Robert Glasper was raised in Houston, Texas. His mother was his first and s… Read Full Bio ↴Robert Glasper was raised in Houston, Texas. His mother was his first and strongest musical influence. Mrs. Glasper not only played piano and sang gospel music in the family's church, she led a band that worked the city's jazz and blues club circuit as well. By the age of twelve, young Robert was playing piano in that church. "Gospel music is built on emotion and spirituality; you go to church and leave crying," he smiles. "It definitely just gave me that sensitivity and knowing how to reach people and knowing how to be in tune with your feelings and the emotion of the music. My thing is, it helps me relate to the audience 'cause they're gonna give you what you give them. When you bring the crowd into your world, you can do anything you want."

By the time he reached adolescence, Robert knew his destiny was to be a jazz musician. He was accepted to the Houston's famed High School for the Performing Arts ("Jason Moran went there before me."). Post-graduation, Glasper enrolled at New School University in Manhattan. Soon after arrival, he hooked up with future bandmember Reid and vocalist Bilal, an old schoolmate. As an undergrad, Glasper gigged with Christian McBride, Russell Malone and Kenny Garrett. Professional life after the New School was even sweeter: stints with Nicholas Payton, Roy Hargrove, Terence Blanchard, Carmen Lundy, and Carly Simon.

The Bilal connection brought the pianist back to hip-hop. Glasper's contributions to Bilal's debut and subsequent tour brought him to the attention of Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest). "Tip would come hang out at my shows, and one day he called me and said, ‘I'm doing this tour and I need you to play keys. Can you do it?’” He's also since played with Mos Def, and is featured prominently on Bilal's forthcoming sophomore release.

In 2003, Glasper's first album Mood was released on indie label Fresh Sound New Talent, and two years later, Blue Note came calling. At Blue Note, Glasper joins a jazz piano legacy that stretches back to 1939, beginning with Albert Ammons and Meade Lux Lewis, and continuing through Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Herbie Hancock, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Andrew Hill, Cecil Taylor, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Jacky Terrasson, Jason Moran and Bill Charlap. Undaunted, Glasper reflects, “I’m just happy to be a part of the Blue Note family and its rich history.”

-- From Glasper's Official Website

Don't Close Your Eyes
Robert Glasper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't close your eyes.
Until you see what i'm feeling.
Don't let me slip from memory.
Please don't close your eyes.
I don't know what i'm doing.
Don't let me slip from memory.

Please don't close your eyes.

Don't know what i would do if it follows you.
I don't know what im doing.
Don't let me slip from memory.
Memory.

Please don't close your eyes.
Don't let me slip from memory's.
Please don't close your eyes... baby.
Don't let me slip from memory.
Don't close your eyes, i don't know what im doing.
Just don't let me slip from memory's.
Please .

Dont close ur eyes.
Until you see what im feeling.
Don't let me slip from memory's.

Please don't close your eyes.
Don't let me slip from memory's.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Robert Glasper's "Don't Close Your Eyes" reflect the fear of losing someone. The singer is begging the person they are talking to not to close their eyes until they see what they are feeling. They are afraid of being forgotten and slipping from memory, which shows the internal struggle the singer is going through. Despite not knowing what they are doing, closing their eyes will only make things worse, so they are imploring the other person to keep their eyes open and pay attention.

The repetition of "don't let me slip from memory" emphasizes the importance of being remembered and not forgotten. The singer is asking the other person to help them feel loved and validated in the relationship by keeping them in their thoughts. The words "just don't let me slip from memory" show how important the other person is to the singer and how much they value their relationship.

Overall, the song conveys a sense of vulnerability and fear of being abandoned or forgotten by someone the singer loves deeply. It highlights how important it is to be mindful of the impact our actions can have on others and how critical it is to communicate our feelings and needs in a relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't close your eyes.
Please don't shut yourself off from what I'm about to share with you.

Until you see what I'm feeling.
Remain open and attentive until I am able to express myself truthfully and honestly.

Don't let me slip from memory.
I need to be remembered and constantly thought about.

Please don't close your eyes.
I need you to stay present and focused on me and what I'm saying.

I don't know what I'm doing.
I am feeling lost and unsure about my current situation.

Don't let me slip from memory.
It is critical that I am not forgotten in the midst of all the other distractions in life.

Don't know what I would do if it follows you.
I am afraid of what would happen if you were to leave me and the impact it would have on my life.

Memory.
I am consumed with thoughts of our past and the memories we have shared.

Don't close your eyes, I don't know what I'm doing.
It's important that you stay connected to me as I navigate this uncertain and confusing time.

Just don't let me slip from memory's.
I am pleading with you to continue to hold onto our shared experiences and the moments that have brought us together.

Please.
I am begging you to help me hold onto our connection and the memories we have created.

Contributed by Gavin T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS