Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures—such as her ordination as a priest despite being a woman with a Roman Catholic background—and her strongly expressed views on organised religion, women's rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her ten solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Since converting to Islam in 2018 she has changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
In December 2019 she gave her first UK concert in five years at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
On 26 July 2023, O'Connor's family issued a statement that she had died at the age of 56, without indicating the date or cause.
In the statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The acclaimed Dublin performer released 10 studio albums, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
Where Have You Been?
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're making love?
What does it mean when a man's eyes turn black?
Tell me 'cause I never seen something quite scared me like that
I saw darkness where I should have seen light
And it wasn't the beautiful darkness of night
But a thing of a kind that would cause a fright
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
What do they want with me?
What do they want with me?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Same as it means when a prince's eyes turn white
Sitting by his door in the midnight
Tin-foil on his windows 'cause he can't take light
And it wasn't the beautiful wisdom of light
But a white of a kind that would give you a fright
Color all gone, no iris in sight
I saw darkness where I should have seen light
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
What do they want with me?
What do they want with me?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Same when the friend of the prince spikes your smoke
Hoping to make you a mess and a joke
But you never were his, you never were his
No matter what he did
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
What do they want with me?
What do they want with me?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Where have you been?
Where have you been?
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
What do they want with me?
What do they want with me?
The lyrics to Sinead O'Connor's song "Where Have You Been?" appear to be about someone who has encountered frightening experiences with men and their eyes. The first verse asks what it means when a man's eyes turn black during intimacy, and expresses the feeling of being scared by this occurrence. The next verse describes seeing darkness where there should be light, and not the beautiful darkness of night. This darkness is revealed to be manifesting in the men's eyes it seems -- a sight that is scary and inexplicable.
The next verse expands on this theme, mentioning a prince whose eyes turn white and who covers his windows with tin-foil because he cannot take the light. This is a different manifestation of darkness, and it is likewise frightening, bizarre and a thing to be avoided. The final verse alludes to a friend who spiked someone's smoke with a sinister intention, but the victim never belonged to him and cannot be controlled, no matter what he does. The repeated refrain asks "Where have you been?" which could indicate a search for safety or escape from these dark, scary experiences.
All in all, the lyrics are deeply atmospheric and eerie, capturing a sense of unease and the feeling of being at the mercy of unpredictable, threatening individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
What does it mean when a man's eyes turn black
Questioning the significance of a man's eyes turning black during sex
When you're making love?
Clarifying the timing of the black eyes
What does it mean when a man's eyes turn black?
Reiteration of the initial question
Tell me 'cause I never seen something quite scared me like that
Expressing fear and a desire for understanding
I saw darkness where I should have seen light
Describing a disturbing experience of seeing darkness instead of light
And it wasn't the beautiful darkness of night
Emphasizing the negative aspect of the darkness
But a thing of a kind that would cause a fright
Further elaborating on the fear-inducing nature of the darkness
Where have you been?
Questioning the whereabouts of the subject of the song
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Commenting on the subject's frightening eyes
What do they want with me?
Expressing confusion about why the subject is behaving this way
Same as it means when a prince's eyes turn white
Drawing a comparison between black eyes and white eyes in a different context
Sitting by his door in the midnight
Describing the situation where a prince's eyes turn white
Tin-foil on his windows 'cause he can't take light
Further describing the situation that causes the prince's eyes to turn white
And it wasn't the beautiful wisdom of light
Emphasizing the negative aspect of the white eyes
But a white of a kind that would give you a fright
Further elaborating on the fear-inducing nature of the white eyes
Colour all gone, no iris in sight
Describing the appearance of the white eyes
Same when the friend of the prince spikes your smoke
Drawing another comparison between the black and white eyes in a different context
Hoping to make you a mess and a joke
Describing the malicious intent of the friend
But you never were his, you never were his
Asserting that the friend had no ownership over the subject
Where have you been?
Reiteration of the initial question
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Repetition of the comment on the subject's frightening eyes
What do they want with me?
Reiteration of the confusion about the subject's behavior
Where have you been?
Reiteration of the question about the subject's whereabouts
Eyes more frightening I've never seen
Final comment on the subject's frightening eyes
What do they want with me?
Final reiteration of the confusion about the subject's behavior
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN CHARLES REYNOLDS, SINEAD MARIE BERNARDE O'CONNOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
K. Maczák
on Troy
The song is about her abusive mother, who locked her out of the house, and she sitting in the long grass in summer keeping warm , while her mother turned off the light inside the house , and she screamed . etc.