Beautiful Eyes
Read Southall Band Lyrics


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Tell me darlin′ how your evening's been
Did it feel as long as mine?
Whether you′re downtown and you're drinkin' on Washington
Or laid down with a glass of wine

Well, I haven′t seen you in forever

Don′t you know it's been a little while?
Now, you′re in your church pew pageant again
Wearin' that same old artificial smile

You always had your damn sunglasses on
To cover up your honest eyes
They were the one true thing
That revealed your pain
They exposed you from your lies
You got them beautiful eyes

You called me one night when you are drinkin′

Ridin' ′round with so-called friends

Just go on and tell me how sorry I was
And how you've been happy ever since

But I saw you the very next day
Well it was just by heaven's chance
Got a blue tear rollin′ down your face
I guess I caught you without that same pair of Ray Bans

You always had your damn sunglasses on

To cover up your honest eyes
They were the one true thing
That revealed your pain
They exposed you from your lies
You got them beautiful eyes

You got them beautiful eyes





Tell me darlin′ how your evening's been
Did it feel as long as mine?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Beautiful Eyes by Read Southall Band tell a story of a past relationship that is filled with deception and pain. The singer is speaking to their ex-lover, asking them about their evening and reflecting on their own feelings of longing and loneliness. The song suggests that the singer and their former partner haven't seen each other in a while, implying a distance and perhaps a disconnect that has developed between them.


The mention of being downtown and drinking on Washington or enjoying a glass of wine is symbolic of the ex-lover's attempt to find solace or escape from their true emotions. The next line, "Wearin' that same old artificial smile," implies that the ex-lover is putting on a façade, pretending to be happy and content when in reality, they are masking their pain.


The repeated phrase "You always had your damn sunglasses on" highlights the ex-lover's tendency to hide their true emotions behind a disguise. The sunglasses become a metaphor for their way of concealing their pain and vulnerability. The mention of "honest eyes" suggests that the singer saw through their ex-lover's facade, recognizing the pain and lies they were trying to hide.


The final verse reveals a moment of confrontation between the singer and their ex-lover. The ex-lover had called the singer while drunk and claimed to be happy without them. However, the singer sees through this falsehood when they witness a tear rolling down their face the next day. The tear serves as evidence that the ex-lover's happiness was merely a charade. The mention of catching them without their sunglasses implies that in that vulnerable moment, their true emotions were exposed.


In summary, Beautiful Eyes tells the story of a failed relationship marred by deceit and the futile attempt to hide one's pain behind a fake smile and sunglasses.


Line by Line Meaning

Tell me darlin′ how your evening's been
Share with me, my love, the details of your evening's experience


Did it feel as long as mine?
Did it seem as though time passed slowly, just like it did for me?


Whether you′re downtown and you're drinkin' on Washington
Regardless of whether you're in the city center, sipping on drinks on Washington Street


Or laid down with a glass of wine
Or if you decided to relax, lying down, enjoying a glass of wine


Well, I haven′t seen you in forever
It's been an extremely long time since I last laid eyes on you


Don′t you know it's been a little while?
You must realize that some time has indeed passed


Now, you′re in your church pew pageant again
Now, once again, you find yourself engaging in the charade of playing a part in your church's pew


Wearin' that same old artificial smile
Sporting that familiar, insincere smile that you always put on


You always had your damn sunglasses on
You consistently wore those sunglasses of yours


To cover up your honest eyes
Using them as a shield to hide the truth reflected in your eyes


They were the one true thing
Your eyes, unlike anything else about you


That revealed your pain
Unveiling the depth of your suffering


They exposed you from your lies
Your eyes couldn't disguise the truth behind your deceit


You got them beautiful eyes
You possess eyes of remarkable beauty


You called me one night when you are drinkin′
On a certain evening, you reached out to me while under the influence


Ridin' ′round with so-called friends
Wandering around with people you claim to be your friends


Just go on and tell me how sorry I was
Proceed, continue to inform me of how deeply remorseful I should feel


And how you've been happy ever since
And how you've managed to find happiness in the time since our separation


But I saw you the very next day
However, I happened to spot you on the very next day


Well it was just by heaven's chance
Almost as if fate had orchestrated the encounter


Got a blue tear rollin′ down your face
A single teardrop, laced with sorrow, streaming down your cheek


I guess I caught you without that same pair of Ray Bans
I suppose I caught you in a moment of vulnerability, without your trustworthy Ray Bans


You got them beautiful eyes
You possess eyes of remarkable beauty


You got them beautiful eyes
You possess eyes of remarkable beauty


Tell me darlin′ how your evening's been
Share with me, my love, the details of your evening's experience


Did it feel as long as mine?
Did it seem as though time passed slowly, just like it did for me?




Writer(s): Robert Read Southall

Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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