Look Alive
Incubus Lyrics


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The hardest thing is rendering
A moment moving too fast to endure
But you abide and smile wide
'Cause I want to remember this, for sure
You can give me guns and politics
And I'll just make a mess of it, you know
Give me art and sustenance
And the wiser, wider part of me will show
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows

Yeah, every empty one of us
Have methods to quell the madness of this pace
But yours have bled and are running south
Like dollar store mascara down your face
You could take that weight and all that fuss
It all just gets the best of us, you know
Give me love, not suicide
And the wiser, wider part of me will show, yeah yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows

Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Smile, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoa, oh

Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
And you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive

Pictures say with sight
What we can't say with words
But you've been walking eyes to feet in dark sunglasses
A picture will survive
So smile and look alive
The camera lens is opening, a wider angle shows

Look alive
Smile, smile and look alive




Yeah, smile and look alive
Yeah, whoo

Overall Meaning

In this song, Incubus talks about the struggle of capturing a moment that is moving too fast and the importance of making memories. The singer confesses that when it comes to guns and politics, he is not good at it, but when it comes to sustenance, he becomes a wiser person. He is grateful for the person in his life who helps him to remember the important moments and encourages him to smile and look alive for the camera lenses to capture the wider angle and make memories.


The song also speaks about the power of pictures in capturing moments that words cannot express. The person in question wears dark sunglasses and walks with their eyes to their feet. Hence, the camera lens becomes essential in capturing the memories that they might miss during their walks. The chorus repeats the importance of looking alive and smiling for the camera, which can then capture moments that are still remembered in pictures.


Overall, Look Alive is a song about the importance of cherishing moments and the power of pictures in capturing them. It encourages people to be present, smile, and look alive for the camera lens to capture important memories.


Line by Line Meaning

The hardest thing is rendering a Moment moving too fast to endure
It's difficult to capture and hold onto a fleeting moment that feels like it's moving too quickly to fully appreciate or cherish.


But you abide and smile wide cause I want to remember this for sure
But you stay in the moment and smile widely because I want to remember this experience with clarity.


You can give me guns and politics and I'll just make a mess of it, you know
I don't feel comfortable discussing or handling topics like guns and politics because I would likely mishandle them or make the situation worse.


Give me all the sustinance and The wiser wider part of me will show
If you give me what I need to feel nourished and fulfilled, then I will be able to tap into the wiser and more expansive side of myself.


A picture says with sight What we can't say with words
A photograph can often convey a message or feeling that can't be fully articulated through language.


But you've been walking eyes to feet In dark sunglasses
You've been moving through life with your gaze focused on the ground, possibly hiding your emotions and thoughts behind dark sunglasses.


A picture will survive So smile and look alive
A photograph will likely endure long after we're gone, so it's important to smile and look alive in those moments that are captured on film.


The camera lens is opening The wider angle's yours
As the camera captures an image, you have the opportunity to expand your perspective and see things from a wider angle.


Yeah every empty one of us have methods To quell the madness of this pace
We all have ways to cope with the overwhelming speed and chaos of life.


But yours have bled and are running south Like jealous Dior mascara down your face
Your coping mechanisms have gone awry and are causing you to feel overwhelmed and emotional, like streaks of mascara running down your face.


You could take that wait and all that fuss so Now just get the best of us, you know
If you let go of the stress and worry, you could thrive and bring out the best in yourself and others.


Give me love not suicide and The wise wider part of me will show
If you give me love and positivity rather than despair and hopelessness, I'll be able to access the wise and expansive part of myself.


Look alive... smile
Be present, engaged, and smiling.


A picture says with sight What we can't say with words
A photograph can often convey a message or feeling that can't be fully articulated through language.


Smile, smile and look alive Yeah woah oh
Smile, smile, and be fully present in this moment.


The wider angle's yours
You have the power to see things from a broader perspective and expand your view of the world.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Benjamin Lee Kenney, Brandon Charles Boyd, Christopher E Kilmore, Jose Anthony Ii Pasillas, Michael Aaron Einziger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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