In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
We are intent only on our own gain
Tune in and avert your eyes to the blank telescreen
They're watching you sleep, telling you to eat
What could be soylent green
Now, now, now look away and go back to bed
They will get what they need
When we sleep, work, and play
When we consume and obey
'Cause we are all born in to a controlled mindset
Godmoney makes a death threat on ethics
Governed by greed and a stale routine
Can we just justify the means if we're
Plugged in, tuned out?
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Get schooled, get married, get it on
Start a family. Hurry, move along
You might start to think, make a different move
Lose your only mind that you've never used anyway
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all to be
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
And look closer in
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all
They want benign complacency
This is where we start to look closer
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Now, now look closer
Tune in and avert your eyes to the blank telescreen
They're watching you sleep, telling you to eat
What could be soylent green
Now, now, now look away and go back to bed
They will get what they need
When we sleep, work, and play
When we consume and obey
'Cause we are all born in to a controlled mindset
Godmoney makes a death threat on ethics
Governed by greed and a stale routine
Can we just justify the means if we're
Plugged in, tuned out?
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Get schooled, get married, get it on
Start a family. Hurry, move along
You might start to think, make a different move
Lose your only mind that you've never used anyway
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all to be
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
And look closer in
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
(They live) wide awake, fully aware
(We sleep) on a quest to find out where
(They live) the dream turned into a scare
(We sleep) a fascinating new nightmare
Walk on the white line. Brainwashed
Walk on the same side. Brain dead
It's secure and safe like you need it all
They want benign complacency
This is where we start to look closer
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out, wake up
Plugged in, tuned out
We all need to wake up 'cause we've been
Detached for too long
We need to deprogram from
Shifting with the public eye
We have a right to question why
See through the lies
Re-sensitize, and look closer
Now, now look closer
Lyrics submitted by themikeman
Look Closer Lyrics as written by Daniel Coddaire Audelio Flores
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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I can't believe no one has commented on this song yet...
This song is a major thought piece after you digest the song and think about it as you go through the day.
"telling you to eat what could be soylent green" I had eaten Taco Bell earlier that day, and while I don't think it is anything like soylent green, I didn't really know what I was eating. Even if it was grade A beef, with all of the steriods injected into the meat and bioengineering of the food farm animals eat, I'm not sure that I'm comforted.
"Get schooled, get married, get it on. Start a family. Hurry, move along." Why is everyone so eager to give away their freedom? Marriage & children should be delayed until one is mature enough to handle the outcomes of the decision. At 23, I'm oblivious to the upside of having a kid & career/life at my age, but everyone around me seems to be doing it.
I think the point is a comment on people's willingness to comply & obey, or at least be a complicit bystander, more than it is a political statement.
If you like the lyrics to this song, check out Third Eye Blind "Non Dairy Creamer."
totally agree with the comment above. some 1984 references....
I think this song is sort of telling the world to wake up.. everyone is born into a "controlled mindset", taught by society that they have to follow a certain religion, settle down at a young age, live a certain way, eat a certain way, think a certain way. "it's secure and safe like you need it all to be." --- people only follow this because it is what they are taught and used to, it is secure and safe to think and live this way. but they will never realize how messed up it all really is until they Look closer. we are brainwashed and braindead, asleep in our own "safety" and ignorance, while "they" control us..
Matt: "The average American is largely ignorant and unaware in many ways. This song along with this entire record, is intended to open people's eyes and provoke thought. If gone unchecked, governments and corporations are capable of evils far worse than anything that may even seem conceivable to us until we're being controlled and it's too late to dig ourselves out of the pit of despair we've allowed to manifest behind the curtain. Fear, Sex, and Greed are very powerful marketing tools and whether you like it or not, you are seen as a mere demographic to the controlling powers in this country at all times regardless of what you are doing. Wake up. You are being studied and now it is time to do some research of your own. Never be afraid to question, look closer and see things for what they really are."
I recommend you all check out the John Carpenter movie "They Live" seeing as this entire song is pretty much based off of it. Also, the preceding song "With Hoffman Lenses We Will See The Truth" is another reference to the movie. Brilliant film, go watch it.
I have absolutely been in love with this band before mutiny came out when i first heard them. They are amazingly good at this whole political pop-punk type music. They do it with a style that just straight kicks ass. This song proves they want to provoke thought and get people to open their eyes and question the world. Now while im not actually explaining the meaning, seeing as how thats been done perfectly above, i just wanted to point out how much i love bands like this that actually try to make a serious change in the populace.