Oh Look at Me Now
Frank Sinatra with Connie Haynes & The Pied Pipers Lyrics
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And I'm not the guy who cared about fortunes and such,
I never cared much,
But look at me now!
And I never knew technique of kissin',
I never knew thrill I could get from your touch,
Never knew much,
And I'm a new man,
Better than
Casanova at his best;
with a new heart,
a brand new start,
I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest!
So, I'm the guy who turned down a lover.
So I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
One o' those things,
Oh! look at me now!
Oh! look at me now!
I'm a new man,
Better than
Casanova at his best;
with a new heart,
a brand new start,
I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest!
So, I'm the guy who turned down a lover.
So I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
One o' those things,
Oh! look at me now!
Oh! look at me now!
Oh! look at me - now!
The song "Look At Me Now" by Frank Sinatra & The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is about a man who never cared much about love or material possessions but somehow finds himself a changed man now. He sings about how he never knew the thrill he could get from a simple touch from his lover, and how he never knew much about love before. However, because of his newfound love, he's become a new man, better than even Casanova at his best. He's proud and confident, bursting with excitement and enthusiasm.
The opening lines suggest that he was once a person who did not care about love or material possessions. But as life progressed, he learned the importance of both love and monetary wealth. He is grateful for the person who has played a role in helping him see the importance of all these things. He sings about never knowing the technique of kissing or the thrill he could get from his lover's touches. However, he now revels in the fact that he is a new man, better than even the famous lover Casanova. The song denotes the newfound happiness, contentment, and self-realization that one can achieve through love.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not the guy who cared about love,
I wasn't someone who was concerned or interested in the concept of love.
And I'm not the guy who cared about fortunes and such,
I wasn't someone who was concerned or interested in accumulating wealth or material possessions.
I never cared much,
I wasn't someone who cared deeply about anything in particular.
But look at me now!
Despite my lack of previous interest, I have now achieved something significant that I am proud of.
And I never knew technique of kissin',
I wasn't skilled or experienced in kissing or romance.
I never knew thrill I could get from your touch,
I was not aware of the excitement and pleasure that could come from physical contact with another person.
Never knew much,
Overall, I was not a particularly knowledgeable or experienced person.
Oh! look at me now!
Despite my prior lack of experience or knowledge, I have now obtained a great deal of success or satisfaction.
And I'm a new man,
I have undergone a significant personal transformation, resulting in a new version of myself.
Better than Casanova at his best;
I am now a far more skilled and adept lover than even the legendary figure of Casanova in his prime.
with a new heart,
My heart, or emotional center, has undergone a significant change or upgrade along with the rest of me.
a brand new start,
I now have a fresh beginning or outlook on life, free from my previous limitations or shortcomings.
I'm so proud I'm bustin' my vest!
I am incredibly proud and excited about the progress I have made in my personal growth and development.
So, I'm the guy who turned down a lover.
I was once someone who rejected the advances of a potential romantic partner.
So I'm the guy who laughed at those blue diamond rings
I once scoffed at the idea of buying or having valuable jewelry, like blue diamond rings.
One o' those things,
These were just some of the attitudes or behaviors that defined my previous self.
Oh! look at me now!
Despite my previous flaws or limitations, I have now achieved something significant that I am proud of.
Oh! look at me now!
I continue to marvel at my own personal growth and success.
Oh! look at me - now!
I am even more excited and amazed when I consider the totality of my transformation and growth.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROY WOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Trombonology
Please note the author credit above and on the record label -- this side has an interesting history: When Joe Bushkin joined the Dorsey aggregation in the spring of 1940, his employer requested that he write some numbers for The Pied Pipers, whose arrival preceded the pianist's by a few months. With friend and amateur lyricist, John DeVries, Bushkin came up with "Oh! Look At Me Now." The song's treatment, with an arrangement by Sy Oliver that, in this early stage, featured the vocal talents of The Pied Pipers alone, was polished during the band's engagement at Manhattan's Hotel Astor Roof. Amusingly, when the song caught on, TD had no idea what the dancers were talking about when they came to the bandstand to request "Oh! Look At Me Now" -- because he was never present for the first set, when it was performed, leaving conducting duties to Bunny Berigan.
