I looked at you 
You looked me 
I smiled at you 
You smiled at me 

And we're on our way 
No, we can't turn back
Yeah, we're on our way 
And we can't turn back 
'Cause it's too late 
Too late, too late 
Too late, too late
 
And we're on our way 
No, we can't turn back
Yeah, we're on our way 
And we can't turn back
 
I walked with you 
You walked with me 
I talked to you 
You talked to me 

And we're on our way 
No, we can't turn back 
Yeah, we're on our way 
And we can't turn back 
'Cause it's too late 
Too late, too late 
Too late, too late 

And we're on our way 
No, we can't turn back 
Yeah, we're on our way 
And we can't turn back 
'Cause it's too late 
Too late, too late 
Too late, too late 

'I Looked At You' may be the slightest offering on the Doors' debut - a simple, musically upbeat love song with a few great pop hooks like John Densmore's Latin-flavored drum intro, Manzarek's sparkling keyboard solo and the great 'trick' double ending.

But even in what at first sounds like a sunny pop tune, Jim Morrison managed to weave some disturbing thoughts. While the song catalogs an exchange of lover's looks, smiles and words like any other love song might do, the driving message here is that the lovers can't turn back, and "it's too late". Maybe it's simply too late for the lovers not to be deeply in love, but the edginess and weariness in Morrison's vocals suggest a more sinister subtext. Not exactly "Happy Together".


Copyright 2003 by The Doors, Chuck Crisafulli/Waiting-forthe-Sun.net