EYES
Ethan Jewell Lyrics
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Piercing, warm, gentle
They had seen so much
Witnessed pain, walls falling, people breaking
But then, after everything, they chose to look at me
But I guess I couldn't handle being in the spotlight
So now I drag my feet when I walk
Not because I have a wounded leg
it all feels just too heavy to pick my shoes from the ground
And my head's spinning around
Shadows whisper at me from the street lamp in the corner
You know what you have to do
And you know what you have to prove
And you know who you have to soothe
Just do what you have to do
I don't like the way I treat myself, but I can't stop
I look in the mirror, shatter the glass, repeat day in and day out
Get a new mirror
This mirror's different than the rest
She loves me, treats me well
And tells me I look beautiful despite the bags under my eyes
Despite the scars on my skin
Despite the numbness of my touch
Yet despite all of this, I still smashed it
I still broke that mirror and left its shattered pieces on the ground
For it to try to glue itself back together
How can I ever look myself in a mirror again after what I did
How can I ever pick my feet up
While I walk after the weight that lays in my shoes
How can I ever start a garden
Because apparently, I want to destroy everything beautiful in my life
Apparently, I want to rip apart flower petals
I want to step on roses
I want to tear apart dandelions
And rip everything up from the roots
The second a flower blooms within me
I deprived it of light and water and watch it wilt
Why can't I let the beauty in my life flourish
Why didn't I hold that flower gently
Protect it from this harsh, harsh world
Nurture it and water it
Tell that flower she's beautiful every single day
Instead of plucking apart its petals and leaving it in the dirt
The lyrics of Ethan Jewell's song "Eyes" delve into themes of self-destructive behavior, a struggle with self-worth, and a longing for beauty and love. The singer begins by expressing their admiration for someone else's eyes, describing them as piercing, warm, and gentle. These eyes have seen and experienced a lot, including pain, vulnerability, and brokenness. Despite all they've witnessed, they chose to look at the singer, which suggests a special connection and attention.
However, the singer reveals that they couldn't handle being in the spotlight or receiving such focused attention. They now find themselves dragging their feet when they walk, not due to a physical injury but because the weight of their own struggles feels too heavy to bear. The imagery of shadows whispering and urging them highlights the internal turmoil and pressure they feel to prove themselves, soothe others, and fulfill certain expectations.
The second paragraph explores the singer's dissatisfaction with themselves and their tendency to engage in self-destructive behaviors. They express a dislike for how they treat themselves but feel unable to stop. They mention shattering mirrors as a repeated pattern, possibly symbolizing a cycle of self-sabotage and negative self-perception. However, the mention of a new mirror signifies a glimmer of hope. This mirror, unlike the rest, loves them, treats them well, and sees beauty despite their flaws. Yet, despite this love and acceptance, the singer still breaks the mirror and leaves its shattered pieces on the ground, questioning how they can ever face their reflection again.
In the third paragraph, the singer reflects on their destructive tendencies towards everything beautiful and good in their life. Metaphorically, they mention wanting to destroy flower petals, step on roses, and tear apart dandelions, representing a desire to ruin and sabotage moments of beauty and happiness. They question why they can't let the beauty in their life flourish, why they harm what brings them joy, and at times, why they deprive themselves of nurturing and love.
The final paragraph expresses remorse and a longing for self-improvement. The singer regrets their past actions, wanting to reverse the damage they've caused. They question why they didn't handle the beauty in their life with care, protecting and nurturing it. The metaphor of not letting a flower bloom within them, instead depriving it of light and water until it wilts, speaks to a sense of self-sabotage and an inability to fully embrace and appreciate the positive aspects of their life. The lyrics suggest a yearning for self-compassion, self-care, and the ability to recognize and appreciate the beauty within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I always liked how your eyes looked at me
I found comfort and warmth in the way you looked at me
Piercing, warm, gentle
Your gaze was intense, inviting, and tender
They had seen so much
Your eyes had witnessed a lot of experiences and emotions
Witnessed pain, walls falling, people breaking
Your eyes had witnessed suffering, vulnerability, and the crumbling of people's defenses
But then, after everything, they chose to look at me
Despite all that they had seen, your eyes chose to focus on me
But I guess I couldn't handle being in the spotlight
I felt overwhelmed and uncomfortable receiving your attention
So now I drag my feet when I walk
I move slowly and reluctantly, as if burdened by something
Not because I have a wounded leg
It's not a physical injury that slows me down
But because sometimes it all feels just too heavy to pick my shoes from the ground
The weight of life's challenges makes it difficult for me to move forward
And my head's spinning around
I feel disoriented and overwhelmed by my thoughts
Shadows whisper at me from the street lamp in the corner
Negative thoughts and doubts surround me, coming from the darkness
You know what you have to do
You are aware of the responsibilities and tasks ahead of you
And you know what you have to prove
You understand the need to demonstrate your worth and abilities
And you know who you have to soothe
You recognize the importance of comforting and calming yourself
Just do what you have to do
Simply fulfill your obligations and do what is necessary
I don't like the way I treat myself, but I can't stop
I am aware that I mistreat myself, but I struggle to break free from those habits
I look in the mirror, shatter the glass, repeat day in and day out
I repeatedly engage in self-destructive behavior, sabotaging my reflection
Get a new mirror
I seek a fresh perspective and a different way of seeing myself
This mirror's different than the rest
This new perspective offers me love and kindness
She loves me, treats me well
This mirror reflects self-love and treats me with care
And tells me I look beautiful despite the bags under my eyes
It compliments my appearance, seeing past my flaws and exhaustion
Despite the scars on my skin
Even though I carry physical wounds
Despite the numbness of my touch
Despite feeling emotionally disconnected and detached
Yet despite all of this, I still smashed it
Despite the mirror's positivity, I still self-destructed and broke it
I still broke that mirror and left its shattered pieces on the ground
I shattered the source of positivity and left behind a mess
For it to try to glue itself back together
Leaving the mirror broken, expecting it to heal on its own
How can I ever look myself in a mirror again after what I did
How can I face myself and confront my actions after destroying a source of self-love
How can I ever pick my feet up
How can I find the strength to move forward
While I walk after the weight that lays in my shoes
While carrying the burdensome emotions that weigh me down
How can I ever start a garden
How can I create and nurture positivity in my life
Because apparently, I want to destroy everything beautiful in my life
Seemingly, I have a tendency to ruin anything good that comes my way
Apparently, I want to rip apart flower petals
It appears that I have an inclination to dismantle the beauty around me
I want to step on roses
I desire to trample on symbols of love and beauty
I want to tear apart dandelions
I want to break apart delicate and resilient things
And rip everything up from the roots
And completely uproot everything I come across
The second a flower blooms within me
As soon as I experience any personal growth or positivity
I deprived it of light and water and watch it wilt
I intentionally sabotage its growth and watch it wither away
Why can't I let the beauty in my life flourish
Why can't I allow positive things to thrive and prosper in my life
Why didn't I hold that flower gently
Why didn't I handle that positivity and growth delicately
Protect it from this harsh, harsh world
Shield it from the difficulties and harshness of life
Nurture it and water it
Provide care and nourishment for that positive aspect
Tell that flower she's beautiful every single day
Remind myself of my own worth and beauty consistently
Instead of plucking apart its petals and leaving it in the dirt
Rather than destroying and abandoning it, leaving it in a state of neglect
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ethan Jewell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind