Look Away

Chicago's 'Look Away' is a poignant ballad that delves into the emotional turmoil of dealing with a breakup and the subsequent moving on of a former lover. The song's narrator receives a call from their ex-partner, who shares the news of finding new love. Despite the narrator's claims of happiness for their ex, the lyrics reveal a deep-seated pain and a struggle to cope with the loss. The repeated assurances of being 'happy' for the ex-partner are tinged with a sense of denial and forced acceptance.

The chorus of 'Look Away' captures the narrator's vulnerability and the desire to maintain dignity in the face of heartbreak. The request for the ex to 'look away' if they encounter each other, especially if the narrator is visibly upset, is a plea to spare them the embarrassment of their unresolved feelings being exposed. This refrain underscores the difficulty of moving on when the emotional wounds are still fresh, and the act of seeing the ex-partner can reopen those wounds.

The song's emotional depth is further highlighted by the narrator's admission of pretending to be fine and secretly wishing to be back in the arms of their former lover. The realization that they have been replaced 'so soon' adds to the sting of the breakup, and the narrator's struggle to reconcile their desire for freedom with the pain of seeing their ex-partner happy with someone else. 'Look Away' resonates with anyone who has experienced the bittersweet process of letting go, encapsulating the complexity of emotions that come with saying goodbye to a past love.