Look Alive

Hm.. I've only recently heard this song, and glanced over the lyrics just now. I love the up-beatness of it all; however, I get this satirical and sarcastic vibe when I listen to it and read the lyrics.

It seems, to me, as though Brandon is criticizing our need to ensure a certain fakeness when we are in front of a camera. He uses phrase choices such as "Like jealous Dior mascara down your face", and "But you've been walking eyes to feet In dark sunglasses". The dark sunglasses could be the conceal to what lies underneath. The girl may not be content behind them. It could have some dual meaning, and relate to how we try and appear satisfied outside, but inside, we are dying in grief and solitude. We are not really living how we'd like to.

OR, of course, it could be the absolute opposite. He could be praising the concept of being able to capture moments on cameras and such. This is Incubus, after all. Their songs are so ambiguous. :)

Hm, I wanted to add that the title is "Look Alive", and that is the reoccuring theme throughout the song. Notice how it is "LOOK" alive and not "BE" alive, or a word that would indicate something holistic. Looking is merely a presentation, a show, ... which leads me to believe even moreso the irony/satire.

Such a nice friendly meaning... about perspective across life, which we are only able to perceive through timeless artifacts. I also think there's an ironic meaning to it, like a sort of criticism of our lack of perspective and falsity.

i agre with theSOADgirl... maybe he is maybe he isnt... but i reall y like the song... i like the beat

To me.. at least how i relate to the song.. is that brandon is so beautifully saying "bad moods/hair days/zits/troubles are temporary but pictures/memories/fun can "survive" so smile because you want to and WILL remember the good times not that you had a bad hair day. Its a simple look at the song but I think this song very cleverly and more deeply expresses this basic idea.

i feel that brandon is trying to say how we try to keep time standing still.. how it quickly passes away and the way to keep that moment is by pictures or other activities.

he's also saying like.. you can give me guns and politics but if you give me all the info ill interpret for you..

and theres times when we just wanna look down and not be noticed but we should stay cheery since the time is passing so fast.

so look past the sadness. and be alivee!!! ^.^

ahh. brandon boyd = soul mate.

hahahah... i wisssssh.

Dont stand around in the shadows, behind your dark sunglasses. get out there and live. The camera lens is opeaning, the wider angle's yours. The world is yours go out and get it..

I think the line in the second verse is actually "Like dollar-store mascara down your face."

Interesting take on the phrase "look alive", TheSOADGirl. When I first heard the song, those words made me think of soccer practice when I was a kid, the coach would always yell at us to "Look alive!", as in "Pay attention, be aware!". I took Brandon's use of those words in that way, but he could certainly be using them with a double meaning. Both would apply to the song equally well.

I think KaliDurga is more correct on how to interpret "Look Alive". Brandon's saying pay attention - life is fast. I think the sunglasses/looking at feet line is pointing out how we try to act cool and nonchalant in the face of the mystery of life and that by doing so we are passing by the opportunity to see ("The camera lens is opening ") the wider picture/perspective which is all of ours to enjoy if we avail ourselves of it ("The wider angle's yours ").

amazing song