Picture Postcards From L.A.

Joshua Kadison's song "Picture Postcards From L.A." paints a poignant picture of dreams, aspirations, and the bittersweet reality of unfulfilled ambitions. The narrative centers around two characters: the piano player, who serves as the song's narrator, and Rachel, a waitress with dreams of stardom. The setting is Eddie's bar, a place where both characters work and share their hopes and dreams. Rachel is determined to make it big in Los Angeles, a city synonymous with fame and success. She promises to send the piano player picture postcards from L.A. as a token of her success.

The song delves into the intimate moments between the piano player and Rachel, highlighting their late-night conversations and shared dreams. Rachel's aspirations are a recurring theme, and the piano player supports her dreams, albeit with a hint of skepticism. The repeated request for picture postcards from L.A. symbolizes the piano player's hope for Rachel's success and his desire to hold onto a piece of her dream. The postcards also represent a tangible connection to a future that seems just out of reach.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that Rachel's dreams are continually deferred. Despite her declarations and even buying a ticket to leave, something always holds her back. The bar patrons, including the piano player, play along with her dreams, creating a sense of collective hope and shared disappointment. The song's melancholic tone underscores the harsh reality that not all dreams come true, and sometimes, the comfort of familiar surroundings outweighs the allure of distant aspirations. Kadison's storytelling, combined with his emotive piano playing, creates a vivid and relatable narrative about the complexities of chasing dreams and the comfort found in shared hopes and dreams.