The song is track 5 on Performance and Cocktails. An acoustic version is found on CD 2 of the "Step On My Old Size Nines" single.
The music video features the band in a car with Stuart Cable driving, he offers the other members a Jelly baby and the car ends up sinking underwater.
The song was also featured on the 2006 movie Snow Cake starring Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver and Carrie-Ann Moss.
Just Looking
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's things I think I want
There's things I've had
There's things I want to have
Do I want the dreams
The ones we're forced to see
Do I want the perfect wife
The word perfect ain't quite right
Take it back the next break
They say the more you fly the more you
Risk your life
I'm just looking I'm not buying
I'm just looking keeps me smiling
A house I seen another could'a been
You drenched my head and said what I said
You said that life is what you make of it
Yet most of us just fake
I'm just looking, I'm not buying
I'm just looking, keeps me smiling
The lyrics to "Just Looking" by Stereophonics touch on the human desire for material possessions and societal expectations. The singer, who is portrayed as an observer, talks about the things he thinks he wants and the things he already has. He questions whether he truly wants the dreams that society expects him to have and the perfect wife that is idealized. He also touches on the futility of consumerism, where the act of buying and returning takes over one's life.
The song uses irony to emphasize the theme of the song. The line "I'm just looking, I'm not buying" is repeated several times throughout the song, which in effect, is a commentary on the societal expectation to always be wanting and buying more things. The singer is only observing and not participating in the consumerist lifestyle that is common in society, yet it keeps him smiling. The song highlights how one's true happiness can be found in valuing the simple things in life and appreciating what one already has.
In summary, "Just Looking" by Stereophonics addresses the societal expectation for material possessions and the importance of appreciating what one has in life. By using irony and the repetition of the phrase "I'm just looking, I'm not buying", the song emphasizes the importance of not getting swept up in societal expectations and finding happiness by valuing the simple things in life.
Line by Line Meaning
There's things I want
I have desires.
There's things I think I want
I am unsure of my desires.
There's things I've had
I have had experiences.
There's things I want to have
I have goals.
Do I want the dreams
I question the value of societal expectations.
The ones we're forced to see
I acknowledge the pressure to conform.
Do I want the perfect wife
I question the concept of perfection.
The word perfect ain't quite right
I recognize the limitations of language.
Shopping every day
I observe consumerist culture.
Take it back the next break
I criticize waste and consumer culture.
They say the more you fly the more you
I recognize the risks associated with adventure.
Risk your life
I acknowledge the danger in seeking adventure.
I'm just looking I'm not buying
I am an observer, not a participant.
I'm just looking keeps me smiling
I find joy in observing.
A house I seen another could'a been
I compare my life to the lives of others.
You drenched my head and said what I said
I am influenced by others.
You said that life is what you make of it
I acknowledge the importance of personal agency.
Yet most of us just fake
I critique those who are insincere.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KELLY JONES, RICHARD MARK JONES, STUART CABLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@narreddarr8092
+Matt
oh forfuxake.
why do you talk as if you're some old soldier from ww2?
you just aren't looking for good music. i'm a fan of 90s music more than anything but there's been so much great music since... i rem 90s more cos i was younger then and got out more, had a few more laughs than i do now.
sentimental claptrap.
great music but there's music just as good and better since [depending on personal taste].
but you keep livin in the past, mate.
you stay there.
edit: you sound just like my mam.
@richardm2661
Still love the old Stereophonics tunes. Reminds me of being a teenager again. Still sounds fresh today in my opinion.
@leewilkinson4191
Richard M all day long mate, reminds me of better times ๐
@azmufc2011
U good this epic always
@lickallyourholes1808
Richard, absolutely. Great songs usually always sound 'fresh'. Love this one, 1999 was a great year.
@woodrow1455
Iโm 15 and these songs are still the bangers :)
@bjb1190
Couldn't have said it better. I remember listening to this when I had my paper round
@SonicNitro
There should be at least one day in the whole year where people listen only to rock songs like this, no Rihanna, no Pitbull, no Jessie J etc. Just music by rock bands, whether its RHCP or Stereophonis to Iron Maiden or Black Sabbath. Thumbs up for this.
@siobhanmcgregor2557
Rihanna is iconic
@mikdale666
Been watching Stereophonics Live in Cardiff all morning, great way to finish off the year.
@archetype2727
@@siobhanmcgregor2557 does Rihanna write all her own music?