Photograph

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"Photograph"
Photograph cover
Single by Weezer
Album Weezer (The Green Album)
Released May 15, 2001
Format CD
Recorded December 2000, Cello Studios, Los Angeles, California
Length 2:19
Label Geffen
Writer(s) Rivers Cuomo
RC# 536
COR# 217
Producer(s) Ric Ocasek
Status Officially released
Stream Play on spotify.png Spotify
Professional reviews
Weezer singles chronology
"Island in the Sun"
(2001)
"Photograph"
(2001)
"Dope Nose"
(2002)
Weezer (The Green Album) track listing
"Don't Let Go"
(1)
"Photograph"
(2)
"Hash Pipe"
(3)
Rivers Cuomo song chronology
"Jewish Cat"
(RC# 523)
"If You Want It"
(RC# 524)
"Downtown"
(RC# 525)

"Photograph" (originally known as "If You Want It") is the second song and third single from Weezer's self-titled 2001 album, (The Green Album).

Appearances

Overview

"It's about a young man who has been through some recent failures, so this song is trying to cheer him up—obviously, me writing to myself—so every time you hear the word "you" it's really 'I.'"
Rivers Cuomo, Huntsville, AL, 2023
"Photograph" is first known to have been demoed by Weezer in October of 2000.[1]

"Photograph" was released in Japan as the lead-off promo single for The Green Album, which differs from the US's "Hash Pipe." The song enjoyed only modest success on the radio, peaking at #17 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.

There are two alternate mixes of "Photograph." A longer, unmastered mix with an alternate chorus leaked prior to the release of The Green Album alongside thirteen other tracks. Another alternate mix of the song appeared on Japanese promo CDs, featuring an edited intro and no applause at the end.

During many live shows since 2005, the band has performed the song live with drummer Patrick Wilson on lead vocals and guitar with Rivers Cuomo on drums. Often, the band has performed the song as a lead-in to a cover of "Song 2" by Blur.

Photograph's release as a single was the last officially-released Weezer song to feature Mikey Welsh.

Reception

"Photograph" was selected as a "Track Pick" in Stephen Thomas Erlewine's 2001 review of The Green Album. In a mostly positive review for the Weezer Songblog Teenage Victory Songs, Soymilkrev compared the song to "Buddy Holly" from The Blue Album. The review included "Photograph" as among "The Very Best" of Weezer's catalogue.

Known recordings

Performer(s) Title Filename Date of recording Recording location Length Appeared on Notes
Weezer If You Want It October 27, 2000[1] 6145 Rodgerton Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It October 28, 2000[1] 6145 Rodgerton Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It October 29, 2000[1] 6145 Rodgerton Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It October 30, 2000[1] 6145 Rodgerton Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It December 7, 2000[1] 6145 Rodgerton Dr., Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It December 14, 2000[1] Swing House Studios, Los Angeles, CA Rehearsal with Ric Ocasek, ver. 1
Weezer If You Want It December 14, 2000[1] Swing House Studios, Los Angeles, CA Rehearsal with Ric Ocasek, ver. 2
Weezer If You Want It December 29, 2000[2] Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Weezer If You Want It January 1February 1, 2001[2][3] Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:57 Leaked online Unmastered leak
Weezer Photograph January 1February 1, 2001[2][3] Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:19 Weezer (The Green Album)
Weezer Photograph January 1February 1, 2001[2][3] Cello Studios, Los Angeles, CA 2:09 "Photograph" (Japanese promo) Shortened mix
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Music video


Karlifyhead.png
This was the first video featuring Scott. "What if we just made our own video and pit it out there?" "Yeah!" "Karl, sort it out!" "...well, alrighty then..." Shot across America.


- Karl Koch, Video Capture Device booklet, 2004


The music video for the song is notable for being directed by Weezer.com webmaster and longtime friend of the band Karl Koch. It consists of footage shot while the band was touring for The Green Album. Among the notable footage is Cuomo playing soccer, guitarist Brian Bell attempting to skateboard and juggle (not at the same time), Wilson riding a Razor Scooter, a brief clip of the duo from Tenacious D running onstage during a Weezer show and a scene with Cuomo playing a prank on new bassist Scott Shriner. Interestingly enough, although Mikey Welsh plays bass and sings backup vocals on the studio recording, Shriner is in the video, as Welsh had left the band at that point. During the very end of the video, when Cuomo is playing the prank on Shriner, a demo of "Death and Destruction" can be heard in the background. This song would later surface on the band's next album, 2002's Maladroit. The video is featured on Video Capture Device, the band's DVD.

Personnel

Lyrics

Album lyrics

If you want it, you can have it
But you gotta learn to reach out there and grab it
'Cause everybody wants some love
Shooting from the stars above
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I could never get enough

If you need it, you should show it
'Cause you might play so monastic that you blow it
'Cause everybody wants some hope (Oh, baby)
Something they can barely know (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I could never let it go

It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love

'Cause everybody wants a dream (Oh, baby)
Something they can barely see (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I can never let it be

It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love

If you blew it, don't reject it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it

Leak lyrics

If you want it, you can have it
But you gotta learn to reach out there and grab it
'Cause everybody wants some love (Oh, baby)
Shooting from the stars above (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break there's more that I can take
I could never get enough

If you need it, you should show it
'Cause you might play so monastic that you blow it
'Cause everybody wants some hope (Oh, baby)
Something they can barely know (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I could never let it go

It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph
It's in the photograph of love

If you blew it, don't reject it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it
'Cause everybody wants a dream (Oh, baby)
Something they can barely see (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I can never let it be

Darling, you know for sure
If all your love is pure
I won't be letting go this time

'Cause everybody wants a dream (Oh, baby)
Something they can barely see (Oh, baby)
And though my heart will break
There's more that I can take
I can never let it be

Darling, you know for sure
If all your love is pure
I won't be letting go this time

If you blew it, don't reject it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it
Just sit drawing up the plans and re-erect it

See also