Ocasek released his first solo album in 1982. Beatitude is a somewhat more experimental variation of The Cars' New Wave rock sound. A more synthesizer-heavy follow up, This Side Of Paradise, was released in 1986. A minor hit, "Emotion In Motion" accompanied the album.
The Cars split in 1987, and Ocasek disappeared from the public eye for several years, resurfacing in 1990 with Fireball Zone. One track, "Rockaway", enjoyed a brief stay on the charts, but his solo albums have seen disappointing sales, especially compared to his success with the Cars. He subsequently released other solo works throughout the decade, including 1993's Quick Change World, 1996's Getchertikitz (a collaboration with Suicide's Alan Vega), and 1997's Billy Corgan-produced Troublizing (which Ocasek supported with a very brief tour, his first since leaving the Cars). In 2005, Ocasek released another album, Nexterday, to little fanfare but positive reviews.
In 2010, Ocasek reunited with the surviving original members of The Cars to record their first album in 24 years, titled Move Like This, which came out on May 10, 2011.
The Way You Look Tonight
Ric Ocasek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wasting time in the nowhere race
Oh, oh, I might have missed
The simple way you talk me down
If I would have taken a different road
Or turned away when no one showed
Oh, oh, I might have seen
A different kind of dream
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
If I would have been in a different world
Like I frequently am when I see you
Oh, oh, I might have missed
All the ways you try to give
If only you knew what you do to me
And sometimes I think about eternity
Oh, oh, I might have seen
A different kind of dream
And I might have missed
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
Oh, the way you look tonight
(The way you look)
If it would have been another time
I wonder what you would of had in mind
Oh, oh, you might have seen
A different kind of dream
And I might have missed
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight, yeah
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
The way you look tonight
(The way you look)
(The way you look)
I love the way you look tonight, yeah
(The way you look tonight)
(The way you look)
I like the way you look tonight
The Way You Look Tonight by Ric Ocasek is a love song that reflects on the feeling of being grateful for the path that led the singer to their significant other. The song starts with the idea that if the singer had been in some other place, then wasting time in the nowhere race, they might have missed the simple way their lover talks them down. It suggests that the singer acknowledges the role played by fate and coincidence, and they are happy to have found their way to their lover. The second verse suggests that if the singer had been in a different world, then they might have missed all the ways their lover tries to give. Here, it highlights how the singer is aware of the little things their lover does for them and does not take them for granted. The choruses repeatedly emphasize "The Way You Look Tonight," suggesting that while the singer values the ways their lover helps them, they also appreciate their lover's physical appearance.
The final verse suggests that if it had been another time, the singer wonders what their lover would have had in mind, implying that timing was critical to their relationship. This verse highlights that the singer is aware that life could have taken different paths, and they are happy their lives brought them together at the right moment. The repeated "The Way You Look Tonight" in the song's conclusion is an affirmation of the singer's love for their lover and appreciation for the moment they are currently in.
Line by Line Meaning
If I would have been in some other place
Had I been somewhere else
Wasting time in the nowhere race
Futilely spending time engaged in a pointless endeavor
Oh, oh, I might have missed
I could have lost out on
The simple way you talk me down
How easily you calm me down
If I would have taken a different road
Had I gone a different path
Or turned away when no one showed
Or ignored an opportunity when it presented itself
Oh, oh, I might have seen
I could have witnessed
A different kind of dream
An alternate reality
And I might have missed
And I could have missed out on
The way you look tonight
Your appearance this evening
(The way you look)
If I would have been in a different world
If I found myself in another reality
Like I frequently am when I see you
As often happens when I'm in your presence
All the ways you try to give
Your attempts to be helpful
If only you knew what you do to me
If you only knew how much of an impact you have on me
And sometimes I think about eternity
I occasionally ponder the endless nature of existence
Oh, oh, I might have seen
I could have witnessed
A different kind of dream
An alternate reality
(The way you look)
If it would have been another time
If circumstances had been different
I wonder what you would of had in mind
I am curious about your thoughts
Oh, oh, you might have seen
You could have witnessed
A different kind of dream
An alternate reality
I love the way you look tonight, yeah
I adore your appearance this evening
(The way you look)
I like the way you look tonight
I appreciate your appearance this evening
Contributed by Andrew D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shogun
I think I'd die of happiness if today's music sounded anything like this. Passion, soul, quality, feelings, emotions. Back then they made music because they loved it; not just for the money or the fame. Rest in peace my friend.
Сергей Богданов
Спасибо всем пишущим и неравнодушным. Останемся людьми, живыми, романтичными, не смотря ни на что.... Рик навсегда с нами....
Lewis Cal
Este flaco las rompía haciendo música, él junto a Benjamin Orr formaron semejante banda, dios los tenga en el mejor lugar y que su música nunca se borre de este mundo!
Mary Márquez
Así sea, Ric y Benjamin los mejores... 🙏🤗🎶🎤🎵🎶🎤🎵💯🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️❤️❤️❤️💗💗💗💗💗
Augusto Cézar
Clássicos que certamente ficarão eternizados em nossa memória. Uma voz que nos fazia sonhar... Vai com Deus
Lorenzo Alvarez
Se nos va este gran maestro de la música. RIP Ric!!!
7smr
I never listened to RIc's solo albums. Never heard him sing so well. Classy song. R.I.P. Ric
Steve Rizzoli
One of the greatest voices of rock and roll never ever be a another ric rip
Hayden Dixon
Who’s ric rip??🤔
Debi Lynn Phillips Official
Thank you for all the wonderful music Ric Ocasek! In loving memory always! Prays go out to family & close friends! xxs<3<3