West's second and third studio albums, Late Registration (2005) and Graduation (2007), both debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, with the latter becoming his most commercially successful to date. Three of his subsequent albums—808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), and The Life of Pablo (2016)—were certified triple platinum, while Yeezus (2013) was certified double platinum. Although not as well-received critically as his previous works, Ye (2018), Jesus Is King (2019), and Donda (2021) continued West's streak of consecutive number-one debuts on the Billboard 200. West has also released collaborative albums including Watch the Throne (2011) with Jay-Z, Kids See Ghosts (2018) with Kid Cudi, and Vultures 1 and Vultures 2 (2024) with Ty Dolla Sign. In fashion design, he has collaborated with Nike, Inc., Louis Vuitton, and Gap Inc. on clothing and footwear, and led the Yeezy collaboration with Adidas.
One of the world's best-selling music artists with 160 million records sold, West has won 24 Grammy Awards, the joint 11th-most of all time and the most awarded for any hip hop artist along with Jay-Z. His other accolades include a Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist, and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. West holds the joint record with Bob Dylan for most albums (four) topping the annual Pazz & Jop critic poll. Time named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015. West's first six solo albums were included on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list in 2020, with the same publication naming him one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
West's outspoken views have received significant media coverage. He has been a frequent source of controversy due to his conduct on social media, at award shows, and in public settings, as well as his comments on the music and fashion industries, U.S. politics, race, and slavery. His Christian faith, high-profile marriage to Kim Kardashian, and mental health have also been topics of media attention. In 2020, West launched an unsuccessful independent presidential campaign that advocated for a consistent life ethic. In October 2022, he was widely condemned and lost many sponsors and partnerships, including his collaborations with Adidas, Gap, and Balenciaga, after making a series of antisemitic statements, including denying the Holocaust.
Eyes Closed
Kanye West Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I?m about to hit the ground
[Kanye West - Verse 1]
I sold my soul to the devil thats a crappy deal
Least it came with a few toys like a happy meal
Cause they love you then they hate you then they love you again
Get away from me misery
Get away from me lonliness
Get away from me fake bitches, I can?t take the phoniness
Get away from me wack tracks
I can only make only hits
I?m an only child lost in the World
Where did the lonely kids go when the bell ring
Its Feeling like hell rings
Bringing me back down
Checking my background
Its ironic whats happening
Imagine if I didn?t have the ends
I would?nt have so many imaginary friends
I?m spaced out Dog, I be on that Moon talk
Wonder if God ask Mike how to moon walk
I swear to momma wish me and my father talk more
I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophmore
I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
And we ain?t finna change, so we?ll never agree again
Till then I?ll be pouring out my soul
Just a few things I see with my eyes closed
[Chorus]
And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
Feeling like my life froze
I?m about to hit the ground
[Kanye West - Verse 2]
I sold my soul to the devil,
I know its a crappy deal,
At least it came with a few toys,
Like a Happy Meal,
I?m spaced out dog,
I be on that moontalk,
I wonder if God asked Mike how to Moonwalk?
You know the entertainment Angels
Adriana for Giselle,
Lets exchange Angels
Photoshoot at my crib,
Lets exchange angles
Rockin nothin but them Tom Benz bangles,
I?m so anxious I?m gettin anxiety
Begging one of these f-ckin fashion houses to hire me,
They say I?ve been an asshole,
I said if you acquire me,
I can be a quiet me, call it verbal dieting
Give me your herbal chai tea
I?ll be calm as Tai Chi
With a bad white bitch like Ice-T
I?m not right dog, I?m slightly off,
I?m Paranoid Like bonin? Raw dog
And wakin up with a slight cough
Yea, that?ll make ya dick quite soft
Plus my neck hurt too lemme take all this ice off
Never meant to hurt you, I should?ve had nights off
But it cost too much to live and I never took the price off
[Chorus]
In the song "Eyes Closed" by Kanye West featuring John Legend, the singer speaks about the struggles that come with fame and success. He refers to feeling as though he's sold his soul to the devil, indicating that he's made some questionable decisions in order to achieve success. Despite this success, he feels lonely and disconnected from those around him, as he's surrounded by fake people and constantly chasing the next big thing. He paints a picture of feeling lost and vulnerable, as though his life is frozen and he's about to hit rock bottom. However, amidst these struggles, he admits to experiencing moments of clarity where he can see things more clearly with his eyes closed.
