Take A Picture...It Lasts Longer is an original song initially going to be featured in On Broadway, the first episode of the second season of Smash, but it was cut from the episode and replaced with Mama Makes Three.
The number was replaced because the creative team felt that Mama Makes Three fit Veronica's storyline with her mother more. The song was written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the former who uploaded a demo version of the song, sung by Shayna Steele, to his Facebook page.
Lyrics[]
You think I don't hear what everybody's saying? Huh!
Hey, little girl, with the different face
No one ever told you you could run this race
Hey, little girl, you ain't got the right skin
You're too black, step back, this is a race you can't win
Your story's over before you begin
Well, let me tell you that
Every "no" only makes me feel stronger
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Cover the flash and the moment is gone
So take a picture 'cause I'm moving on
And to the man who said "don't even try"
A picture paints a thousand words and those is goodbye
Every "no" only makes me feel stronger
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Hey, little girl, don't you know what they say?
A picture's only gonna steal your spirit away
Hey, everybody tryna block my girl
You might wanna, you ain't gonna ever get a piece of my soul
That kind of thinking puts me in control
Well, let me tell you that
Every "no" only makes me feel stronger
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Cover the flash and the moment is gone
So take a picture 'cause I'm moving on
And to the man who said "don't even try"
Let me give you something to remember me by
Every "no" only makes me feel stronger
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Take a picture
I never lost focus on the doors that would close
Kept shining till the negative was overexposed
I've been shot and captured with the truth in my eyes
The set-up is a fake but the camera never lies
No, it never lies!
Woo!
Take a picture, woo, take a picture!
Take a picture
And to the man who said "don't even try"
Here's a little snapshot to remember me by
Every "no" only makes me feel stronger
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Take a picture, it lasts longer
Take a picture, ooh
(It lasts longer, it lasts longer
It lasts longer, it lasts longer
It lasts longer, it lasts longer
It lasts longer, it lasts longer
It lasts longer, it lasts longer...)