His output has ranged from bluegrass to studio-oriented dub reggae, but his core output comfortably straddles folk, rock, and even some country. His lyrics, simply and laconically voiced, have managed to speak to Australian experiences and history perhaps more broadly and directly than any other artist..
Look So Fine Feel So Low
Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls Lyrics
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Wearing brand new clothes
I guess I've landed on my feet
I'm a lucky guy I suppose
She tells me that she loves me
She buys me things
She wants to take care of me
Well I look so fine but I feel so low
She takes me by the arm
She takes me all around
She knows all her friends are talking
Saying look what our good girl's found
One thing she's got on you
She's so easy to impress
When she asks me dumb questions
All I gotta do is say yes yes yes yes
Yeah I look so fine but I feel so low
In Paul Kelly's song Look So Fine Feel So Low, the singer appears to be a man who has recently hit a stroke of luck. The lyrics convey that he has been seen on the street wearing brand new clothes and he feels that he has landed on his feet, but he still feels low. He is in a romantic relationship with a woman who loves him and takes care of him, buying him things and showing him off to her friends. He says that he only needs to sing to keep her happy, implying that he is a musician or performer of some kind. However, despite his good fortune, he still feels low.
The lyrics suggest that the man is struggling with feelings of worthlessness despite the external validation he is receiving. He may be experiencing imposter syndrome, doubting his own abilities and feeling like a fraud even when his talent is being recognized. He is also potentially unhappy in his relationship, as he talks about his partner's lack of intelligence and how easy it is to impress her with minimal effort. The contrast between his outward appearance and internal emotions creates a sense of irony in the song.
Overall, Look So Fine Feel So Low is a commentary on the dissonance between how we present ourselves to the world and how we truly feel inside. Despite the man's apparent good fortune, he still struggles with feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been seen on the street
People have spotted me outside
Wearing brand new clothes
I'm clothed in new attire
I guess I've landed on my feet
Things must be looking up for me
I'm a lucky guy I suppose
Seems like I'm fortunate
She tells me that she loves me
The woman says she has affection towards me
She buys me things
She purchases items for me
She wants to take care of me
She desires to look after me
And all I gotta do is sing sing sing sing
My only requirement is to sing
Well I look so fine but I feel so low
Although I appear presentable, I feel down
She takes me by the arm
She grabs my arm
She takes me all around
She brings me to different places
She knows all her friends are talking
She's aware that her friends are gossiping
Saying look what our good girl's found
They're commenting on what she's discovered
One thing she's got on you
She has an advantage over you
She's so easy to impress
It's effortless to amaze her
When she asks me dumb questions
She inquires with nonsensical queries
All I gotta do is say yes yes yes yes
I merely need to respond affirmatively
Yeah I look so fine but I feel so low
Again, although I seem attractive, I feel unhappy
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, MUSHROOM MUSIC PTY LTD
Written by: MAURICE GERRARD FRAWLEY, PAUL MAURICE KELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind