"Tunnel Vision" received generally positive reviews from music critics, most of whom praised Timbaland's production, and it was cited as The 20/20 Experience's highlight. After the album's release, the song charted in South Korea and the United States because of high digital sales. It debuted on the singles chart in South Korea at number 27, selling 6,670 digital copies in its first week. "Tunnel Vision" peaked at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and number eight on the UK R&B Singles Chart.
Tunnel Vision
Justin Timberlake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know why, but girl, I'm feeling close to you
Maybe is this ocean view, I'm so emotional
And all these stars been dancing on my head
Too long, too long, too long
I wrote a song for you, I wanna sing to you
But every time I'm close to you
It's so strong, it's so strong, it's so strong
Didn't I seem like I'm catching something
That's because it's true
I can't deny it, I won't try it
But I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful
Cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it, and I stand by you
And I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
Now that I know the truth, what am I suppose to do?
Changing up and breaking all my rules ever since we met
I'm so gone, I'm so gone, I'm so gone
Just like the movie shoot, I'm zooming in on you
Everything is extra in the background, just fades into the set
As we ride off in the sun
Didn't I seem like I'm catching something
That's because it's true
I can't deny it, I won't try it
But I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful
Cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it, and I stand by you
And I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
Zoom, zoom, zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom
In on you, in, in on you
I only see you
Zoom, zoom, zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom
In on you, in, in on you
I only see you!
I know you like it
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I know you like it
I only see you
In "Tunnel Vision," Justin Timberlake sings about being deeply and irrevocably infatuated with someone, to the point where he can only see them and nothing else in a crowded room or even in his mind's eye. The lyrics describe a sense of emotional closeness and tunnel vision that make all other distractions fall away. Timberlake's voice is soft and almost reverent throughout the track, lending a sense of intimacy to the confessional nature of the lyrics. He sings about the power of that emotional connection, and the way it takes over every aspect of his life. The chorus is an iteration of how he cannot stop thinking about this person, and his desire to be with her is all-consuming. He claims it's "tunnel vision," highlighting the strength of his focus and desire for this person.
The verses describe moments where Timberlake forgets what he wants to say to the object of his affection, and how everything becomes unimportant and fades away when they're together. He talks about a beautiful view, but it's clear that what he's really talking about is how everything becomes beautiful when this person is around. The line "all I see is you" is repeated several times throughout the song, cementing the idea that Timberlake is fixated on this person to the point where they are the only thing that matters. The song is a testament to the way that love can take over every aspect of someone's life, and how it can be impossible to resist when that connection is this strong.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you like it
Acknowledges that the subject enjoys the attention given to them
Don't know why, but girl, I'm feeling close to you
Despite not understanding the reason for the closeness, the subject is emotionally drawn to the girl
Maybe is this ocean view, I'm so emotional
The ocean view adds to the emotional draw of the girl
And all these stars been dancing on my head
The subject is feeling starry-eyed and overwhelmed with emotion
Too long, too long, too long
The duration of the emotional buildup has been extensive
I wrote a song for you, I wanna sing to you
The subject has written a romantic song to express their feelings
But every time I'm close to you
The subject struggles to express their emotions in her presence
The words wanna come out, but I forget
The subject becomes overwhelmed and cannot articulate their emotions in the moment
It's so strong, it's so strong, it's so strong
The emotional attraction is incredibly intense and hard to ignore
Didn't I seem like I'm catching something
The subject recognizes that their attraction to the girl is evident
That's because it's true
The attraction is genuine and not just a fleeting feeling
I can't deny it, I won't try it
The subject cannot and will not deny their feelings
But I think that you know
The subject believes the girl may also have feelings for them
I look around and everything I see is beautiful
The subject's attraction to the girl makes everything else pale in comparison
Cause all I see is you
The girl is the center of the subject's focus and attention
And I can't deny it, and I stand by you
The subject continues to be drawn to the girl and will support her
And I won't hide it anymore
The subject will no longer conceal their feelings for the girl
A crowded room anywhere
The setting is not important as the girl is the only thing that matters
A million people around all I see is you
The girl stands out in a crowded room
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
The girl has the ability to make everything else fade into the background
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
Reiterating that the setting is insignificant in comparison to the girl
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
The subject's focus is entirely on the girl
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
The focus on the girl makes everything in the background become clearer
I got that tunnel vision for you
The subject's focus is laser-focused on the girl
Zoom, zoom, zoom
Reiterating the intensity of the tunnel vision
In on you, in, in on you
The subject's focus is entirely on the girl
Now that I know the truth, what am I supposed to do?
