Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician T… Read Full Bio ↴Abandoned Pools is the performing name for singer-songwriter and musician Tommy Walter, as well as the name of the band in which he plays. He began playing music at a young age, first with the bass guitar and then the French horn. He attended University of Southern California, followed by the Pacific University. Teaching classical music theory, Walter began working with various Los Angeles-area musicians.

Walter soon began working with a singer-songwriter who went by E and drummer Butch Norton as The Eels. After a promising debut, Walter left the band due to differences with E. He formed a short-lived band, Tely, who released a CD that was distributed on the internet. He was also in the touring band for the Ken Andrews solo project ON, though in the end the band saw little touring. Later he went on to form Abandoned Pools and recorded a solo album, Humanistic, in 2001. Humanistic actually features a couple of songs that were once performed by Tely, like "Start Over."

In 2002 they performed the theme song for the short-lived MTV animated series Clone High. Many of their songs can be heard in the background during the show.

Walter teamed up with drummer Bryan Head and guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme in 2004 to record "Armed to the Teeth," the follow up to Humanistic. In June of 2005, they released an EP, consisting of a few songs from the new album along with b-sides and demos, called The Reverb EP. This was followed by the full album in September 2005.

In January of 2006, Walter wrote in his blog that Universal Records had stopped promoting the album. However, he has included several song snippets on his MySpace and has said he is writing songs for a new album.

In March of 2010, Walter announced via Twitter that he would enter the studio to work on a third Abandoned Pools album after five years of hiatus.

In mid-May 2011, via the Abandoned Pools' MySpace page, two new songs, "Marigold" and "In Silence" from the upcoming album, "Sublime Currency" were made available for streaming and download, or iTunes, as well as a full length demo of the first album, "Humanistic." The third studio album was expected to be released in late 2011, but is now due out sometime in 2012. On Friday, January 27, 2012, the Abandoned Pools' Facebook page posted: "Announcement coming on Monday." (January 30th)

Big Eyes
Abandoned Pools Lyrics

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When the day ends
And the light is gone
I can feel time spinning down
In your big eyes
How they've come and gone
And the world keeps spinning round

And I, I can feel the weight

The weight of your sigh on my mind
And it's coming down, down
Down to the last of your nine lives

In your mind's eye
All alone in there
Is there more than I can see?
In your big eyes
In your little world
I can see you spiraling

And I, I can feel the weight
The weight of your sigh on my mind
(I failed you)
And it's coming down, down
Down to the last of your nine lives
And here for all time
No, no you're not come
Coming back from this

When the day ends
And the light is gone
And the world keeps spinning round
I will leave here
If you say the word
I can see you spiral down

And I, I can feel the weight
The weight of your sigh on my mind
(I failed you)
And it's coming down, down
Down to the last of your nine lives left

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Big Eyes" by Abandoned Pools convey a sense of introspection and emotional heaviness as the singer reflects on the passage of time and the impact of someone's presence in their life. The song opens with a somber tone, as the singer contemplates the fading light of the day and the feeling of time slipping away. The mention of "big eyes" suggests a sense of depth and intensity in the gaze of the person being addressed, indicating a strong emotional connection.

The recurring theme of the world spinning round reflects the cyclical nature of life and how things keep moving forward despite personal struggles and emotional burdens. The weight of the other person's emotional turmoil is palpable, with the singer feeling the heaviness of their sigh on their mind. This weight seems to be tied to a sense of responsibility or guilt, as indicated by the line "I failed you," suggesting a failed attempt to support or help the other person.

The mention of the other person's "little world" and the sense of loneliness and isolation in their mind's eye paints a picture of internal conflict and struggle. The imagery of spiraling emphasizes a sense of descent or unraveling, hinting at a downward emotional trajectory. The singer's empathy for the other person's struggle is evident as they contemplate the limited number of "nine lives" left, symbolizing fragility and vulnerability.

As the song progresses, there is a sense of resignation and acceptance as the singer contemplates the inevitability of the other person's spiraling descent. The repetition of the phrase "I can feel the weight" underscores the burden of emotional connection and the inability to alleviate the other person's suffering. The final lines suggest a sense of finality and irreversible loss, with the acknowledgment that there may be no coming back from the deep emotional turmoil experienced by the other person. Overall, "Big Eyes" explores themes of empathy, regret, and the complexities of emotional connection in the face of personal struggles and emotional pain.

Line by Line Meaning

When the day ends
As night falls

And the light is gone
Darkness surrounds us

I can feel time spinning down
Sense time slipping away

In your big eyes
Reflecting your emotions

How they've come and gone
Your experiences show

And the world keeps spinning round
Life continues on

I, I can feel the weight
The burden weighs on me

The weight of your sigh on my mind
Your troubles weigh heavily on me

And it's coming down, down
Escalating quickly

Down to the last of your nine lives
Running out of chances

In your mind's eye
Your inner vision