I’ve always thought the line was, “The picture makes a promise, the flash lets it be broken”, as in the flash of a camera. This makes more sense to me in the context of the song.
[Verse 1]
You can close your eyes
And see a picture perfect life
Inside your mind
Dreaming only of the days ahead
Wanted and wished for more than now
Or the days behind
You waste your time
[Chorus]
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
[Verse 2]
You can never think
You can't even stop yourself
Before the words have been spoken
And you've already said
You would give everything
And something for nothing
Everybody thinks you're joking
[Chorus]
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
[Verse 3]
You want to be the one
Made over be your own
Before and after
And the supermarket
Beauti in a bottle queen
Who'll one day grace a
Cheek-out counter
Magazine front cover
Though the fine print reads
[Chorus]
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
[Bridge]
Lets it be broken
Lets it be broken
Broken
Lets it be broken
Lets it be broken
Broken
Broken
[Verse 4]
When your life is never what you wanted
Not even halfway normal
Just tarnished and soiled
When in your reach
A framed and frozen moment
So far from perfection
Not truth or transcendence
Will set you free
Still you don't belive
[Chorus]
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
The picture makes a promise
The flash lets it be broken
Broken was written by Tracy Chapman.
Broken was produced by John Parish & Tracy Chapman.
Tracy Chapman released Broken on Tue Oct 15 2002.