Throughout the 1950s and early-1960s, Jackie Gleason enjoyed a secondary mu… Read Full Bio ↴Throughout the 1950s and early-1960s, Jackie Gleason enjoyed a secondary music career, lending his name to a series of best-selling mood music albums with jazz overtones for Capitol. Gleason felt there was a ready market for romantic instrumentals. He recalled seeing Clark Gable play love scenes in movies, and the romance was, in his words, "magnified a thousand percent" by background music. Gleason reasoned, "If Gable needs music, a guy in Brooklyn must be desperate!"

Gleason could not read or write music in a conventional sense; he was said to have conceived melodies in his head and described them vocally to staff help. He did likewise with the well-remembered themes of both The Jackie Gleason Show ("Melancholy Serenade") and The Honeymooners ("You're My Greatest Love"). There has been some controversy over the years as to how much credit Gleason should have received for the finished products; it has been written that beyond the possible conceptualizing of many of the songs, Gleason had no direct involvement such as conducting in the making of these recordings. However, his main musical companion, cornetist and trumpeter Bobby Hackett once said: "Jackie knows a lot more about music than people give him credit for. I have seen him conduct a sixty-piece orchestra and detect one discordant note in the brass section. He would immediately stop the music and locate the wrong note. It always amazed the professional musicians how a guy who technically did not know one note from another could do that. And he was never wrong."

Born February 26, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He died on June 24, 1987

I've Got a Crush On You
Jackie Gleason Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got my eyes on you,
So best beware where you roam.
I've got my eyes on you,
So don't stray too far from home.

Incidentally,
I've set my spies on you,
I'm checking all you do

From A to Zee,
So, darling, just be wise,
Keep your eyes on me.

Incidentally,
I've set my spies on you,
I'm checking all you do
From A to Zee,
So, darling, just be wise,

If you're wise,
Keep your eyes on me.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jackie Gleason's song "I've Got My Eyes On You" depict a possessive and watchful narrator who is cautioning their beloved not to stray too far from home. The singer's tone is one of warning, hinting that they are always watching and keeping close tabs on their partner's every move. They are so invested in their significant other that they have set spies on them, and they are monitoring their every activity from A to Zee.

The song could be interpreted as a warning to those who underestimate the power of love and devotion. The singer emphasizes the need to stay attentive in order to maintain the relationship, and to not take it for granted. The song oozes with a sense of possessiveness, jealousy, and surveillance. Despite these themes, the melody and Gleason's smooth delivery provide a comforting ambiance, creating a potentially paradoxical work of art.

This song could be seen as an ode to the history of domestic surveillance, referring to the infamous COINTELPRO program initiated by the US government to keep tabs on activists during the 50s and 60s. It is unknown if this interpretation is Gleason's original intent, but the eerie quality of the lyrics and the arrangement adds an eerie and haunting implication to the song.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got my eyes on you,
I'm closely watching you and paying attention to your actions.

So best beware where you roam.
You should be careful where you go, as I'm monitoring you closely.

I've got my eyes on you,
I'm still watching you closely.

So don't stray too far from home.
You shouldn't venture too far away from your usual, monitored locations.

Incidentally,
By the way,

I've set my spies on you,
I have people watching your every move without your knowledge.

I'm checking all you do
I'm closely examining and evaluating all of your actions.

From A to Zee,
Thoroughly and comprehensively.

So, darling, just be wise,
You should be prudent and cautious in your actions, knowing that you're being monitored.

Keep your eyes on me.
Pay attention to me and my expectations, as I am the one in control of this situation.

Incidentally,
By the way,

I've set my spies on you,
Again, I am making sure I know everything you're doing.

I'm checking all you do
Continuing to thoroughly examine all of your actions.

From A to Zee,
From top to bottom, in every aspect of your life.

So, darling, just be wise,
Once more, be smart in your actions with the knowledge that you're being watched closely.

If you're wise,
If you are intelligent and prudent,

Keep your eyes on me.
You should focus on me and my expectations, as I am the one you should be concerned with pleasing.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLE PORTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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