In the fall of '40, the trombonist began his hosting duties for a program entitled Fame And Fortune , sponsored by the Lewis-Howe company's "Nature's Remedy." Pitched, in the wake of, technically, non-amateur pianist Ruth Lowe's great success as the author of monster hit, "I'll Never Smile Again, as an opportunity for neophyte songwriters to have their material heard and take that first step on the road to 'fame and fortune," the show had less altruistic purposes for shrewd businessman Dorsey. Songwriters were encouraged to submit their manuscripts, which, Dorsey explained on the show's premiere, would be judged by him and two other (unnamed) bandleaders (one source claims that winners were determined by listeners' responses). The author of the winning song in the weekly contest received a publishing contract and a $100 advance royalty check. Too, the song was performed on the air, in a "deluxe" arrangement, featuring the band's entire vocal department. Additionally, two runner-up prizes, each consisting of a $50 check and an on-air performance of the song (albeit in a sparer arrangement) were awarded. Dorsey's expected benefit came through having the songs published by one of his firms. Further, he placed the songs with BMI, in anticipation of the radio ban on ASCAP works, set to begin at the start of '41; he, thus, had material (if suitable) to play on the air, besides public-domain numbers pulled out of mothballs.
With the slated second installment of Fame And Fortune looming, Tommy found himself, through an agency snafu, without the intended winner to arrange and work up for performance on the show. Sy Oliver, the story goes, responded to the leader's panic by suggesting that the band do one of Bushkin's numbers for The Pipers, mentioning that the arrangement of "Oh! Look At Me Now' would be the easiest to switch around to include Sinatra and Connie Haines. The thing was worked up and went on the air -- and the listeners' response was huge! Unfortunately, composer Bushkin could not take credit, as all members of the Dorsey organization were barred from participation in the contest. According to Joe, Tommy told him not to tell anybody he'd written the music. The record we hear, waxed 1/6/41, bore only the name of genuine amateur lyricist, John DeVries. For years, Joe Bushkin went uncredited as the composer of this standard.
As usual, Sy's arrangement is socko, opening with bang, with Ziggy Elman's squalling trumpet clearly detectable in the ensemble introduction, and following with lovely reed figures behind the first vocal chorus. Frank, perhaps drawing on personal experience, is masterful in the character of the "new man," bantering charmingly with perky Connie Haines (whom he referred to as "Hayseed" and went on to ask Dorsey to fire) and The Pipers are, as always, hiply superb. Buddy Rich makes it all swing, with little punctuations here and there. "Casanova at his best ... rah-da!"
@jayyoung4534
@Tromb...It's always rewarding to read three dimensional accounts of things inside the musical world, or any world, for that matter, than tawdry gossip. So this time reading you was time well spent, believe me. Thank you for your wonderful insight into things.
@Trombonology
@@jayyoung4534 Thanks very much for the very nice comment!
@jayyoung4534
@Tromb...How did we lose an instrument that produced such a melancholy beautiful sound -- the trombone? I always enjoyed its sound sitting by the radio as child. And I I didn't realize how lovely Debussy's "La Filles Aux Cheveux de Lin" was until I heard it played by five trombones. Tromb...I'm quite biased towards music of my generation and before.
@Trombonology
@@jayyoung4534 I can imagine that a four-trombone choir treatment of "Clair de Lune" would be very beautiful! The instrument is my favorite; I think it has a human voice quality.
@jazzshowroom2877
This version of Look At Me Now has a nice harmony - after they modulate for the vocal, its C to Em7 1st measure, then Gm7 to C13 second measure. Not sure I've heard other arrangements of this song deploy that. When Bushkin was asked about the use of that chord structure, he was like "huh?" Haha! Maybe he never paid it any mind. But I guess it was Sy Oliver's creation. Inventive. Sets the mood.
@artivism4068
Absolutely amazing. im floored right now. i had to rewind it twice now but my God what a song. Frank Sinatra at 26 years old. What incredible arrangements. its way more than just jazz.
@larryjohnson6385
What a great song😍😍😍
@larryjohnson6385
My parents met at a Sinatra appearance in Budd Lake NJ
@Jesusaross
Good vibes.