She now resides in Monaco and has recently sold her London apartment. Many of its furnishings were auctioned for charity. Two very popular 'Audiences With Shirley Bassey' have aired on British TV, the most recent being in March 2006.
In 2006, UK retailer Marks and Spencer hired Bassey for their Christmas advertising campaign, with Dame Shirley singing a cover of P!nk's 'Get the Party Started'.
In late 2009 Bassey released 'The Performance' her first studio album for two decades, which was released in a maelstrom of anticipation. Still popular well into one of the longest and most illustrious musical careers in British and indeed international history, Bassey is considered by Brits to be a national treasure.
Angel Eyes
Shirley Bassey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still it's uncomfortably near
My own heart ain't gainin' 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 mis-spent
So drink up, drink up all you people
And 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 uncommonly clear
I gotta find who's now number one
And why my Angel Eyes ain't here.
I gotta find who's now the number one
And why my Angel Eyes ain't here.
`Scuse me while I disappear.
Shirley Bassey's song Angel Eyes is a heartbreaking tale of unrequited love. The song is about someone who is desperately trying to move on from a past relationship, but finds it difficult because they still feel the presence of their former lover everywhere they go. The lyrics suggest that even though this person is trying to forget about their ex-lover, they are still haunted by their memory, and they can't help but feel the pain of their absence. They are unable to move on with their life, as their heart is still stuck in the past.
The lyrics are full of metaphors, such as "Angel Eyes that old devil sent", which suggests that the person who has broken the singer's heart was so beautiful and charming that they could only have been sent by the devil himself. The line "They glow unbearably bright" portrays the person as being so luminous that they are almost blinding. The chorus "And why my Angel Eyes ain't here" repeatedly emphasizes the singer's despair and sadness over their lost love.
The second half of the song is about the singer trying to numb their pain by drinking and socializing with other people. However, even in the midst of all the festivities, they are still overwhelmed by their thoughts of their ex-lover. The last line "`Scuse me while I disappear" suggests the singer is unable to cope any longer and is ready to leave the party and disappear from sight.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to think that love's not around
I try to convince myself that I can live without love.
Still it's uncomfortably near
But love's absence is too painful for me to bear.
My own heart ain't gainin' no ground
Despite my efforts, my heart is still in love with someone who's not here.
Because my Angel Eyes ain't here
My heart is aching because the person I love (my angel eyes) is not present.
Angel Eyes that old devil sent
My love for this person is so consuming that it feels like a curse or temptation (sent by the devil).
They glow unbearably bright
Their beauty and allure is overpowering and impossible to resist.
Need I say that my love's mis-spent
I know that loving this person who is not here is a foolish and wasted effort.
Mis-spent with Angel Eyes tonight
Yet, I cannot help but continue to love this person, even if it causes me pain.
So drink up, drink up all you people
I am trying to distract myself with alcohol and encourage others to join me.
And order anything you see
I want us to have a good time and indulge in whatever we desire.
Have fun you happy people
I want everyone to enjoy themselves and feel joy, despite my own sadness.
The drink, and the laugh's, on me
I am willing to pay for the good time in hopes of escaping my own sorrow.
Pardon me, but I gotta run
However, I realize that I cannot continue to ignore my pain and must leave to deal with it.
The fact's uncommonly clear
It is obvious to me that I cannot go on like this and must take action.
I gotta find who's now number one
I need to discover why I cannot move on and who or what is keeping me stuck.
And why my Angel Eyes ain't here.
I need to understand why the person I love is not here with me and how I can let go of them.
`Scuse me while I disappear.
I must leave now to confront my feelings and figure out how to move forward without my angel eyes.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ANTHONY BARRO, RUSSELL DIXON, JOEL N FAVIERE, ASHLEY HITTESDORF, JAKE JONES, NICHOLAS OROZCO, ERIK N RON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind