Lookout (Here Comes Tomorrow) [early version]

Song Meaning

The narrator is staring down a looming decision, a future represented by "tomorrow" that feels more like an impending threat than a promise. The opening plea, "Look out! Look out!" isn't just a warning; it's a desperate cry against the inevitable arrival of a moment that demands a choice. This isn't about excitement for what's next, but a deep-seated dread of having to pick a path, wishing instead for a temporary escape, to "borrow someone else's shoes." The core of the conflict lies in a romantic dilemma. We're introduced to two distinct women, Mary and Sandra, each with their own allure. Mary is painted with a sweet, almost innocent image, her lips like "strawberry wine," while Sandra is the "long hair and beat girl," embodying a different kind of appeal. The narrator admits to loving both, a confession that immediately highlights the painful paradox: "I told them both that I loved them... But I can't have both of them." This creates a palpable tension between genuine affection and the impossible reality of his situation. The lyrics masterfully use repetition to amplify the narrator's anxiety. The phrase "Look out, here comes tomorrow" acts as a recurring motif, each instance deepening the sense of dread. This is mirrored in the refrain, "Oh, how I wish tomorrow would never come," a direct expression of his desire to avoid the inevitable choice. The repeated "Hey! Hey! Hey!" at the end feels less like a celebration and more like a frantic, almost panicked attempt to ward off the very future he fears. Ultimately, the song's power comes from its raw portrayal of indecision and the sorrow it breeds. The narrator isn't a player; he's genuinely caught, seeing "all kinda sorrow" in his future regardless of the choice. The writing captures that specific, gut-wrenching feeling of being trapped by your own affections, where even a positive outcome feels tainted by the loss of another possibility.