That Look You Give That Guy

This is a great tune, there've been a couple girls in my life that I wanted and they were with someone else. The look on the girls' faces could be worse than the fact that they were with another dude. It was knowing that they'd never look at me like that.

But as you get older you realize that it's just illogical to think like that. If you were "that guy" who'd be you? As long as there is a you, you're him. Well, it's not so easy to write. And the alternative is that she has actually chosen you. Well, you're different, you're missing whatever it is she seems in him. Don't sweat it. That's just the way life is.

Tough not to think like that, though.

Great tune, great feel.

Wise words ojamaa. Unfortunately though right now this song speaks so perfectly of how i am feeling. I've been in love with a girl for close to a year and i found out on the weekend that she is seeing someone new :'( :'(. It was so drawn out and i feel like i have been used emotionally speaking & she was so up and down in her indecision to be with me but in the end it wasn't me. Hurts so so so much, i don't want to feel this way again. Still. That's life. As for the tune it's really wonderful, the perfect bittersweet chord progression and such spot on lyrics.

ojamaa thats an ace comment.

love the simpleness to the lyrics, and the melody is charming.

and i can relate to it!

Lee, Sheffield, England.

seeing some guy holding your ex girlfriend after you'd broken up a few weeks ago, and the way she smiled. hadn't seen that smile in a long time. yea that sucks =D nice chord progressions indeed, great song^^

Somehow, after repeated listening, I find the lyrics remain fresh and evocative. There is a directness and simplicity to the hook that really highlights the honesty of the feeling.

I guess we don't quite know what "that look" really is, but I always interpret it as "admiration", and the singer's desire is to become admirable, rather than just to get "that look" without deserving it.

It's part of the spell of the song that we put aside doubts about the singer's logic. We might have some ability to make ourselves more admirable, but we certainly don't have the ability to make others appreciate us and to give us "that look". But who would want to interrupt and quibble over another's direct and guileless expression of a desire to become more admirable, and more deserving of that look?

The singer may be romanticizing. He's willing to give up everything, just for that look. But could that look last? would it be worth everything, even if sincere? What happens next? And would he truly be worthy of that look into the future, or would it just be some trick or illusion that one or both of them suffer from? After all, the "real" person, the protagonist, isn't admirable enough yet, and what could this alternate version of himself be but a kind of phony? We sense the fragile confidence the singer has that he can make a positive change, and become strongly drawn into his cause -- we're rooting for him to get that look, because it means that we too might become more admirable ourselves, and someday someone might notice and appreciate this.

We might deserve that look, and get it too.

By the way, Lotte Kestner does a cover of this song that is just as beautiful and haunting as the original. Her version is very faithful to the original. She changes a few pronouns and such, so that she's singing about a guy that's looking at another girl. In one way these sentiments are universal, but in another way, its as if it is an entirely different song.

First verse:

To me this song is about someone who really wants to be in an intimate relationship, but feels as though they never will be. He feels jealous when he sees a guy with his girlfriend/wife and the just look so happy together. He watches as the girl looks at her boyfriend in admiration, completely in love with him. Then he notices how the guy looks very pround, taking for granted the fact that he has a girl that loves him so much. I don't think he is talking about a specific girl, like his ex-girlfriend, rather he is just jealous of couples in general.

I like how he opens the song by saying "I never thought I'd say these thoughts aloud." This part is just so accurate. Most people would never say that they are unable to get in a relationship because they are afraid that people will think less of them. So instead, they keep their jealous thoughts to themselves and pretend that they don't mind not being in a relationship, when really they likely have very low self esteem and are depressed because of it.

Chorus:

It hurts him whenever he sees a girl give "that look" to her lover, and he wishes that he had a girl of his own that would look at him like that. He fantasizes about being that guy for a moment, and walking in his shoes. If he only had the chance to be "that guy" instead if himself( he is likely an outcast/loser, and is incapable of getting a girlfriend due to social awkwardness or physical appearance) then he would never take her for granted, and treat her like a queen.

I could go through this entire song but I think I'm just gonna end it here. In my opinion, this song perfectly captures that depressing feeling you get when you are lonely and long for companionship, yet it all just feels so far away.