"Looking Glass Blues" is a song by Charlotte Gainsbourg, a French-British singer and actress. The lyrics depict a desire to escape from reality and retreat into oneself, symbolized by climbing down into a hole or looking through a looking glass. The song explores themes of self-reflection, fear, and the contrast between what one desires and what they actually have. The opening lines suggest a desire to escape from the world by hiding oneself, possibly due to feeling overwhelmed or burdened by life. The use of a looking glass, which symbolizes self-reflection, implies a need to delve deep within oneself to find answers or understanding. The mention of drinking a little bottle and growing smaller indicates a desire to minimize fears and anxieties. It portrays the longing to fit in anywhere and not be affected by the external world, suggesting a state of detachment and indifference. The song's title, "Looking Glass Blues," suggests a feeling of melancholy or dissatisfaction with what the singer sees through the looking glass. The lyrics imply that what is seen is the opposite of what one desires and cannot have. This may express a sense of longing or frustration with the reality that doesn't align with one's aspirations. The lyrics also touch upon the concept of time reversing, dreams being borrowed, and feeling trapped like a chess piece unable to move. These metaphors convey a sense of helplessness and a desire for liberation from the constraints of life. As the song progresses, Gainsbourg contemplates the idea of seeing what exists outside herself, but it only reminds her of something she is familiar with but lacks. This suggests a longing for something missing in her life or a feeling of emptiness. The final verse introduces fear as an intrusive entity, likened to an ugly thing inside a herd. It implies that fear is something unpleasant that surrounds and influences one's existence. The reference to walking through a key as big as the sun and mentioning counterfeit soul and an infant brain adds to the surreal and introspective nature of the song. The lyrics suggest that this unconventional approach is necessary to cope with the challenges of the present. Overall, "Looking Glass Blues" can be interpreted as a reflection on the desire to escape, the conflict between aspirations and reality, and the need for self-exploration and acceptance.
