She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester then appeared on the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, who took her on as a backup singer in 1971.
Her debut album, Home to Myself, was released in 1973; Manchester co-wrote many of its songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Two years later Manchester's album Melissa produced her first top ten hit, "Midnight Blue". Manchester collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write Loggin's 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend". At this time, she guest-starred on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow to teach a main character, who was a singer-songwriter, the essentials of the craft. In 1979 Manchester made the top ten with her version of Peter Allen's "Don't Cry Out Loud", for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance.
In 1980 Manchester became the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for an Academy Award—"Through The Eyes Of Love" from the film Ice Castles and "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the film The Promise'.
Two years later she had her biggest hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You", which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. It was her last Top 40 Pop hit, but Manchester did well on the Adult Contemporary charts the rest of the 1980s. Her most recent big Adult Contemporary hit was a 1989 updating of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By".
Through the 1980s and 1990s Manchester alternated recording with acting, appearing with Bette Midler in the film For the Boys and on the television series Blossom.
Melissa also wrote and starred in the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love based on the Bernice Rubens novel of the same name.
In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years: When I Look Down That Road.
Through the Eyes of Love
Melissa Manchester Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's everything I am
Everything I want to be
I can see what's mine now
Finding out what's true since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
Now, I can take the time
As it comes up shining now
Reaching out to touch you
I can feel so much since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
And now I do believe
That even in a storm
We'll find some light
Knowing you're beside me
I'm all right
Please, don't let this feeling end
It might not come again
And I want to remember
How it feels to touch you
How I feel so much since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
And now I do believe
That even in a storm
We'll find some light
Knowing you're beside me
I'm all right
Now, I can take the time
I can see my life
As it comes up shining now
Reaching out to touch you
I can feel so much since I found you
Looking through the eyes of love
The song "Through The Eyes Of Love" by Melissa Manchester is a beautiful ode to the power of love. The lyrics speak of how the love of another person has transformed the singer's life and outlook, and how seeing things through the eyes of love has allowed her to appreciate the beauty and wonder of everything around her.
The opening lines of the song plead with the love interest to not let the feeling end, as it is everything the singer is and wants to be. The love has given her a new perspective on life, allowing her to finally see what is truly important and what truly belongs to her. The singer expresses gratitude for having found love and being able to see everything through the lens of love, which has allowed her to feel so much more fully and deeply than ever before.
The chorus of the song is particularly powerful, as it speaks of the enduring nature of love and the faith that even in the darkest of times, there will always be some light to guide the way. The singer acknowledges the role that the love interest has played in making her feel safe and protected, and how knowing they are by her side makes everything more bearable. The song ends with a plea to not let this feeling end, as the singer wants to remember how it feels to touch and be touched by the one she loves, and how she feels so much more alive since finding love.
Line by Line Meaning
Please, don't let this feeling end
I don't want this wonderful feeling to go away
It's everything I am
This feeling is a crucial part of who I truly am
Everything I want to be
This feeling helps me become the person I aspire to be
I can see what's mine now
This feeling allows me to see what is truly important to me in life
Finding out what's true since I found you
I have discovered what is genuine and authentic in life ever since I met you
Looking through the eyes of love
Through the lens of love, I see the world in a more beautiful and compassionate way
Now, I can take the time
I can now slow down and appreciate each moment
I can see my life
I have gained a better perspective on my own existence
As it comes up shining now
I now see the brightness and positivity in my life
Reaching out to touch you
I want to connect with you on a deeper level
I can feel so much since I found you
My emotions have become more intense and meaningful since I met you
And now I do believe
I have faith that everything will be okay
That even in a storm
Even during tough times
We'll find some light
There is hope and positivity even in the darkest of situations
Knowing you're beside me
Feeling your presence brings me comfort and strength
I'm all right
I am okay and can handle anything with you by my side
It might not come again
This feeling may be fleeting and I don't want to lose it
And I want to remember
I want to cherish and hold onto this feeling forever
How it feels to touch you
I want to remember the physical and emotional sensations of being close to you
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole Sager, Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind