Pictures of Lily

Single infobox |
Name = Pictures of Lily


Artist = The Who
B-side = Doctor, Doctor
Released = April 22, 1967 (UK)
Format = Vinyl record (7")
Recorded = April 5, 1967 at IBC Studios, London, UK
Genre = Pop, Rock, Power pop
Length = 2:44
Label = Polydor Records
Producer = Kit Lambert
Chart position = * #4 (UK)
Reviews =
Last single = "Happy Jack"
1966
This single = "Pictures of Lily"
1967
Next single = "The Last Time"
1967
Misc = Extra album cover 2
Upper caption = German Cover
Type = single


Lower caption = German single cover

"Pictures of Lily" is a single by the British rock band The Who. It was released in 1967 as a single, made the top five in the UK, but failed to break into the top 50 in the US.

This song was written by Pete Townshend. In the beginning of the song, the singer laments his insomnia. When his father gives him the pictures of the song's title, his problems are solved thanks to masturbation. Soon, he feels desire for Lily as a person instead of a photo, and asks his father for an introduction. His father informs him however that "Lily" has, in fact, been dead since 1929. Initially, the singer laments, but before long turns back to his fantasy.

According to Pete Townshend in the 2006 book "Lyrics" by Rikky Rooksby, "the idea was inspired by a picture my girlfriend had on her wall of an old Vaudeville star - Lily Bayliss. It was an old 1920s postcard and someone had written on it 'Here's another picture of Lily - hope you haven't got this one.' It made me think that everyone has a pin-up period."This version may be true, but actually Lillie Langtry, the world famous music hall star died in 1929, the same year that the father in the song says Lily died.

The song has been covered by David Bowie.

References

* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:dl2zefqk1g81 Review and analysis] at Allmusic.com