The chorus of the song is a reflection of this feeling - even with his eyes closed, he feels as though he can see what's coming next. He's aware of the risks he's taking and the difficult path he's chosen, but he's determined to keep going. The verses provide a deeper look into his thought process and personal experiences, touching on themes like family issues, anxiety, and the pressure to maintain an image. At the core of the song is a sense of uncertainty and vulnerability, as the singer acknowledges the highs and lows of his journey and grapples with the toll they're taking on him emotionally.
Overall, "Eyes Closed" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the complexities of fame and success. It sheds light on the struggles that come with achieving one's dreams, reminding listeners that even those who seem to have it all can still feel lost and unsure of themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
And I can see it with my eyes closed, now
I can envision my life and its struggles without needing to physically see them.
Feeling like my life froze
I feel like my life is at a standstill and I am unable to move forward or progress.
I’m about to hit the ground
I am nearing rock bottom and am close to suffering a great loss or failure.
I sold my soul to the devil thats a crappy deal
I made a poor decision by sacrificing my morals and values in exchange for fleeting worldly pleasures and success.
Least it came with a few toys like a happy meal
Despite the negative consequences of selling my soul, I did receive some temporary benefits and material possessions as a result.
Get away from me misery
I do not want to be burdened by sadness and despair any longer and desire to distance myself from those feelings.
Get away from me loneliness
I am tired of feeling isolated and craving human connection and company.
Get away from me fake bitches, I can’t take the phoniness
I am fed up with people who pretend to be genuine and authentic but are actually superficial and insincere.
Get away from me wack tracks
I will not settle for mediocre or subpar music and will only release songs that meet my high standards and expectations.
I can only make only hits
I am confident in my ability to create only successful and popular music that resonates with others.
I’m an only child lost in the World
I feel alone and directionless in the world and long for guidance and companionship.
Where did the lonely kids go when the bell ring
I wonder where the people who feel lost and alone turn to for comfort and support when they are surrounded by others who seem to have it all together.
Its Feeling like hell rings
My life feels like a constant cycle of pain and suffering, with no end in sight.
Bringing me back down
My struggles and challenges are weighing me down and causing me to lose hope and motivation.
Checking my background
I am reevaluating my past experiences and decisions to try and understand how I ended up in this current situation.
Its ironic whats happening
There is a sense of irony in my current circumstances, as I may have contributed to my struggles and difficult situation through my choices and actions.
Imagine if I didn’t have the ends
If I did not have the financial resources and success that I currently have, my struggles and problems would be even more challenging to overcome.
I wouldnt have so many imaginary friends
Without my current level of success and fame, I would not have the same social connections and relationships that I do now.
I’m spaced out Dog, I be on that Moon talk
I sometimes feel disconnected from reality and engage in strange or nonsensical behavior and conversations.
Wonder if God ask Mike how to moon walk
I am curious about whether even divine beings find value in entertainment and popular culture, such as the dance move known as the moonwalk.
I swear to momma wish me and my father talk more
I regret not having a closer relationship with my father and wish we had more opportunities to communicate and build a stronger bond.
I stopped visiting around the time I was a sophmore
I did not spend much time with my father after reaching a certain age, likely due to personal differences and conflicts that arose between us.
I guess everything I hate about me I see in him
I recognize that some of my negative qualities and flaws may have been inherited or influenced by my father's behavior and attitudes.
And we ain’t finna change, so we’ll never agree again
My father and I are unlikely to resolve our differences and reach a place of mutual understanding and agreement.
Till then I’ll be pouring out my soul
For the time being, I will continue to express my emotions and thoughts through my music and art, using it as an outlet for my struggles and experiences.
Just a few things I see with my eyes closed
There are certain aspects of my life that have become clear to me even when I choose to close my eyes and ignore the world around me.
Contributed by Jordyn N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
LeonX
only real ones know this was originally meant to be on Good ass job
-Kenjo -
This beep sound that actually ended up in the opening 808 & heartbreak track... 😢 made me feel like i touched the alternative reality with different kanye and where good ass job was released
Bliss Drive
This was me and my dads song and he’s gone I miss him soo much
First name Last name
Hang in there just happened to me also this song is bomb your dad has a good taste in music
frezzafree410
Still my shit
Shetu Haufiku
God!!! I love Kanye
Ben Milli
Fuck me!!! Snoop actually showed some lyrical brass there!!! I thought he got lazy as of late
Rusty D
How about now?
Wa non Bondye
@Rusty D lol
Malik Mason
We must reject Satan’s offer of temporal riches and fame and refuse to willfully surrender or ‘sell our souls’ to him. Jesus said Satan is the father of lies and a murderer (John 8:44). Most who willfully sell their souls to Satan get absolutely nothing from him and simply end up being destroyed and sent to hell.