I Only Have Eyes For You
Billy Eckstine and His Orchestra Lyrics
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I can't see anyone but you
Sha bop sha bop
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all dissappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
The lyrics to Billy Eckstine's "I Only Have Eyes for You" speak to the intensity of a love that has the power to block out everything else in the world. The first verse suggests that the love is so strong that it becomes a kind of blindness, inhibiting the ability to see anyone else but the one loved. The following verses further this idea by pointing out that even the stars and the moon, things that are typically awe-inspiring, are unimportant because the presence of the loved one is enough to monopolize all attention.
The bridge of the song takes this idea one step further by touching on the idea that the lovers could be anywhere and yet the rest of the world would cease to exist, as they only see each other. The final line of the song, "And I only have eyes for you," is repeated multiple times, driving home the single-minded devotion that is at the crux of the song.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Only Have Eyes for You" are a poetic expression of the consuming nature of love, how it has the power to block out everything else and create a world that revolves solely around the object of affection.
Line by Line Meaning
My love must be a kind of blind love
My love for you is so strong that it has blinded me to any other potential romantic interests.
I can't see anyone but you
You are the only person I am interested in and attracted to.
Sha bop sha bop
A nonsensical phrase used to fill empty space in the song or possibly to express joy and excitement.
Are the stars out tonight
I wonder if the sky is clear enough to see the stars.
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I don't know what the weather conditions are like right now.
I only have eyes for you dear
My attention and affection are entirely focused on you, my beloved.
The moon may be high
Even though the moon may be visible in the sky, I am unable to pay attention to it because all of my attention is focused on you.
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I am so focused on you that I am completely oblivious to my surroundings, including the moon or any other celestial bodies in the sky.
I don't know if we're in a garden
I am unaware of our surroundings - whether we're in a beautiful garden or a crowded street.
Or on a crowded avenue
Even if we were in a busy or chaotic public space, I would still only have eyes for you.
You are here and so am I
Despite everything else going on around us, the most important thing is that we are together right now.
Maybe millions of people go by
Even when we are surrounded by swarms of people or crowds of strangers, they are all insignificant in comparison to you.
But they all disappear from view
Because my focus is solely on you, everyone else fades away from my line of sight.
And I only have eyes for you
No matter where we are or what we're doing, I am completely devoted to you and only you.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind