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.
Tired Eyes
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, he shot four men in a cocaine deal
And he left them lyin' in an open field
Full of old cars with bullet holes in the mirrors
He tried to do his best but he could not
Please take my advice, please take my advice
Well, it wasn't supposed to go down that way
But they burned his brother
They left him lying in the driveway
They let him down with nothin'
He tried to do his best but he could not
Please take my advice, please take my advice
Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes
Well, tell me more, tell me more, tell me more
I mean was he a heavy doper or was he just a loser?
He was a friend of yours
What do you mean, he had bullet holes in his mirrors?
He tried to do his best but he could not
Please take my advice, please take my advice
Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes
Please take my advice, please take my advice
Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes
The lyrics to Cowboy Junkies' "Tired Eyes" tells the story of a man who takes justice into his own hands after his brother is burned alive by a group of drug dealers. In an act of revenge, he shoots four of them and leaves their bodies in an open field. The lyrics reveal the complicated and brutal realities of the drug world, where morality is blurred, and actions often have devastating consequences.
The song's chorus, "Please take my advice, open up your tired eyes," suggests that the singer is trying to warn others of the dangers of getting involved in the drug world. His actions were not justified, but they were perhaps a response to the endless cycle of violence and corruption that he had witnessed.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of loyalty and friendship, as the singer is described as a friend of the singer. It is not clear whether the singer approves of his actions or is merely trying to make sense of what happened. Overall, "Tired Eyes" is a powerful and thought-provoking song that explores the darker side of human nature and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, he shot four men in a cocaine deal
He killed four men in a drug deal gone wrong
And he left them lyin' in an open field
He abandoned the dead bodies in a field
Full of old cars with bullet holes in the mirrors
The field had old cars with bullet holes in the mirrors
He tried to do his best but he could not
He attempted to do what he believed was best but failed
Please take my advice, please take my advice
The artist is urging the listener to listen to their advice
Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes
The singer is encouraging the listener to become more aware
Well, it wasn't supposed to go down that way
Things were not supposed to happen in the way they did
But they burned his brother
The artist's brother was set on fire by someone else
They left him lying in the driveway
The brother was left in the driveway to die
They let him down with nothin'
The artist's brother was not taken care of properly
Well, tell me more, tell me more, tell me more
Someone is seeking more information about the situation
I mean was he a heavy doper or was he just a loser?
The person being questioned was either a drug addict or a failure
He was a friend of yours
The person being talked about was a friend of the singer's
What do you mean, he had bullet holes in his mirrors?
The person being questioned is trying to understand the significance of the bullet holes
Please take my advice, please take my advice
The singer is again urging the listener to listen to their advice
Open up your tired eyes, open up your tired eyes
The final line is repeated to emphasize the importance of being aware and present
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Neil Young
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ellesee Georgiadis
on Mining For Gold
How beautiful! Thank you for your voice. Thank you for your heart.