Pictures

Album: Pep Talks (2019)
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Songfacts®:

  • This heartbreaking acoustic-driven tribute to a lost love was written by Judah and the Lion frontman Judah Akers in the wake of his parents' marriage breaking down.

    Too scared to move these things from this home we made
    So many good memories and some fatal mistakes
    And I know that you love me still
    But we're not the same
    And if I'm being honest, I don't really want you this way


    Akers explained that he "had a really deep moment" with his mother on the phone when she "broke down bawling about how hard it was to move from our family house." He wrote "Pictures" from her perspective "and it came in a flood, in five minutes, right after the call."

    The singer added that he "needed to write it because I was heartsick."
  • The marital split of Akers' mum and dad coincided with their son's music career taking off as Judah & the Lion's hit "Take It All Back" climbed to the top of the Billboard Alternative Songs chart.
  • Kacey Musgraves joins the band on the second verse of the contemplative track crooning more lyrics about the heartbreak that Akers' mom was feeling.

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