Look at You

It is pretty obvious that Jim is talking about Jesus in this song, which is nothign new for his lyrics. Jim has always had many spiritual songs bordering on gospel. Maybe you have to see him live to really connect the dots, I don't know.

I like some of the imagination in these responses, but this song was written prior to Obama being a national figure, and it would be kind of a stretch to say it is mocking Bush - especially considering the raw emotion he puts into singing this song, particularly during live performances.

I am sure Jim is a liberal guy, but he is also very spiritual.

not ABOVE in some tower, rather than ABOUT

It's 100% about Obama. Jim just talked about it at the most recent show. What a disappointment. I don't care if he leans left, right, or indifferent, but I really think it would have been best to leave it to the imagination of the listener. Ruined.

It sounds to me like a message to God. Saying that we believe in your power to lead us, walking with us every day.

this song seems to draw upon a double religious/political metaphor, possibly jim james singing about an ideal presidential candidate.

the "good citizen", "power to lead to without fear" and "peace and glory" could be adjectives to describe this ideal leader but also could be attributed to a religious figure.

i dont think its religious. more about what we need for this country. Though jim james has commented on his love of gospel and old R&B and the influence it may have had on this album

This seems like a religious song to me, as well, although I can definitely see how it refers a poltical leader ("Such a fine citizen!") as well. But he also sings of the "You" being "Not about, in some tower/But here-right down here-/With us/In this world" and being "Everywhere at once", which really makes me think it's about God. "Thank You Too" from this album has some religious overtones, too.

I would have to agree with Motthamble in saying that this is purely a spiritual song. I don't see how people draw so many interpretations of involving Bush these days...

I don't know who its about, but I think its meant to be very sarcastic. Just the line "look at you" has a very taunting connotation.

Seems to me that Jim James is being ironical. He's skewering our current president, George W. Bush. He's commenting on the admiration and devotion that many of Bush's followers heap on him because of his faith--that Bush is somehow annointed by God as our leader. James is mocking those folks as well as the president. His repetition of the word glory means something as well. He is slyly pointing out that Bush has always really been about glory and nothing meaningful or spiritual at all. Glory also starts with G, like the president's name. That may be another clue. I know that last bit's a stretch, but...who knows. I havent heard Jim James discuss his poetry much.