Figgis was born in Carlisle and grew up in Africa. His early interest was in music and he played keyboards for Bryan Ferry's first band. After working in theatre (he was a musician and performer in the experimental group The People Show) he made his feature film debut with the low budget Stormy Monday in 1988. The film earned him attention as a Director who could get interesting performances from established Hollywood actors. He initially made a splash in America in the 1990s with the gritty thriller Internal Affairs that helped to revive the career of Richard Gere. His next Hollywood feature Mr. Jones was misunderstood by the studio who attempted to market the downbeat story as a feelgood movie resulting in a box office flop. Figgis poured his disenchantment with the film industry into Leaving Las Vegas, creating star turns for Nicholas Cage and Elisabeth Shue which earned Figgis Academy Award nominations for Best Directing and Best Screenplay.
Angel Eyes
Mike Figgis Lyrics
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That the world's gone and left you behind
Have you ever had the feeling
That you're that close to losing your mind
You look around each corner
Hoping that she's there
You try to play it cool perhaps
But it doesn't do a bit of good
You got to seek till you find
Are you never unwind
Try to think
That love is not around
Still it's uncomfortably near
My old heart
Ain't gaining no ground
Because my angel eyes ain't here
Angel eyes
That old devil sent
They glow unbearably bright
Need I say
That my love's misspent
Misspent with angel eyes tonight
So drink up all you people
Order anything you see
Have fun you happy people
The drink and the laugh's on me
Pardon me
But I gotta run
The fact's uncomfortably clear
Gotta find
Who's now number one
And why my angel eyes ain't here
Tell me why my angel eyes ain't here
Excusez moi my angel eyes ain't here
Excuse me while I disappear
The song Angel Eyes by Mike Figgis is about the love and heartache that one experiences when they lose a loved one or are separated from them. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and heartbreak, as the singer is left alone and feels abandoned in a world that has forgotten them. The repeated refrain of "angel eyes" refers to the beauty and radiance of the loved one who has left, and the singer's inability to forget them.
The lyrics are evocative and poignant, expressing the singer's longing and yearning for their lost love. They are in denial and trying to convince themselves that love is not around, but the truth is that their heart is still very much invested in their lost love. The first two stanzas speak to the desperate search for the lost love, with the singer turning every corner and hoping to see their love there. The third stanza speaks to the futility of pretending, and how seeking is the only way to move forward from such heartbreak.
The final stanza references drinking and partying as a way to cope with the pain of loss, but it is clear that the singer is not truly happy without their love. The last line states that the singer has to find out why their angel eyes ain't here, conveying the sense of emptiness and loss they are experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever had the feeling
Have you ever experienced the sensation
That the world's gone and left you behind
That the world has progressed and you are stuck behind
You look around each corner
You carefully inspect each turn
Hoping that she's there
Expecting that she would be present
You try to play it cool perhaps
You attempt to act normal to cover your true feelings
Pretend that you don't care
Act like you have no interest
But it doesn't do a bit of good
But that strategy is ineffective
You got to seek till you find
You must keep searching until you locate
Are you never unwind
Will you ever relax
Try to think
Attempt to consider
That love is not around
There is no love nearby
Still it's uncomfortably near
However, it's close by and making you uneasy
My old heart
My familiar heart
Ain't gaining no ground
Is not making any progress
Because my angel eyes ain't here
Due to the absence of my beloved partner's alluring eyes
Angel eyes
Radiant eyes
That old devil sent
The devilish charm that they possess
They glow unbearably bright
They shine in an exceedingly intense manner
Need I say
It's needless to mention
That my love's misspent
That my love had been poorly designated
Misspent with angel eyes tonight
Wasted over the mesmerizing eyes tonight
So drink up all you people
Therefore, everyone drinks up
Order anything you see
Order anything that catches your eye
Have fun you happy people
Enjoy yourselves, joyful individuals
The drink and the laugh's on me
I'm paying for the drinks and the laughter
Pardon me
Erase my rudeness
But I gotta run
However, I have to leave immediately
The fact's uncomfortably clear
An unpleasant reality presents itself
Gotta find
I need to locate
Who's now number one
Who has replaced me as first in importance
And why my angel eyes ain't here
And the reason behind the absence of my captivating beloved partner's eyes
Tell me why my angel eyes ain't here
Explain to me the cause of the missing allure in my partner
Excusez moi my angel eyes ain't here
Pardon, but my beloved's alluring eyes are not present
Excuse me while I disappear
Forgive me while I hide away
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Frederick G. Koller, John Hiatt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind