The song "Number One Camera" by Nina Gordon tells the story of a past relationship and the memories associated with it. The lyrics express nostalgia and longing for the person she used to be with. The opening lines, "number one camera so here I go, I know this feeling awfully well," suggest that the speaker is familiar with these emotions and is ready to delve into her memories. She mentions building a custom camera that could record the smell of the perfume they used to share, implying a desire to capture every sensory detail of their past. The line "until you spilled it on the floor" suggests a moment of loss or an incident that ended the relationship. Despite this, the speaker reflects positively on the memories they shared, mentioning the glitter, glue, and noise that were part of their time together. The reference to "polaroid" further emphasizes the nostalgic tone, as Polaroid cameras were popular in the past and instantly captured moments. The speaker admits that she should probably miss the person she is reminiscing about, but ironically, she sees them all the time in her memories captured in Polaroid pictures. This could imply that she is haunted or constantly reminded of the past. The second verse introduces themes of wasted time and pretending to be okay. The speaker acknowledges that she needs to move on from this phase and mentions getting out of the kitchen, possibly symbolizing leaving a situation that is too hot or uncomfortable. The line "my feet were colder than the Hebrides" suggests emotional distance or detachment from the relationship. They were bored and had nothing else to do but play records and pose in the nude, indicating a sense of youthful rebellion or freedom in their dynamic. The speaker confesses to always thinking she would know the person, highlighting a sense of familiarity and trust. However, it becomes apparent that they were not trustworthy, as others knew they couldn't be trusted. The line "I could peel you like a pear, and God would call it justice" implies that the speaker has some power or insight over the person, but ultimately justice will prevail. The song concludes with the realization that there's nothing left to do but live with the memories of this person. The closing line, "I do in sixties pink and light blue," refers to the speaker's visualization of themselves in the past, possibly indicating a fondness for that era. Overall, "Number One Camera" explores themes of nostalgia, reflection, and acceptance of past experiences in a relationship.
