Portraits And Pictures

Well, he showed me a picture
When he was a child
He was all in the nude
With a strange-looking smile
And I said, «Good Lord!»
Wouldn’t recognize you at all
Portraits and pictures
Of permanent stares
Photographs of faces
And family affairs
Then he showed me another
Of his mother in lace
With a fan in her hand
An inquisitive face
And I said, «Good Lord!»
She should hang it up on a wall
Portraits and pictures
Of permanent stares
Photographs of faces
And family affairs
Took a look at a snapshot
You were dressed up so well
Was your holy communion
At the Freres de la Salle
And I said, «Good Lord!»
Didn’t you look queer when you’re small
Portraits and pictures
Of permanent stares
Photographs of faces
And family affairs
There was one in your yearbook
On page twenty-two
Look, there you are
Your hair is shorter
But, I can tell that it’s you
And by side, say my!
Isn’t that Silva Smiles?
Portraits and pictures
Of permanent stares
Photographs of faces
And family affairs