The subject is acknowledging their feelings and is unsure of how to proceed
Changing up and breaking all my rules ever since we met
The girl has had a significant impact on the subject's life and has changed them in unexpected ways
I'm so gone, I'm so gone, I'm so gone
The emotional attraction has taken over the subject
Just like the movie shoot, I'm zooming in on you
The subject compares their focus on the girl to a camera zooming in on a movie set
Everything is extra in the background, just fades into the set
The girl is the only thing that matters and everything else becomes irrelevant
As we ride off in the sun
The subject envisions a future with the girl
I only see you
Reiterating the intensity of the subject's attraction and focus on the girl
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Anthem Entertainment, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Chris Godbey, Justin Timberlake, Timothy Mosely, Garland Mosely, James Fauntleroy, Jerome Harmon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sanjanicole
Don't know why, but girl, I'm feeling close to you
Maybe is this ocean view, I'm so emotional
And all these stars been dancing on my head
Too long, too long, too long
I wrote a song for you, I wanna sing to you
But every time I'm close to you
The words wanna come out, but I forget
It's so strong, it's so strong, it's so strong
Didn't I seem like I'm catching something
That's because it's true
I can't deny it, I won't try it
But I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful
Cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it, and I stand by you
And I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
Now that I know the truth, what am I suppose to do?
Changing up and breaking all my rules ever since we met
I'm so gone, I'm so gone, I'm so gone
Just like the movie shoot, I'm zooming in on you
Everything is extra in the background, just fades into the set
As we ride off in the sun
Didn't I seem like I'm catching something
That's because it's true
I can't deny it, I won't try it
But I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful
Cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it, and I stand by you
And I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
Zoom, zoom, zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom
In on you, in, in on you
I only see you
Zoom, zoom, zoom
Zoom, zoom, zoom
In on you, in, in on you
I only see you!
I know you like it
A crowded room anywhere
A million people around all I see is you
And everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got, I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision
I only see you
I know you like it
I only see you
@TheJesterBlue
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
Don't know why but girl
I'm feeling close to you, maybe it's this ocean view
I'm so emotional, and all these stars been dancing on my head
Too long, too long, too long
I wrote a song for you, I wanna sing to you
But every time I'm close to you, the words wanna come out, but I forget
It's so strong, it's so strong, it's so strong
It might seem like I'm catching something. That's because it's true
I can't deny it, and I won't try it but I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful 'cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it and I stand by it, and I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere, a million people around, all I see is you there
Everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, becomes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you
Now that I know the truth, what am I supposed to do?
Changing up and breaking all my rules ever since we met
I'm so gone, I'm so gone, I'm so gone
Just like a movie shoot, I'm zooming in on you
Everything is extra, and the background just fades into the set
As we ride off into the sun
It might seem like I'm catching something. That's because it's true
I can't deny it, and I won't try it but I think that you know
I look around and everything I see is beautiful 'cause all I see is you
And I can't deny it and I stand by it, and I won't hide it anymore
A crowded room anywhere, a million people around, all I see is you there
Everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, becomes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you
Zoom zoom zoom....
Zoom zoom zoom, in on you, in on you.
I only see you, yeah!
Zoom zoom zoom....
Zoom zoom zoom, in on you, in on you.
I only see you, yeah!
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
A crowded room anywhere, a million people around, all I see is you there
Everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears
Yeah, a million people in a crowded room
But my camera lenses only been set to zoom
And it all becomes so clear, becomes so clear, becomes so clear
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision for you
I got that tunnel vision, I only see you, yeah
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I only see you, yeah
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I know you like it, I know you like it
I only see you, yeah
@lilinectar4045
Definitely one of the best songs of the 20/20 album !!
@acyoliver2985
this song takes me somewhere else makes me feel alive
@geargrinder69
Exactly what every song should be and do
@haleybobo7799
+Kess genre Yea
@r3m221
it has been my long time favorite
@Squeakymoniquey
That's Timbaland for ya, such a talented producer. He has such an individual sound
@DIYsober
357 people are dead inside
@mansmartinson1877
This beat is going to the hall of fame
@MM-vs2et
I remember this played on the radio during my trip in Australia 5 years ago. It stuck on my head for a year, until 2 weeks ago when I heard it again, and it took me back 5 years. And I've finally found it
@JoeMacStevens
Best song from both albums