Khan graduated Brighton University, in music and visual arts, where her experimental multi-media / installation / animation / performance art's influences spanned tape loop / effects pioneer Steve Reich and installation / performance artist Susan Hiller. Afterwards, when working as a nursery school teacher, she began writing for her début. "Whenever I'm writing music it's a very visual place in my mind," she said, "It has a location full of characters and colours and landscapes, so those two things really complement each other, and they help the other one to blossom and support the other. They are like brother and sister." Bat for Lashes music has been likened to that of Björk (who herself attended Khan's early gigs), Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Annie Lennox, Tori Amos and Fiona Apple.
"The Wizard" was primarily released on 7-inch from Khan's own She Bear label and subsequently Fur and Gold on Echo. In 2007, she was honoured with a ASCAP Vanguard Award and selected to open the prestigious ASCAP Presents… 2007, 14 Mar in Austin, TX, USA (an industry showcase, within SXSW 2007). Later, via a small Manimal Vinyl Fur and Gold pressing (May 2007), Bat for Lashes transferred to Parlophone. She appeared at Glastonbury 2007 (23 June).
In July 2007, Fur and Gold, Joe's Pub, NYC, on 1 May 2007 recordings and a Plaid remix, yielded EP What's A Girl To Do? (7 Jul 2007, EMI). Then on the 17th, the album's 2007 Mercury Prize nomination was announced - despite being a UK media favourite to win, it lost to Klaxons' Myths of the Near Future. 25 Jul 2007, at Knitting Factory, Brooklyn, NY was the fist gig of a three month North American tour, interrupted only by European festival appearances.
In 2008, Bat for Lashes was nominated for Brit Awards ('Best British Breakthrough Act' and 'Best British Female'), her distinctive What's a Girl to Do? video brought her to prominence and, starting with Malahide Castle, Dublin, IE, on 6 Jun 2008, she toured with Radiohead for a month, opening more than a dozen European shows. Perfect As Cats: A Tribute to the Cure (Oct 2008, Manimal Vinyl), included her cover of A Forest.
The lead single for her second album was "Daniel" and released in March. On 23 February, Khan revealed in an interview on radio station XFM that the cover for the single had been shot on Brighton beach, near her home. She also designed a limited edition cover for Fact Magazine which coincided with an interview she did for them. Bat for Lashes released her second album Two Suns in April 2009, which received comparisons to the work of Stevie Nicks, Dolores O'Riordan and Fleetwood Mac.
Bat for Lashes live backing during the Two Suns tours, as March 2009, included among others: Ben Christophers, Charlotte Hatherley and Sarah Jones (drums - of New Young Pony Club). She appeared on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge. She performed an acoustic version of the single, "Daniel," and also covered "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon. Her first appearance on US broadcast television was 1 May 2009 on The Late Show with David Letterman, performing the song "Daniel". On May 15, 2009 she appeared on NPR (World Cafe) where she performed "Daniel", "Moon and Moon (piano only) and Prescilla".
On June 13, 2012 Bat for Lashes announced the title of her upcoming third studio album "The Haunted Man" to be released in October. The album was produced, as with Fur And Gold and Two Suns, by Faultline. While not performing as well in Europe as Two Suns, The Haunted Man was her highest charting album in the US to date, at #64. Singles "Laura", "All Your Gold", "A Wall", and "Lilies" followed.
