"Is Anybody Looking?"

Vin Colella and I were both part of the band JEREMIAH, and when that project broke up, we began working as a songwriting and recording duo. After our first night of collaborating, I took the bits and pieces we’d come up with and created three separate songs from those fragments: “Is Anybody Looking?” “Chicago Bungalow,” and “New Life.” Of the three, “Is Anybody Looking” may be my favorite lyrically, but only “New Life” has been recorded.

Is Anybody Looking?

© 1987 Brian Hutzell and Vin Colella

Former nights I searched the town and found a lonely mile

Going out, the crowds were loud but never out of style

Last night, I found the lights too bright

They hurt my eyes

Often I’ve been taken for a man with no disguise

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

On the street, the scene to me seems slightly out of step

No one there cares what it is or where the secret’s kept

As I try to analyze, I’m spending all my time

Puzzling over notes I wrote and wishing they were mine

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

And when it comes I won’t be waiting underneath

No, I’ll be far away and standing on my feet

Much better to be safe and cry a little less

By being prudent I’ll live longer than the rest

On the tube, the news is soothing

Skip the bits of sin

Musn’t send offensive messages; they’ll wreck the kids

Horrid as it seems to us, the truth is even worse

Mercy at this turn could hardly minimize the hurt

Is anybody looking?

Watch the hand I play

I’ll turn the cards up, reveal the game

Is anybody looking?

Do you see what’s happening?

Don’t get too comfortable;

We’re heading for a change

“Look”

© 2003 Brian Hutzell

From Brand New Bouncing Suit