Looka' here

The title of this blog is a term that can be used two ways here in the south. It can be used as a term of emphasis, to say, "Pay particular attention to what I'm about to say." Eg. "Looka' here son, that horse is about to stomp all over you." Another frequently way to use it is to shout it to your friends just before you do something particularly daring and foolish. "Eg. "Looka' here, I'm gonna ride Ol' Tornado bareback." Used in this manner it could probably be the epitath for many a young man who died too young, and broke his momma's heart. Hopefully we will be using in in the former sense rather than the latter.