Looking East
Jackson Browne/David Lindley Lyrics
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Like a fire in the cavernous darkness at the heart of the beast
With my beliefs and possessions, stopped at the frontier in my chest
At the edge of my country, my back to the sea, looking east
Where the search for the truth is conducted with a wink and a nod
And where power and position are equated with the grace of God
These times are famine for the soul while for the senses it's a feast
Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon
Hunger in the mansion, hunger in the rented room
Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page
And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the laughing and the rage
In the absence of light
And the deepening night
Where I wait for the sun
Looking east
How long have I left my mind to the powers that be?
How long will it take to find the higher power moving in me?
Power in the insect
Power in the sea
Power in the snow falling silently
Power in the blossom
Power in the stone
Power in the song being sung alone
Power in the wheat field
Power in the rain
Power in the sunlight and the hurricane
Power in the silence
Power in the flame
Power in the sound of the lover's name
The power of the sunrise and the power of a prayer released
On the edge of my country, I pray for the ones with the least
Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon
Hunger in the banquet, hunger in the bride and groom
Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page
And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the questions of the age
And an absence of light
In the deepening night
Where I wait for the sun
Looking east
The song "Looking East" by Jackson Browne and David Lindley is a powerful and introspective exploration of the human experience, both on an individual and societal level. The lyrics begin with the singer standing in the ocean during sunset, feeling as though he has reached the end of his country and the edge of his beliefs and possessions. He looks east, symbolizing the search for truth and purpose, but acknowledges the challenges of a world where power and materialism are often equated with worth.
The second verse delves deeper into the hunger and emptiness that many people feel, even in a world of abundance. The hunger is not just physical, but spiritual and emotional, speaking to the larger societal issues of inequality, injustice, and lack of meaning. The singer questions the influence of the powers that be on his own mind and seeks a higher power within himself.
The final verse brings together the themes of power and hunger and the need for social justice. The power of nature is contrasted with the power of society and the singer prays for those who have the least. The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer waiting for the light of a new day to come.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing in the ocean with the sun burning low in the west
Standing in the ocean with the setting sun casting a fiery light on my surroundings
Like a fire in the cavernous darkness at the heart of the beast
The sun's light creates a fiery glow that illuminates the darkness within myself
With my beliefs and possessions, stopped at the frontier in my chest
My beliefs and material possessions have reached a limit that defines the edge of my identity
At the edge of my country, my back to the sea, looking east
Standing facing towards the east at the edge of my national identity towards the rising sun
Where the search for the truth is conducted with a wink and a nod
In a society where the search for truth is treated as a clandestine operation
And where power and position are equated with the grace of God
A society where wealth and status are viewed as divinely blessed attributes
These times are famine for the soul while for the senses it's a feast
These times are devoid of spiritual nourishment while being flooded with materialistic temptations
From the edge of my country, as far as you see, looking east
Looking towards the horizon in the east from my position at the edge of my national identity
Hunger in the midnight, hunger at the stroke of noon
Feeling an insatiable hunger for something deeper and more meaningful regardless of the time of day
Hunger in the mansion, hunger in the rented room
Feeling an unfulfilled hunger for purpose and fulfillment regardless of material wealth or poverty
Hunger on the TV, hunger on the printed page
Feeling a nagging hunger for something more substantial than the shallow and fleeting sensations provided by entertainment and media
And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the laughing and the rage
Despite laughing and feeling angry, there is a fundamental spiritual hunger that drives and motivates me
In the absence of light
In moments of despair and hopelessness when there is no visible solution in sight
And the deepening night
In the worsening state of the world and the growing darkness of depravity and loss of morality
Where I wait for the sun
In these moments, I wait for the sun to rise and bring hope and light back into my life
Looking east
Continuing to look towards the horizon in the east where the sun will rise
How long have I left my mind to the powers that be?
How long have I surrendered my thoughts and will to those in control?
How long will it take to find the higher power moving in me?
How long will it take to discover the divine power within myself?
Power in the insect
Even the smallest creatures hold an incredible amount of power
Power in the sea
The vastness and power of the ocean is incredibly awe-inspiring
Power in the snow falling silently
The serene snowfall still holds immense power despite its quiet, peaceful nature
Power in the blossom
The fragile beauty of a flower holds a great amount of power in its ability to move and inspire us
Power in the stone
Even something as solid and unchanging as a stone carries a sense of power and strength
Power in the song being sung alone
A song being sung with passion and emotion can hold a great amount of power even if there is no audience present
Power in the wheat field
The abundance and productivity of a wheat field represents a source of power and sustenance
Power in the rain
The vital and refreshing nature of rain gives it a sense of power and revitalization
Power in the sunlight and the hurricane
Both the life-giving energy of the sun and the destructive force of a hurricane hold immense power
Power in the silence
Silence can hold tremendous power in its ability to bring focus, clarity, and peace
Power in the flame
The intense heat and transformative power of fire can create change and inspire awe
Power in the sound of the lover's name
The transformative power of love is embodied in the simple sound of a lover's name
The power of the sunrise and the power of a prayer released
The incredible beauty of a sunrise and the transformative power of prayer both carry immense power
On the edge of my country, I pray for the ones with the least
Facing the edge of my national identity, I pray for those who are most vulnerable and in need
Hunger in the banquet, hunger in the bride and groom
Even in moments of celebration and happiness, there is still a sense of unfulfilled hunger for something more spiritual and fulfilling
And there's a God-sized hunger underneath the questions of the age
The questions and mysteries of our time are fueled by a fundamental hunger for spirituality and meaning
And an absence of light
In moments of hopelessness and despair where light and hope seem to be absent
In the deepening night
In the growing darkness of the world and the deepening moral uncertainty around us
Where I wait for the sun
Continuing to wait for the sun to rise and bring hope and light back into my life
Looking east
Continuing to look towards the horizon in the east where the sun will rise
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: FRITZ LEWAK, JACKSON BROWNE, JEFF YOUNG, KEVIN JAMES MC CORMICK, LUIS CONTE, MARK GOLDENBERG, SCOTT THURSTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind