Pablo Picasso – English Lyrics

• By: David Bowie

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the playful side of David Bowie with his cover of 'Pablo Picasso,' a humorous tribute to the famed artist and his irresistible allure. This song offers a fun and accessible way to appreciate Bowie's musical versatility and his appreciation for both art and wit. Learn about the artistic inspirations behind the song and Bowie's unique take on a classic tune.

[English]

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his finger nails

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his finger nails

Well, some people try to pick up girls

They get called assholes

This never happened to Pablo Picasso

The girls would turn the colour of a juicy avocado

When he would drive down their street in his El Dorado

He could walk down your street

Girls could not resist his stare

So Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole

Not like you

Wow!

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his finger nails

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his finger nails

He could walk down his street

And girls could not resist his stare

Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole

Well, the girls would turn the colour of a juicy avocado

When he would drive down their street in his El Dorado

Well, he was only five-foot three

But girls could not resist his stare

Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole

Not in New York

Wow!

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his finger nails

Swinging on the back porch

Jumping off a big log

Pablo's feeling better now

Hanging by his picture nails

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
swing /swɪŋ/ B1	verb - to move back and forth noun - a hanging seat for children, usually in a playground
jump /dʒʌmp/ A2	verb - to leap into the air noun - a leap
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - an emotional state
finger /ˈfɪŋɡər/ A1	noun - a digit of the hand
nails /neɪlz/ A2	noun - the hard covering at the tip of each finger
porch /pɔːrtʃ/ B1	noun - a covered entrance or veranda of a building
log /lɒɡ/ A2	noun - a large piece of a tree trunk
avocado /ˌævəˈkɑːdoʊ/ B1	noun - a fruit with creamy flesh, popular in salads
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
stare /stɛər/ B2	verb - to look at someone or something with fixed eyes noun - a long, fixed look
resist /rɪˈzɪst/ B2	verb - to oppose or withstand something
El Dorado /ˈɛl dɔːˈrɑːdoʊ/ C1	proper noun - mythical city of gold sought by explorers
big /bɪɡ/ A1	adjective - large in size
better /ˈbɛtər/ A2	adjective - more good; improved
juicy /ˈdʒuːsi/ B1	adjective - full of juice; succulent
five-foot /faɪv fʊt/ B2	adjective - having a height of five feet
asshole /ˈæsˌhoʊl/ C2	noun - a vulgar term for a contemptible or offensive person noun - the anatomical opening at the end of the digestive tract (informal)
picture /ˈpɪktʃər/ A2	noun - an image or representation produced by drawing, painting, photography, etc.

Key Grammar Structures

• Swinging on the back porch

  ➔ present participle / gerund

  ➔ The word "Swinging" is a present participle used as a gerund phrase to describe an ongoing action.

• Pablo's feeling better now

  ➔ present continuous

  ➔ The verb "feeling" together with the contracted "'s" (is) forms the present continuous to show a current state.

• Well, some people try to pick up girls

  ➔ present simple + infinitive

  ➔ The verb "try" is in the present simple and is followed by the infinitive phrase "to pick up" indicating purpose.

• They get called assholes

  ➔ passive voice (present simple)

  ➔ The verb "called" appears in the passive form after "get", showing that the subject receives the action.

• The girls would turn the colour of a juicy avocado

  ➔ conditional "would" (future in the past)

  ➔ The auxiliary "would" indicates a hypothetical future situation relative to a past viewpoint.

• He could walk down your street

  ➔ modal verb "could" for past ability

  ➔ "Could" expresses that the subject had the ability to do something in the past.

• Girls could not resist his stare

  ➔ modal verb "could" with negation

  ➔ The combination "could not" shows inability or impossibility in the past.

• He was only five-foot three

  ➔ simple past

  ➔ "Was" is the simple past form of "be", used for a past state.