Picture Book
The Kinks · The Village Green Preservation Society [1968]
Sat by the fireside a-pondering on
Picture book, pictures of your mama,
taken by your papa a long time ago.
Picture book, of people with each other,
to prove they love each other a long ago.
Na, na, na, na, na na.
Na, na, na, na, na na.
Picture book.
Picture book.
A picture of you in your birthday suit,
You sat in the sun on a hot afternoon.
Picture book, your mama and your papa,
and fat old Uncle Charlie out boozing with their friends.
Picture book, a holiday in August,
outside a bed and breakfast in sunny Southend.
Picture book, when you were just a baby,
those days when you were happy, a long time ago.
Na, na, na, na, na na.
Na, na, na, na, na na.
Picture book.
Picture book.
Picture book.
Picture book.
Picture book,
Na, na, na, na na,
Na, na, na, na na,
A-scooby-dooby-doo.
Picture book,
Na, na, na, na na,
Na, na, na, na na,
A-scooby-dooby-doo.
Picture book, pictures of your mama,
taken by your papa a long time ago.
Long time ago,
Long time ago,
Long time ago,
Long time ago,
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Picture Book - The Kinks
Released on The Village Green Preservation Society in 1968, 'Picture Book' stands as a quintessential example of The Kinks' mid-period storytelling. Written by Ray Davies, the track captures the mundane yet poignant atmosphere of suburban life, utilizing a distinctive acoustic guitar arrangement that defines the band's signature sound. The song reflects Davies' keen observation of ordinary characters and their quiet dramas, a recurring theme throughout his discography during this era. Its melodic structure and lyrical focus on domestic settings have cemented its status as a classic of British rock, influencing countless subsequent artists who sought to ground their music in realistic, everyday narratives.