What You See
Handsome Devil Lyrics


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Paradise

Just another sunny day on 4th Street
Set my pace along the way, walking my beat
Pawn shops and shoe stores in little Mexico
Culture and contraband, no better place to go

Faces like fixtures, dance around my mind
Here she comes, another angel throws a sign

What you see is what you get
Nothing more and nothing less
What on earth did you expect, a party
Mark my words you won't regret
Promise me you don't forget
What you see is what you get always

Paradise

Crossing Sycamore I feel my day is done
(Well I've been)
Searching high and low for shelter from the sun
Lately I haven't been myself
I can't justify my actions, can't shake this dizzy spell

Voices beckon me as day turns into night
Here she comes, another angel throws a sign

What you see is what you get
Nothing more and nothing less
What on earth did you expect, a party
Mark my words you won't regret
Promise me, you don't forget
What you see is what you get always

You should know
You should know this life is paradise
Paradise

Like this

Voices beckon me as day turns into night
Here she comes, another angel throws a sign

What you see is what you get
Nothing more and nothing less
What on earth did you expect, a party
Mark my words you won't regret
Promise me, you don't forget
What you see is what you get always

You should know




You should know this life is paradise
Paradise

Overall Meaning

The Handsome Devil song "What You See" is a tale of life in the city, specifically on 4th Street in what sounds like a predominantly Mexican neighborhood, characterized by its pawn shops and shoe stores. The singer seems to be a regular in the area, walking his beat, and taking in the sights and sounds of the street. The song captures the feeling of being lost and searching for something in life, as the singer mentions feeling dizzy and not being able to justify his actions. In the chorus, he implores the listener to accept life for what it is, reminding them that "what you see is what you get." The angelic voices that he hears further exemplify the sense of seeking in the song.


The lyrics indicate that the singer is seeking paradise or something similar. But as the song progresses, it's evident that there is no paradise in the 4th Street neighborhood that he wanders through. It's the only place where he goes to find culture and contraband. He meets another angel in the neighborhood who throws him a sign, and he seems to be searching for something more than just his regular walk. He may be asking her for direction, but the song doesn't reveal what he's seeking.


Line by Line Meaning

Just another sunny day on 4th Street
The singer is describing a regular day in his life, which appears to be quite busy and goal-oriented. He is walking towards his destination and mentions the local pawn shops and shoe stores.


Set my pace along the way, walking my beat
The singer is walking with a certain rhythm and momentum, and mentions his established routine while moving through the busy streets.


Pawn shops and shoe stores in little Mexico
The singer is highlighting the geographical location of his surroundings, which is a part of Mexico, and also emphasizing the variety of businesses in the area.


Culture and contraband, no better place to go
The singer is pointing out the cultural diversity of the place and ironic mention of illegal goods that may exist here, suggesting that the place is unique and interesting to explore.


Faces like fixtures, dance around my mind
The singer is seeing many people in his everyday routine, and vividly recalls the different faces he sees during the day and the impressions they make.


Here she comes, another angel throws a sign
The singer sees a woman whom he sees as an angelic figure making a signal or gesture as if to get his attention.


What you see is what you get
The singer describes life as it is without sugar-coating and highlights the importance of accepting situations as they are.


Nothing more and nothing less
The singer emphasizes that there are no hidden meanings to find or discern in the situation, indicating honesty and simplicity.


What on earth did you expect, a party
The singer talks about how some people might have unrealistic expectations of life or a situation, and sarcastically mentions the idea of a party as an unlikely scenario.


Mark my words you won't regret
The singer is urging someone to trust his words and not have any regrets, emphasizing his sincerity.


Promise me you don't forget
The singer is trying to convey a sense of trust and loyalty by asking someone to promise not to forget what he has said.


Crossing Sycamore I feel my day is done
The singer mentions the name of a street and implies that this point marks the end of his day.


(Well I've been) Searching high and low for shelter from the sun
The singer describes the possible physical discomfort and unease felt by him during the day while trying to find shade from the sun.


Lately I haven't been myself
The singer confesses that he has not been feeling good, perhaps due to personal reasons. He is describing a feeling of detachment from his true self.


I can't justify my actions, can't shake this dizzy spell
The singer is troubled and feels unbalanced with his actions and the outcome they bring, and mentions a literal dizzy spell that one might experience during anxiety.


Voices beckon me as day turns into night
The singer feels a sense of longing or quest for something, and mentions the transforming phase of the day from day to night that reinforces this idea.


Here she comes, another angel throws a sign
The same woman whom the singer sees as an angelic figure has returned, making another gesture or signal like a clue in a game or an event.


You should know
The singer is directly addressing the listener and suggests that there is an important message to learn from this.


You should know this life is paradise
The singer imparts a deeper meaning, revealing his belief that life itself is beautiful and divine and that he has found something valuable and treasurable in his everyday life.


Paradise
The singer ends the song by repeating the title of the song as if to reinforce the idea or concept of finding paradise in your own life.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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