Close Your Eyes
String Cheese Incident Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Work his whole life to get where he is
Nothing gonna bring him down
His father was a man who worked so hard
Never could be around

His mama always wanted the best for him
Mama said make me proud
Too much, too fast, too little, too late
It all goes round can't get away

[Chorus]
Close your eyes and look inside
And see what you can find
Open your mind and take time and learn from the soul
Loves his wife and loves the kids

And wonders if there's more
Looks around and sees his friends
All been done before

Goes to church on the holidays
Looking for something to light his way
Living for then and not for now
He wants to be free but he doesn't know how

[Chorus]

All he knows is what he sees
So much more behind the scenes
Open wide, crawl deep inside
Open wide

He lost his way he's off the path
Gotta keep moving can't look back
Where he is and where he was
Will never be the same

The freedom that he searches for
Has no key, it?s an open door
The love he needs and hopes to find
Has been with him all the time





[Chorus: x 3]

Overall Meaning

The song "Close Your Eyes" by String Cheese Incident tells the story of a man who experiences the ups and downs of life. He has worked hard to achieve success and provide for his family, but he feels like there is something missing. He is searching for a deeper meaning in his life, but he is unsure of how to find it. The lyrics reflect on his struggles and inner turmoil, as he wrestles with the conflicting desires for freedom and purpose.


The song starts with the man reflecting on his upbringing, specifically the role his parents played in his life. His father worked hard but was not around, and his mother always wanted the best for him. These early experiences shaped his outlook on life and influenced his drive to succeed. However, he feels like he is now stuck in a cycle of working for the future while missing out on the present. He wants to be free, but he doesn't know how to achieve this.


The chorus of the song advises the man to "close your eyes and look inside, and see what you can find." It encourages him to take time to reflect on his life, needs, and desires, and to learn from his soul. By doing this, he may find the answers he is seeking and reach a greater sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. Overall, the lyrics of "Close Your Eyes" explore the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life, both as individuals and as a collective.


Line by Line Meaning

Work his whole life to get where he is
Despite challenges and setbacks, he has persevered with his work and reached his current status


Nothing gonna bring him down
He is determined to keep going and not let anything get in the way of his success


His father was a man who worked so hard
His father was a hard worker and had a significant influence on his son's work ethic


Never could be around
His father was absent due to work, and this had a negative impact on their relationship


His mama always wanted the best for him
His mother cared deeply about his success and happiness, and encouraged him to do his best


Mama said make me proud
His mother expressed her desire for him to achieve great things and make her proud


Too much, too fast, too little, too late
Despite his efforts, he may have gone too far too quickly or not done enough at the right time, leaving him feeling stuck


It all goes round can't get away
His actions and decisions have consequences that come back around, and he cannot escape them


Close your eyes and look inside
He should take time to reflect and look within himself for answers


And see what you can find
When he takes the time to reflect, he may discover new insights or solutions


Open your mind and take time and learn from the soul
He should be open to new ideas and experiences and allow his inner self to guide him


Loves his wife and loves the kids
He deeply cares for his family and wants to provide for them


And wonders if there's more
Despite his love for his family, he may feel unfulfilled and wonder if there is more to life


Looks around and sees his friends
He observes those around him and sees that they have also faced similar struggles and challenges


All been done before
He realizes that the experiences he faces are not unique and have been faced by others before him


Goes to church on the holidays
He seeks spiritual guidance and support during times of celebration


Looking for something to light his way
He hopes that faith will help guide him and provide clarity in his life


Living for then and not for now
He may be focused on the past or the future and not fully living in the present


He wants to be free but he doesn't know how
He desires freedom from his current situation, but he may not know how to achieve it


All he knows is what he sees
He may have limited understanding and perspective due to primarily relying on what he observes


So much more behind the scenes
There may be deeper and more complex factors at play that he is not aware of


Open wide, crawl deep inside
He should dig deeper and explore the unknown to gain a more complete understanding


He lost his way he's off the path
He may have strayed from his intended path or lost his sense of direction


Gotta keep moving can't look back
He must keep moving forward and not dwell on past mistakes or regrets


Where he is and where he was
His current situation and past are different and cannot be reversed


Will never be the same
He cannot change the past or return to a previous state of being, and must accept and adapt to his current situation


The freedom that he searches for
He desires freedom and liberation from his current situation


Has no key, it?s an open door
Freedom may exist within his own mindset or perspective, and there is no one path to achieving it


The love he needs and hopes to find
He desires love and companionship in his life


Has been with him all the time
The love he seeks may already exist close to him, and he may need to recognize and appreciate it




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICHARD MAINEGRA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions