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 Only Have Eyes For You
Jackie Gleason Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't see anyone but you
Sha bop sha bop
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
The song "I Only Have Eyes For You" is a romantic ballad that talks about the overwhelming love of the singer for someone, to the extent that they become oblivious to the surroundings just because they are with that particular person. The phrase "My love must be a kind of blind love" sets the tone for the rest of the song as the singer describes how they only can see the person they love and not the stars, the moon or anything else around them. The song is not just about being infatuated by someone, but it’s also about an unbreakable connection of two hearts that can make you forget everything around you.
The lyrics also suggest that the love between the two is so intense that they are in their own world, oblivious to the fact that thousands of people could be passing by. They are "maybe millions of people go by, but they all disappear from view", meaning that they do not matter when this couple is together. This song is not just about the person the singer loves, but shows how the love they share is so strong that everything else fades away in their presence.
Line by Line Meaning
My love must be a kind of blind love
My love for you is so intense that makes me oblivious to everyone else.
I can't see anyone but you
My attention is completely focused on you, nobody else grabs my attention.
Sha bop sha bop
N/A
Are the stars out tonight
I'm not sure about the weather or the sky, all that matters is that I am with you tonight.
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I am so caught up in my love for you that I can't concentrate on anything else, like checking the weather.
I only have eyes for you dear
My eyes and focus are solely on you, and nothing else matters in these moments.
The moon may be high
It's possible that the moon is in the sky, but I'm so into you that I can't even tell.
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I am so lost in my love for you that I don't even notice the moon or any other objects in the sky.
I only have eyes for you
Every part of me is focused on you, and you alone.
I don't know if we're in a garden
My senses are so focused on you that I am unaware of our surroundings or location.
Or on a crowded avenue
I don't notice the people around us, all that matters is that you're here with me.
You are here and so am I
I am filled with joy and amazement that you are here with me.
Maybe millions of people go by
A lot of people come and go, but you are the only one who captures my attention.
But they all disappear from view
None of the other people around us matter or stand out, because my eyes are focused only on you.
And I only have eyes for you
Everything in my world revolves around you, and nothing else comes close to mattering as much as you do.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind