Local Boy In The Photograph

Album: Word Gets Around (1997)
Charted: 14
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  • There's no mistake
    I smell that smell
    It's that time of year again
    I can taste the air
    The clocks go back, railway track
    Something blocks the line again
    And the train runs late for the first time

    A pebble beach, we're underneath a pier
    Just been painted red
    Where I hear the news for the first time
    And all the friends lay down the flowers
    Sit on the banks and drink for hours
    Talk of the way they saw him last
    Local boy in the photograph today
    He'll always be twenty-three
    Yet the train runs on and on
    Past the place they found his clothing

    There's no mistake
    I smell that smell
    It's that time of year again
    I can taste the air
    The clocks go back railway track
    Something blocks the line again
    And the train runs late for the first time today

    And all the friends lay down the flowers
    Sit on the banks and drink for hours
    Talk of the way they saw him last
    Local boy in the photograph today
    He's gone away Writer/s: Kelly Jones, Richard Mark Jones, Stuart Cable
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Paul from Aberdare, United KingdomPaul was in fact my best friend. He lived with myself and my mum for months although we had drifted apart. That day I was in a queue for dole, I turned to leave and there was bunter (that's my pet name for him) "Beam", he says,"Can you wait for me?". I said "no probs bud" deep down it was great to see him. Long story short he had to go to police station, a certain person playing mind games with him and we had a chat and I went to police station and promised I'd wait til he came out. After arguing with police officers who said they weren't going to leave him out I left after a couple of hours. Later finding out he was left out 10 minutes after I left. That night a friend told me Boggis had been hit by a train and the irony is, it was the train my mother was on coming home from Cardiff. I miss him.
  • Sarah from Aberdare, United Kingdomthat song fact is wrong this song was written about my cousin paul boggis who was killed by a train between aberdare and cwmbach in south wales and was not suicide.
  • Karl from Ingatestone, United KingdomI'm pleased that Kelly Jones turned that story into a song, i mean that'll be like Zach De La Rocha turning the Teletubbies song into a political rock anthem
  • Becky from Coventry, EnglandActually this song was written about a friend of the bands who killed himself on a train track. we were at the V Festival on the 10th anniversary of the guys death and the 'phonics played this track and announced the anniversary. it was so moving!
  • Derek from Bridgeport, WvThe thing I really like about this song is the narrative of the boy's friends' memorials and actions in regards to him. It's what gives the song depth, and I still think it's one of their very best.
  • Mia from Wellston, MiThat is so sad. i am i love with this song . and when i hear it i cry.
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