The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
Close My Eyes
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like Judas from the table.
Turn my back
And walk away.
I want to close my eyes
Like that novice at the altar.
Bow my head
Sorrow took Love's splintered hands
And waltzed her 'cross a painted floor.
Whispered softly in her ear,
"let's get outta here".
I'm going to breathe the air
That my children will be breathing.
Breathe them out
And breathe them in again.
I'm going to close my eyes
And walk away.
Turn my back
Bow my head
And close my eyes.
In "Close My Eyes" by Cowboy Junkies, the singer expresses a desire to walk away from their troubles and close their eyes in order to find peace. The first stanza compares the desire to walk away to that of Judas from the table. This may seem like a strange comparison, as Judas is often associated with betrayal, but it is important to remember that Judas ultimately walked away from the situation in order to fulfill his destiny. The singer may be feeling similarly trapped in their current situation and sees walking away as a necessary step to some sort of resolution.
In the second stanza, the singer expresses a desire to emulate a novice at the altar by closing their eyes and bowing their head. This imagery invokes a sense of reverence and submission, suggesting that the singer is willing to let go of their ego and surrender to a higher power in order to find peace. The act of closing their eyes may also represent shutting out the distractions of the outside world and turning inward to focus on their own internal struggles.
The third stanza introduces the idea of sorrow and love dancing together, with sorrow taking love's hands and leading her across a painted floor. This image is both beautiful and melancholy, suggesting that love and sorrow are intertwined and cannot be separated. The whispered invitation to "get outta here" may indicate a desire to escape from the pain and heartache that comes with love.
The final stanza brings the focus back to the singer's children and their future. The act of breathing in and out is a simple yet profound way of connecting with the cycle of life and passing on something meaningful to the next generation. By walking away and closing their eyes, the singer may be trying to let go of their own pain and create a better future for their children.
Overall, "Close My Eyes" is a deeply emotional and introspective song that explores the desire for escape and the search for peace in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to walk away
I desire to go away and leave everything behind.
Like Judas from the table.
Judas Iscariot left Jesus Christ's Last Supper and betrayed him later on. I want to leave like Judas and cause separation.
Turn my back
I want to turn away from everything and everyone.
And walk away.
I want to leave and never come back.
I want to close my eyes
I want to shut my eyes and block everything out.
Like that novice at the altar.
Like a new trainee in a religious setting, I want to submit and surrender to a higher power.
Bow my head
I want to lower my head, showing submission and humility.
And close my eyes.
I want to shut my eyes, showing retreat and isolation.
Sorrow took Love's splintered hands
Sadness joined hands with Love that has already been broken several times.
And waltzed her 'cross a painted floor.
Sorrow and Love danced together on a colorful, imaginative dance floor.
Whispered softly in her ear,
Sorrow murmured gently to Love's ear, showing closeness and intimacy.
"let's get outta here".
"Let's leave this place behind us".
I'm going to breathe the air
I will inhale the same air that my offspring will breathe in the near future.
That my children will be breathing.
I will breathe in the same air that my descendants will breathe in the next generation.
Breathe them out
I exhale the same air that they inhale.
And breathe them in again.
I inhale the same air that I exhaled, showing interdependency and continuity.
I'm going to close my eyes
I intend to shut my eyes and close myself off.
And walk away.
I will leave and distance myself from everything and everyone.
Turn my back
I am going to turn around and walk away.
Bow my head
I will bend down to show submission and respect.
And close my eyes.
I will shut my eyes and withdraw from the world.
Lyrics © PAZ JUNK MUSIC INC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Michael Edward Timmins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ellesee Georgiadis
on Mining For Gold
How beautiful! Thank you for your voice. Thank you for your heart.