaphor that could suggest a person who has been used and discarded, much like a cigarette in an ashtray. The imagery of a cigarette burning on the singer's chest could symbolize the pain and scars left by this relationship. The mention of a poem that 'put our friendship to the test' implies that there was an attempt to capture the essence of this person or their world, which may have led to a strain or end of the friendship.

The chorus bids farewell to the 'ashtray girl' and warns of a 'troubled world,' indicating a departure from innocence or naivety. The references to 'forbidden snowflake' and 'angelic fruitcake' are oxymoronic, combining purity with the forbidden, and divinity with instability or madness. These contradictions enhance the sense of confusion and loss. The repeated lines about the picture fading and being disintegrated or assassinated 'for fear of growing old' suggest a struggle against the inevitable aging process and the changes it brings, both physically and in relationships.

The song's outro, with its simple, repeated lines 'Hang on / Though we try / It's gone,' captures the essence of the struggle against time and the pain of holding onto something that has already slipped away. The final admission, 'I can't stop growing old,' is a poignant acceptance of the natural progression of life, despite the desire to preserve youth and the past. 'This Picture' is a powerful exploration of the human condition, dealing with themes of memory, loss, and the inexorable march of time, all wrapped in Placebo's signature emotive rock style.