1. An Aus… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least three artists with the name The Basics:
1. An Australian rock band (active from 2002 to present)
2. A US blues-roots rock band (active from 1999 to present)
3. An acoustic act from Adelaide Australia 2003-2007
1. The Basics were formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in 2002 by Kris Schroeder and Wally de Backer (AKA Gotye). Their musical style can loosely be described as heavily referencing 60s pop and rock (eg The Beatles, The Beach Boys) with elements of reggae and rhythm & blues. Tim Heath joined the group in June 2004, while Dave Bramble joins the band on tour, playing keys, often while sporting a large moustache. Their live performances are well known for their sense of humour and energy.
Wally de Backer: Drums, Vocals
Tim Heath: Guitar, Vocals
Kris Schroeder: Bass, Vocals
Dave Bramble (live shows): Keyboards, Vocals
Official website
2. The Basics (or Dave Cowen and the Basics) were initially formed by Dave Cowen in 1982 in South Bend, Indiana, USA, and after disbanding in 1983, reformed in 1999 with the current line-up. A Michiana based roots rock band, they have released three albums and a single:
Guilty / Baby Blue (Single) 2001
Bitter/Sweet 2003
Private Drive 2006
Rockin' Town 2011
Dave Cowen: Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Ben Hahaj: Drums
Charley Neises: Bass
Official website
This version of The Basics have two other profiles on Last.fm:
DOUG COWEN AND THE BASICS
Doug Cowen & the Basics
Lookin' Over My Shoulder
The Basics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone's always lookin' over my shoulder
I'm frightened just to walk around the corner
Your eyes upon me everywhere
I'd tell my friends but they're all losing temper
They keep on telling me I should know better
Sometimes I wonder if my mother sent you
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Another morning and I'm sure I saw you
Behind the bushes with a photo camera
My doctors tell me that it's paranoia
But I can't shake this feeling that you're there
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Now I go to sleeping now with one eye open
One of these days I'm gonna catch you lurking
Behind the curtains with evil intentions
But I can't get away from my own mind
I'm being shadowed by a shady stranger
(Feels like)
Someone's always lookin' over my shoulder
(So scared)
I'm frightened just to walk around the corner
(Last night)
Your eyes upon me everywhere
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
Lookin' over my shoulder
The Basics's song Lookin' Over My Shoulder is a song that talks about the fear of being watched or followed by mysterious strangers. The opening lines indicate that the singer is constantly being followed by an unknown person, making him paranoid and suspicious of his surroundings. He cannot even confide in his friends as they are already losing their patience with him. He even starts to question if his own mother sent the person to watch him.
The second verse tries to offer a logical explanation for this paranoia. Doctors tell him that he is experiencing paranoia, which is a severe mental disorder characterized by delusions and hallucinations. However, the singer cannot shake off the feeling that he is being followed even though everyone is telling him otherwise. As the song progresses, the singer becomes more and more afraid and even has to sleep with one eye open, hoping to catch the person behind his fear.
The repetition of the phrase "Lookin over my shoulder" emphasizes the constant fear and paranoia the singer feels. The song also shows that even though the person following the singer may be a figment of his imagination, the fear he feels is very real to him.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm being shadowed by a shady stranger
I feel like I'm being followed by someone who makes me feel uneasy
Someone's always lookin' over my shoulder
I constantly have a sense that someone is watching me or monitoring me
I'm frightened just to walk around the corner
I'm scared to move around freely because I feel like I'm being watched or followed
Your eyes upon me everywhere
I feel like someone is watching me closely and constantly
I'd tell my friends but they're all losing temper
I can't share my concerns with my friends because they are getting impatient with me
They keep on telling me I should know better
My friends advise me that I should shake off my concerns and act more rationally
Sometimes I wonder if my mother sent you
I have paranoid thoughts that even my own family is involved in the surveillance or stalking
She said she'd always be right there
My mother had promised to be there for me, but now I feel like her presence is suffocating
Another morning and I'm sure I saw you
I often have visual hallucinations of the stalker, which makes me feel very anxious
Behind the bushes with a photo camera
I imagine the stalker hiding behind objects and taking pictures of me, which makes me feel violated
My doctors tell me that it's paranoia
Medical professionals have diagnosed me with paranoia, but I can't shake the feeling that someone is stalking me
But I can't shake this feeling that you're there
I have an overwhelming sense that the stalker is real and very dangerous
Now I go to sleeping now with one eye open
I'm afraid to sleep peacefully because of the fear that the stalker might show up
One of these days I'm gonna catch you lurking
I'm hopeful that someday I'll uncover the identity of the stalker and expose them
Behind the curtains with evil intentions
I imagine the stalker as someone who has harmful or malicious intentions towards me
But I can't get away from my own mind
My thoughts and fears are constantly haunting me and making me feel paranoid
Contributed by Natalie K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@emirhancalskan6279
I'm being shadowed by a shady stranger
Someone's always lookin' over my shoulder
I'm frightened just to walk around the corner
Your eyes upon me everywhere
I'd tell my friends but they're all losing my temper
They keep on telling me I should know better
Sometimes I wonder if my mother sent you
She said she'd always be right there
Lookin' over my shoulder(x2)
Another morning and I'm sure I saw you
Behind the bushes with a photo camera
My doctors tell me that is paranoia
But I can't shake this feeling that you're there
Lookin' over my shoulder(x8)
Now I go to sleep at night with one eye open
One of these days I'm gonna catch you lurking
Behind the curtains with evil intention
But I can't get away from my own mind
I'm being shadowed by a shady stranger
(feels like)
Someone's always lookin' over my shoulder
(so scared)
I'm frightened just to walk around the corner
(last night)
Your eyes upon me everywhere
Lookin' over my shoulder(x6)
@CJBluka
I love this video. It's so cute. And I just loved Wally as the nurse.
@madisonc1588
I was just thinking that
He looked like he was having too much fun XD
@cathyduke1547
this reminds me of an episode of the "Monkees", a tv show in the US, back in the 70'S, i think---one of my favorite shows, great song and video
@cathyduke1547
correction, it was the 60's
@arkiweller490
This song turned 17 years old a week ago 🥰🥰
@Kaneesha12345
Cant get enough of THE BASICS AND GOTYE its Wallys voice!!! bloody beautiful mate
@danielperez143
I've been trying to expand my taste in music and this band is a big help with that. It also helps that I really like the singer, and am glad to find out he's doing other songs.
@The3Basics
Welcome :)
@joelg1290
Looking fresh 14 years ago.
@luitpoldss
I didn't know this was an old song