Look At You

Patrick Watson's song 'Look At You' captures the essence of finding beauty in the mundane and the transformative power of perspective. The lyrics open with the acknowledgment of a 'beautiful day,' attributing its beauty to the company rather than any extraordinary event. This sets the tone for the song, emphasizing that sometimes, the ordinary moments can become extraordinary when viewed through a different lens. The line 'the ordinary stood up and was staring back at me' suggests a moment of clarity or revelation, where the singer sees the everyday in a new, profound light.

The song delves deeper into this theme with the imagery of a 'thousand-person choir singing in my ears,' symbolizing an overwhelming sense of joy or realization. The singer questions whether this intense feeling is frightening, hinting at the vulnerability that comes with experiencing deep emotions. The recurring 'shimmering light in the back of my mind' represents a persistent, almost ethereal sense of wonder or inspiration that the singer attributes to the way they look at their companion. This light, though described as 'cheap' due to its rhyming nature, signifies something precious and transformative.

As the song progresses, the singer's sense of time and reality becomes blurred, asking, 'Does anybody have the time and how old am I?' This disorientation underscores the powerful impact of their emotions and the way their perspective has shifted. The repeated questioning of 'what is happening?' further emphasizes the surreal nature of their experience. Ultimately, the song suggests that the way we perceive others can profoundly alter our reality, turning the ordinary into something magical and extraordinary.