Together, Campbell and Lanegan formed a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They released a series of albums: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. Their third album Hawk was released in August 2010. The same year the live album "Live At The Barbican London 2010 " was released.
Eyes of Green
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bursting at the seams with life?
Honey no I have not either
It’s just something that I think I’d like
Have you ever seen my true love?
The one who makes my heart to sing
Bells and ribbons it should only be love
Take a pair of lonesome blue eyes
And a pair of eyes of green
And you could search the wide world over
They’re the prettiest I’ve ever seen
If the river burst the dream flow
That would only make me cry
Honey now I go where you go
I will love you till the day I die
The lyrics to Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan's song Eyes of Green are beautifully simple, yet evoke a deep sense of longing and desire for life and love. The opening verse speaks of the image of a river, bursting with life and energy, something that the singer has not seen before. This image is perhaps a representation of the unknown and unexplored aspects of life, waiting to be discovered and experienced. The second verse speaks directly of the singer's "true love", the one who makes their heart sing. They long for a love that is pure and genuine, embodied by bells and ribbons, and not something that is fleeting or insincere.
The chorus is where the true beauty of the song lies, as it brings together the imagery of a river bursting with life and the singer's love for their partner. The contrasting pairs of lonesome blue eyes and eyes of green represent a search for completion and connection, something that the singer perhaps finds in their partner. The line "If the river burst the dream flow, that would only make me cry" is particularly poignant, as it speaks of the fragility of life and love, and the fear of losing something so precious. And yet, the final line of the chorus is one of unwavering commitment and devotion, "I will love you till the day I die".
Overall, Eyes of Green is a beautiful and heartfelt song that captures the universal human desire for love, connection and the experience of a full and vibrant life.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever seen a river?
Have you ever witnessed a river that is overflowing with life?
Bursting at the seams with life?
Is the river so full of life that it's bursting out of its banks?
Honey no I have not either
No, I haven't seen a river like that either, but it's something I'd like to see.
It’s just something that I think I’d like
I just have an aspiration in my mind to witness such a captivating sight.
Have you ever seen my true love?
Have you laid eyes on the one who holds the key to my heart?
The one who makes my heart to sing
The one who brings a melody to my heart and soul.
Bells and ribbons it should only be love
The relationship should be filled with love and affection, signified by bells and ribbons.
For if it isn’t it don’t mean a thing
If love isn't present, it holds no significance or value.
Take a pair of lonesome blue eyes
Imagine a person with forlorn and solitary blue eyes.
And a pair of eyes of green
Now picture another person with captivating and bright green eyes.
And you could search the wide world over
Even if you were to scour the entire planet.
They’re the prettiest I’ve ever seen
You won't find another pair of eyes as beautiful as these two.
If the river burst the dream flow
If something were to interrupt the dreamlike state or flow of things.
That would only make me cry
It would bring sadness and tears to my eyes.
Honey now I go where you go
My love, wherever you go, I go too.
I will love you till the day I die
I am committed to loving you until my very last breath.
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rachael Guertin
thanks for putting these songs up from 'Hawk' they are terriffic!