Sad Eyes
Bat for Lashes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leavin' it for such a long, long time
Why do you show me those sad, sad eyes
Each time you decide to pass on by
And when you smile those sad eyes
Look sadder and sadder still
Makes me love and love them more
I'll have a bath, I'll make the dinner
And then I'll go wait for a long, long time
But still you've not passed my door
And when you smile those sad eyes
Look sadder and sadder still
I can tell that you're lonely but it seems now
There's nothing you want me to do
So I won't try to take the sadness
From those eyes that I love
Leave it open for someone else to
And when you smile those sad eyes
Look sadder and sadder still
Trying to hold it together
Keep my love as light as a feather
Sad eyes, baby, it's been such a long time
Keep my heart breaking in the dark
Come and spend the night
Sad eyes [Incomprehensible] hold it together
(Sad eyes, oh)
Keep my love as light as a feather
(Sad eyes)
Sad eyes, baby, it's been such a long time
(Sad eyes)
Keep my heart breaking in the dark
Come and spend the night
Sad eyes
Sad eyes
Sad eyes
The song "Sad Eyes" by Bat for Lashes is a melancholic tune about unrequited love. The singer addresses someone who never tells her what they truly feel, leaving her to overthink and analyze their every move. The person's sad eyes, which become even more pitiful when they smile, hold a captivating beauty that the singer loves, but she cannot bear to see them suffering alone. She is willing to do anything to make the person happy, even if that means waiting for them for a long time, but they never seem to come. The singer can sense that the person is lonely but accepts that there might be nothing she can do to alleviate their sadness. She resolves to keep her love as light as a feather and not force herself on someone who doesn't want her.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a one-sided relationship dynamic, where one person is deeply in love, and the other is emotionally unavailable. The melody is hauntingly beautiful, and the chorus is exceptionally memorable, making the song a standout from Bat for Lashes's discography. Natasha Khan, aka Bat for Lashes, has a talent for creating songs full of vivid imagery and intense emotions that resonate with listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like the things you don't say
I am bothered by the fact that you keep certain thoughts and feelings concealed
Leavin' it for such a long, long time
You have been avoiding the issue for an extended period of time
Why do you show me those sad, sad eyes
Your sorrowful expression causes me to feel sympathetic
Each time you decide to pass on by
When you choose to leave, I can't help but feel disappointed
And when you smile those sad eyes
Even when you try to look happy, your eyes still appear despondent
Look sadder and sadder still
Your eyes continue to reflect increasing levels of melancholy
Autumn's hue in those sad eyes
The natural orange-brown color of your eyes only accentuates their appeal to me
Makes me love and love them more
The sad expression in your eyes gradually causes me to grow more attached to you
I'll have a bath, I'll make the dinner
As a gesture of affection, I will take care of myself and prepare a meal
And then I'll go wait for a long, long time
Despite my efforts to improve the situation, I fear that you will still be gone for an extended period
But still you've not passed my door
Unfortunately, my hopes were in vain, and you never came to visit
I can tell that you're lonely but it seems now
I sense that you are feeling down, but your current actions suggest that you don't want any help
There's nothing you want me to do
You have given no indication that you desire my assistance or comfort during this difficult time
So I won't try to take the sadness
Since you have not requested my intervention, I will not try to alleviate your sorrow
From those eyes that I love
Even though your sad eyes cause me pain, I am still deeply enamored with them
Leave it open for someone else to
Instead of trying to help you myself, I will leave the opportunity for someone else to comfort you
Trying to hold it together
I am trying my best to remain composed despite my own emotional turmoil
Keep my love as light as a feather
I will attempt to avoid becoming too emotionally invested in this situation
Sad eyes, baby, it's been such a long time
Your sorrowful expression has persisted for quite some time now, causing me to worry
Keep my heart breaking in the dark
I will suffer silently, keeping my emotional struggles hidden
Come and spend the night
Despite the emotional distance between us, I still desire your physical presence
Sad eyes (Incomprehensible) hold it together
Your persistent sadness is a heavy burden for me to bear, but I will try to remain strong
(Sad eyes, oh)
An expression of the continued focus on the subject of the song
Keep my love as light as a feather
Although I care about you deeply, I will try to avoid getting too attached to the outcome of our relationship
(Sad eyes)
An expression of the continued focus on the subject of the song
Sad eyes, baby, it's been such a long time
Your persistent sadness is causing me to feel increasingly hopeless and helpless
(Sad eyes)
An expression of the continued focus on the subject of the song
Keep my heart breaking in the dark
I will continue to suffer silently, even when alone
Come and spend the night
I still desire your physical presence, even if I am unable to alleviate your emotional pain
Sad eyes
A final expression of the continued focus on the subject of the song
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NATASHA KHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind