Story Behind The Song

While traveling from LA to Northern California one time, my car started to overheat. I pulled off the freeway into a small farm town in the Central Valley. It was Friday evening, no mechanics available - I didn't know what I was going to do. Joel & Annie rescued me.

Song Description

Sometimes a brief meeting with people seems to paint a picture of their entire life together. One of my sisters is a "peintre" and she loves this song. So I dedicate it to Patrice. And to Joel & Annie, wherever they may be now.

Lyrics

PICTURE FRAMES
© Alana McGuire
Soul Babies Songs (BMI)

JOEL KEEPS HIMSELF JUST A LITTLE BIT DRUNK
IT BLURS ALL THE SCENES OÂ? THOSE SHIPS THAT HEÂ?S SUNK
(HE SAYS) OH, WELL, ANYWAY
AIN'T IT JUST ANOTHER DAY

(CHORUS 1)
THEREÂ?S A CLOUD UP ABOVE THE HORIZON
IN THE PICTURE HE FRAMES IN HIS MIND
AND JUST AS HE PAINTS IN THE SUNSET
TROUBLE RIDES UP FROM BEHIND

ANNIE COMES HOME TO THE USUAL MESS
BEER ON THE FLOOR AND THE KIDS STILL UNDRESSED
(SHE SAYS) NOT ANOTHER DAY
NOT AGAIN, ITÂ?S NOT OKAY
LOOK AROUND Â? YOU JUST CANÂ?T STAY
YOU KNOW YOU CANÂ?T LIVE THIS WAY

(CHORUS 2)
THEREÂ?S A CLOUD UP ABOVE THE HORIZON
IN THE PICTURE SHE FRAMES IN HER MIND
BUT JUST AS SHE PAINTS IN THE SUNSET
COURAGE RIDES UP FROM BEHIND

(BRIDGE)
SO SHE RUNS IN TO FRANKIE AND JOEY
PACKS A FEW CLOTHES AND SOME TOYS
SAYS, COME ON, NOW, WEÂ?RE GOINÂ? TO GRANDMAÂ?S
I GOTTA FIND A BETTER LIFE FOR MY BOYS

(INSTRUMENTAL)

FRANKIEÂ?S HALF-GROWN NOW AND JOEYÂ?S ALMOST
THEY MISS THEIR OLD MAN BUT HE CALLS FROM THE COAST
(HE SAYS) OH, THE PRICE I PAY
I STILL FIGHT IT EVERY DAY
BROKEN BOTTLE, BROKEN HOME
ALL FOR SOME PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE TELEPHONE


(CHORUS 3)
SO BOYS, IF THERE'S A CLOUD UP ABOVE THE HORIZON
IN THE PICTURE YOU FRAME IN YOUR MIND
THEN JUST AS YOU PAINT IN THE SUNSET
BE SURE COURAGE RIDES UP FROM BEHIND

YEAH, BOYS, THEN JUST AS YOU PAINT IN THE SUNSET
BE SURE COURAGE RIDES UP FROM BEHIND