Pitney, a pop rock pioneer, had his greatest success overall in Britain, first travelling there after his first self penned hit in 1961. "I Wanna Love My Life Away" hit #26 on the UK singles chart & just broke into the top 40 in the US.
His early music recorded for the "musicor" label was romantic, lonely and dramatic, fitting in alongside contemporaries like Buddy Holly, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison & serves as an audio time capsule of a more innocent time.
Gene Pitney - Yesterday's Hero...
Gene was a Brill Building songwriter who even before his singing career took off, had written one of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits "Hello Mary Lou". He had been helped out initially in his career by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and later recorded some of their songs which became big hits like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and the classic "Only Love Can Break A Heart". At the time his "Only Love..." recording was a #2 chart hit, he had written the number 1 song that week; "He's A Rebel" (A Phil Spector production recorded by The Crystals). All in all Pitney himself recorded 16 top 40 songs in the US from 1961 to 1968.
Gene's biggest popularity was in England, where he used the Rolling Stones publicist Andrew Loog Oldham to get his fame established, which lasted there to the day of his death. In the UK, Gene had 40 top-40 charting hits through 1974. He finally hit #1 in the UK in 1990, performing a duet with Marc Almond of Soft Cell. Pitney died April 5 on tour in 2006. He was found by his tour manager fully clothed on his bed at a Hilton Hotel in Cardiff , shortly after performing a concert.
I Must Be Seeing Things
Gene Pitney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And is that my best friend
Aren't they walking much too close together
And it don't look like they're talking about the weather
I must be seeing things I thought I'd never see
I must be hearing things when I hear her say to him
"I want you, I need you, I love you"
Looking through a tear
I can see him kissing her
And I feel my poor heart softly breaking
I'd do anything if only I was mistaken
I must be seeing things, oh no, it can't be true
I must be hearing things when I hear him say to her
"Forget him, it's over, you're mine now"
I must be seeing things I thought I'd never see
I must be hearing things, you made a fool of me
I must be seeing things and hearing things
Oh, no I love you so
Oh, please don't go
The song "I Must Be Seeing Things" by Gene Pitney tells the story of a man who sees his girlfriend walking with his best friend and thinks they are too close. He hears her say that she loves his friend and sees them kissing, which leads to his heart breaking. The man cannot believe what he is seeing or hearing, and he thinks that he must be going crazy. He wishes he could be mistaken and that it isn't true that his girlfriend is in love with his best friend.
The lyrics of the song talk about the emotional pain caused by the betrayal of someone the singer trusted the most. The use of the phrase "I must be seeing things" is a way for the singer to deny the reality of the situation and avoid accepting the truth. The repetition of the phrase also emphasizes his disbelief and confusion at the situation. The use of the word "forget" in the line "forget him, it's over, you're mine now" suggests that his friend and girlfriend were having an affair behind his back and have decided to be together.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't that my girl
I believe I recognize that woman as my girlfriend
And is that my best friend
I think that man walking with her is my closest friend
Aren't they walking much too close together
Their physical proximity seems too intimate for my comfort
And it don't look like they're talking about the weather
Their conversation appears to be of a personal or romantic nature
I must be seeing things I thought I'd never see
This situation is so unexpected that it must be a hallucination
I must be hearing things when I hear her say to him
The words she is speaking to him cannot be true or real, as they contradict my understanding of our relationship
"I want you, I need you, I love you"
She is expressing her strong desire for him and her love that was previously assumed to be directed at me
Looking through a tear
I am crying and looking through the tear in my eye
I can see him kissing her
I am witnessing my girlfriend being unfaithful as he kisses her
And I feel my poor heart softly breaking
My heart is experiencing emotional pain as it is broken by this betrayal
I'd do anything if only I was mistaken
I wish this were not true and would try everything to make it untrue if possible
I must be seeing things, oh no, it can't be true
I am still struggling to accept the reality of the situation and do not want it to be true
I must be hearing things when I hear him say to her
I cannot believe the words he is saying because they further verify the reality of the situation
"Forget him, it's over, you're mine now"
He is telling her to forget about me because they are now in a relationship and he is claiming her as his
I must be seeing things I thought I'd never see
I am still struggling to accept the reality of the situation as it conflicts with my expectations
I must be hearing things, you made a fool of me
I realize that I have been deceived and made a fool of by both of them
I must be seeing things and hearing things
I am still struggling to come to terms with what I have witnessed and heard
Oh, no I love you so
Despite the betrayal, I still deeply love her
Oh, please don't go
I plead with her not to leave me, despite what has happened
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AL KOOPER, BOB BRASS, IRWIN LEVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adrian Breeden
I was a teenager in those years of Gene Pitney's great songs and beautiful voice. I was in love with this damned girl at school and his songs soothed and calmed me, and echoed my feelings.
Pat Cade
He was GREAT and his music lives on.
Tonithenightowl
It just doesn't get better than this. This man was phenomenal. !!!
John Gray
Completely agree
Lana Vandenburg
Every song is so real and heartfelt.... The world pauses for gene
Christine Frazerskinner
Never saw him in concert but loved his voice and his music what a handsome man he was Such a sad time when he passed away.so young bless him RIP Gene xx
Christine Frazerskinner
Thank you.
Chris Williamson
One of the Greatest singers ever
Still Standing
A singular and unforgettable voice. He did amazing things with his instrument.
Sharon Wilkie
Fabulous talent! Glad to have seen him in concert - and proud that he originated in my state! Such a humble gentleman. Sadly missed.