The initial line-up for the debut album, entitled The Lilac Time, released in November 1987 was the two Duffys and keyboardist Michael Weston. Subsequent line-ups have revolved around the two brothers and included drummer Michael Giri, bassist Micky Harris, multi-instrumentalist Caroline Radcliffe, pianist Cara Tivey. Nick Duffy briefly left in 1990 and was replaced by guitarist Sagat Guirey. Later members post '91 split include backing vocalist & keyboardist Claire Worrall and pedal steel guitarist Melvin Duffy (no relation!).
The band's activity is intertwined with Stephen's solo career, waxing and waning as his time and attention permit. The longest gap between Lilac Time records was 8 years - 1991's Astronauts to 1999's Looking for a Day in the Night.
Now, Stephen Duffy is perhaps best known as the co-songwriter and producer for Robbie Williams, and after many years of obscurity, a series of reissues now means that the entire Lilac Time back catalogue is available to buy in the UK for the first time ever. His three later solo albums (1993's Music in Colors, 1995's Duffy & 1998's I Love My Friends) have also been reissued with extra tracks.
From 2003 to 2009 the band released records as Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time and has stabilised with the permanent line-up of Stephen Duffy, Nick Duffy and Claire Worrall (who married Stephen Duffy in 2008). Michael Giri, Micky Harris and Melvin Duffy supplement the line-up on rare occasions they play live.
April 2015 sees the return of The Lilac Time name in the form of a new album, entitled No Sad Songs.
American Eyes
The Lilac Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A girl and two boys
She's got American eyes
American eyes
They left school for fame and fortune
But she was the one
The girl with the stars in her eyes
I was one of the boys
Oh how I loved her
But she wouldn't see me
She shut her apple pie eyes
As blue as Jamaica skies
And oh unrequited love quite often grows
And never quite goes
He was one of the boys
He joined the army
He sailed from American shores
To fight the foreigners' wars
Baby shut your eyes up tight
I swear the world won't end tonight
And when we die our spirits fly
Into the light above the sky
The Lilac Time's song "American Eyes" tells the story of three young people, two boys and a girl, who leave school with dreams of fame and fortune. The singer, one of the boys, is in love with the girl who has "American eyes," which are described as "stars and stripes in her eyes." However, she doesn't reciprocate his feelings and instead chooses the other boy who joins the army and sails from American shores to fight in foreign wars. Despite this, the singer still holds onto his unrequited love, which often grows and never quite goes away.
The song reflects on the American dream and the sacrifices that young people may make to pursue it. The girl with the stars and stripes in her eyes represents the ideal American dream, but this dream is not without its consequences. The juxtaposition of the boy who joins the army to fight in foreign wars and the girl who leaves one of the boys for a chance at fame and fortune highlights the different paths that people may take to achieve the American dream. The chorus, where the singer urges the girl to shut her eyes and promises that the world won't end tonight, adds a sense of urgency to the song and echoes the fear and uncertainty that may come with pursuing one's dreams.
Overall, "American Eyes" is a poignant and reflective song that captures the struggles and sacrifices of young people as they pursue the American dream. The lyrics are beautifully written and the melody is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly capturing the theme of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Here is a story of three young people
Let me tell you a story about three young people
A girl and two boys
There were two boys and a girl
She's got American eyes
She had a pair of eyes that looked like the American flag
American eyes
Those same eyes were still American-like
They left school for fame and fortune
All three of them quit their studies in search of wealth and success
But she was the one
Out of the three, she was the most successful one
The girl with the stars in her eyes
She had big dreams and aspirations
Stars and stripes in her eyes
Her eyes were a reminder of America's national flag
I was one of the boys
I was one of the two boys
Oh how I loved her
I was in love with her
But she wouldn't see me
Unfortunately, she didn't feel the same way
She shut her apple pie eyes
She closed her eyes that looked as sweet as homemade American pies
As blue as Jamaica skies
Her eyes were as blue as the clear sky in Jamaica
And oh unrequited love quite often grows
When someone doesn't return your love, it tends to become stronger
And never quite goes
And the feeling might never go away
He was one of the boys
The other boy was not me
He joined the army
He decided to pursue a career in the military
He sailed from American shores
He left America by ship
To fight the foreigners' wars
To participate in a conflict against foreign nations
Baby shut your eyes up tight
Close your eyes tight, my love
I swear the world won't end tonight
I promise that the world won't come to an end tonight
And when we die our spirits fly
When we die, our souls will ascend
Into the light above the sky
We will be united with a higher power
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEPHEN DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Cooper
I've got this album . It's pretty good actually. I like "the girl who waves at trains"
steve hewitt
Brilliant LP..
Paco FF
Paradise Circus is a sheer MASTERPIECE! :) that guitar riff still remindsof The Smiths :)
04opocin
Released as a single in the UK in July 1989.
Iain Wallington
Wonderful track
ewooll
Thanks. I love this song.
Николай Семенов
Wonderful lyric
acrovader
Sublime.
Christa Davidson
Been looking for this for ages !
steve hewitt
Genius....all the way.