Performed by Jackson Browne
I was taken by a photograph of you
There were one or two I know that you would have liked a little more
But they didn't show your spirit quite as true
You were turning 'round to see who was behind you
And I took your childish laughter by surprise
And at the moment that my camera happened to find you
There was just a trace of sorrow in your eyes
Now the things that I remember seem so distant and so small
Though it hasn't really been that long a time
What I was seeing wasn't what was happening at all
Although for a while, our path did seem to climb
But when you see through love's illusions, there lies the danger
And your perfect lover just looks like a perfect fool
So you go running off in search of a perfect stranger
While the loneliness seems to spring from your life
Like a fountain from a pool
Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You've known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight
You've had to hide sometimes, but now you're all right
And it's good to see your smiling face tonight
Now for you and me it may not be that hard to reach our dreams
But that magic feeling never seems to last
And while the future's there for anyone to change,
Still you know it's seems
It would be easier sometimes to change the past
I'm just one or two years and a couple of changes behind you
In my lessons at love's pain and heartache school
Where if you feel too free and you need something to remind you
There's this loneliness springing up from your life
Like a fountain from a pool
Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You've known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight
You've had to hide sometimes but now you're all right
And it's good to see your smiling face tonight
Fountain of sorrow, fountain of light
You've known that hollow sound of your own steps in flight
You've had to struggle, you've had to fight
To keep understanding and compassion in sight
You could be laughing at me, you've got the right
But you go on smiling so clear and so bright
And it's good to see your smiling face tonight
Haunting words. It is hard to make the future be the way we want it to, and sometimes, there are things beyond our control that we must learn to accept and live with. But we will never succeed if we do not try, and we will never try if we cannot believe that we can affect the future. And the singer is this song seems to have given up.
And yet... the subject of the song, affected by sorrow and loneliness, maintains understanding, compassion, and a smile. Although things will not always go our way, it is possible to be happy, even if the happiness is tinged with sadness.
The pictures were chosen to represent times when we keep our feelings locked up and safe while we heal from some past hurt, and times when we can be a light in other's lives.
I cannot grant anyone permission to re-use this material, as such permission is not mine to give.
If you are the copyright holder for any included works, and would like to discuss terms for continued use, please contact me at admin@wingingit.us .