Australian singles charts:
Pictures of Lily entered the Kent charts on 27 May 1967 and peaked at #7. The song was #53 on the Top 100 of 1967.
Album:
Pictures of Lily was included in the Who album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, a compilation of previously released singles. It entered the Kent album charts on 8 May 1972 and peaked at #27.
Songwriter:
Pete Townshend
Producer:
Kit Lambert
Record label of Australian release:
Polydor Int.
Wikipedia:
In the beginning of the song, the singer laments his inability to sleep. When his father gives him the pictures of the song’s titular Lily, he feels better, and is able to sleep. 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.
See more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictures_of_Lily
Songfacts:
Pete Townshend wrote Pictures of Lily because he wanted to see a song about masturbation become a hit. He would later write another song on the topic: Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand, which appeared on their album The Who Sell Out.
The song tells the story of a father who gives his son dirty pictures, including one of a movie star from long ago. The son becomes particularly enamored with the photo of the movie star, and all goes well until he finds out she is dead.
Pictures of Lily was banned by many radio stations for its sexual content.
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/the-who/pictures-of-lily
Lyrics:
I used to wake up in the morning
I used to feel so bad
I got so sick of having sleepless nights
I went and told my dad
He said, “Son now here’s some little something”
And stuck them on my wall
And now my nights ain’t quite so lonely
In fact I, I don’t feel bad at all
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 60s
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