She was a dancer at the Folies Bergere in Las Vegas. and met Andy Williams when he pulled over to aid her on a desert road. They married on Christmas Day 1961 and had three children, Noelle, Christian and Robert. In 1968, she appeared in "The Party" with Peter Sellers and sang "Nothing to Lose" by Henry Mancini. Longet recorded a series of five MOR albums for A&M Records between 1966 and 1970 and two albums for Williams's Barnaby label in 1971 and 1972. She also made frequent acting appearances in television series and appeared from time to time on Williams' variety series and specials. Williams called Longet a beautiful, sleek brunette with large doe eyes, "my favorite French singer". She and Williams separated in 1969 but did not divorce until 6 years later.
Longet has never performed again after the criminal trial, and the Sabich family initiated civil proceedings to sue Longet. The case was eventually settled out of court for a large monetary settlement, with the proviso that Longet never tell or write about her story. They also demanded that Claudine withdraw from public circulation her recording of "Bang Bang, My Baby Shot Me Down."
When I Look In Your Eyes
Claudine Longet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see the wisdom of the world
In your eyes
I see the sadness of a thousand goodbyes
When I look in your eyes
And it is no surprise
To see the softness of the moon In your eyes
The gentle sparkle of the stars
In your eyes
When I look in your eyes
In your eyes
I see the deepness of the sea
I see the deepness of the love
The love I feel you feel for me
Autumn comes, summer dies
I see the passing of the years
In your eyes
And when we part
There will be no tears, no goodbyes
I'll just look into your eyes
Those eyes, so wise
So warm, so real
How I love the world your eyes reveal
The song “When I Look in Your Eyes” by Claudine Longet captures both the beauty and pain of love through her description of the eyes of her lover. Longet describes her lover's eyes as holding the wisdom of the world, a sadness for the memories of a thousand goodbyes, and the softness and sparkle of the moon and stars. Through her lover's eyes she sees the depth of the sea and the love she feels for her. She speaks of the passing of time and the changing of seasons, but assures her lover that when they part there will be no tears or goodbyes, just a look into their captivating eyes.
Longet's lyrics are not only poetic but also deeply insightful, capturing the experience of being in love and feeling so connected to someone that one can see and feel everything through their eyes. The notion of seeing the sadness of a thousand goodbyes is intriguing as it implies that even though two people are currently in love, there is a possibility of heartbreak in the future. The line “When we part, there will be no tears, no goodbyes” suggests that Longet is content with enjoying the moments spent together and living in the present.
The song also beautifully uses the imagery of the changing seasons and the passage of time to convey the transience of life but also highlights the depth and timelessness of true love. The song's last two lines, “Those eyes, so wise, so warm, so real, How I love the world your eyes reveal” embody the essence of the song - that someone's eyes can hold the universe and reveal one's true self.
Line by Line Meaning
When I look in your eyes
The singer is about to describe what she sees when she looks into the eyes of her loved one.
I see the wisdom of the world
The singer sees a great deal of knowledge and understanding in her lover's eyes.
In your eyes
The singer emphasizes that everything she's about to describe is what she sees in her lover's eyes.
I see the sadness of a thousand goodbyes
The singer feels a lot of sorrow when she looks into her lover's eyes, as if there have been many difficult goodbyes in the past.
And it is no surprise
The singer is starting a new description and suggesting that it shouldn't be unexpected.
To see the softness of the moon
The singer sees a gentle and comforting quality in her lover's eyes, like that of the moon.
The gentle sparkle of the stars
The singer also observes a glimmering quality in her lover's eyes, much like the stars in the night sky.
I see the deepness of the sea
The singer observes depth and layers of emotion in her lover's eyes, like the vast and mysterious sea.
I see the deepness of the love
The singer is suggesting that the love that she and her partner share runs deep, and is reflected in their eyes.
The love I feel you feel for me
The singer affirms that the deep love she sees in her lover's eyes is mutual and felt by both of them.
Autumn comes, summer dies
The singer is acknowledging the passage of time, transitioning into the next stanza's theme.
I see the passing of the years
Looking into her lover's eyes, the singer recognizes the years that have gone by, and that time continues to move on.
And when we part
The singer is anticipating a separation from her lover at some point in the future.
There will be no tears, no goodbyes
Despite the eventual separation, the singer envisions a peaceful and positive ending, with no sadness or tears.
I'll just look into your eyes
The singer concludes that regardless of what happens, she will always hold onto the memories she has of looking into her lover's eyes.
Those eyes, so wise
The song repeats the description of her lover's eyes, emphasizing their wisdom and knowledge.
So warm, so real
The singer reaffirms the comforting, genuine nature of her lover's eyes.
How I love the world your eyes reveal
The singer concludes the song by proclaiming her love for the unique perspectives and emotions that she can see when she looks into her lover's eyes.
Contributed by Levi M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.