Reputed to have the most talented and highly-paid musicians of the day, Spike Jones and his musicians were considerably more than simply novelty performers. Much of their performances even included theatrics and musical athletics. Spike Jones was subtley avant-garde in that he deftly combined elements and master performers of pop, dance, early jazz, blues, country and folk music with genes as distant as opera and classical.
I Only Have Eyes For You
Spike Jones Lyrics
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I can't see anyone but you
Sha bop sha bop
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you dear
But I can't see a thing in the sky
I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here and so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you
The words to Spike Jones’s “I Only Have Eyes for You” convey the depth of affection the singer feels for their object of love. The first stanza communicates the singer’s infatuation with the person they are speaking to, saying their love is “blind” to anyone else. This idea of “blind" love is reinforced in the second stanza which suggests that external factors such as the stars, the moonlight or their location do not affect the strength of their love. When they are with the person they love, the rest of the world disappears.
The singer seems to suggest that they are lost in the moment with the person they sing to. It's unclear if they are in a garden or a crowded street, but it does not matter if you are the other person to whom they sing. The last line in the song, “And I only have eyes for you,” repeats the claim that their love is singular and that this person is the only one they see. The song's message is clear - this person is the only one for them.
Line by Line Meaning
My love must be a kind of blind love
My love for you is so strong and deep that it blinds me from seeing anyone else.
I can't see anyone but you
My eyes are only fixated on you and you alone. No one else can capture my attention.
Sha bop sha bop
This is just a playful vocalization without a particular meaning.
Are the stars out tonight
I am not aware of anything else that is happening in the world right now, I am only concerned about you.
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
The current weather conditions don't matter to me, because my focus is only on you.
I only have eyes for you dear
You are the only thing I see and care about. My love for you is all-consuming.
The moon may be high
Even the moon, something that is usually prominent and striking, fades into the background in comparison to the intensity of my love for you.
But I can't see a thing in the sky
Despite the brightness and prominence of the moon, it pales in comparison to the brightness and significance of you in my eyes.
I only have eyes for you
Nothing else matters to me as much as you do. You are the only thing I see, think about, and care about.
I don't know if we're in a garden
I am not aware of our surroundings, as everything else fades away in comparison to you.
Or on a crowded avenue
It doesn't matter if we're alone in a quiet garden or surrounded by a bustling city crowd, as long as you are with me, that is all that matters.
You are here and so am I
We are in this together, and my eyes and heart are fixed solely on you.
Maybe millions of people go by
Even if there are countless people around us, they are all insignificant in comparison to you and our love.
But they all disappear from view
Everyone else fades into obscurity when compared to you, as you are the only thing in my view and in my heart.
And I only have eyes for you
My love for you is all-encompassing, and you are the only thing I see and care about above all else.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Al Dubin, Harry Warren
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind