Eye
The Smashing Pumpkins Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I lie, I wait
I stop, I hesitate
I am, I breathe
I meant, I think of me

Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
All I have is all you gave to me
Is it any wonder I found peace through you?
Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned
Turn away from light
It's not enough, just a touch
It's not enough

I taste, I love
I come, I bleed enough
I hate, I'm not
I was, I want too much

Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
All I have is all you gave to me
Is it any wonder I found peace through you?
Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned
Turn away from light

It's not enough, just a touch
It's not enough, just a touch
It's not enough, just a touch
It's not enough, just a touch




It's not enough, just a touch
It's not enough, just a touch

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Smashing Pumpkins' song "Eye" are open to interpretation, but it appears to be about a person who is struggling with their sense of self and finding peace through someone else. The opening lines ("I lie, I wait, I stop, I hesitate, I am, I breathe, I meant, I think of me") suggest confusion and scatterbrained thoughts. The singer acknowledges their self-centeredness ("I meant, I think of me"), which may contribute to their inability to find peace.


The chorus ("Is it any wonder I can't sleep? All I have is all you gave to me. Is it any wonder I found peace through you? Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned. Turn away from light. It's not enough, just a touch") implies that the singer has found some level of contentment through another person, but they are keenly aware of their own shortcomings and their reliance on this other person. The phrase "turn away from light" suggests a resistance to the idea of enlightenment or self-improvement.


The bridge of the song repeats the phrase "it's not enough, just a touch" multiple times, which may relate back to the earlier line "I was, I want too much." The person may never be fully satisfied or content with what they have, which makes finding inner peace a challenge.


Overall, "Eye" is a melancholy song with poetic lyrics that invite interpretation. It can be seen as a reflection on the human condition and the constant search for something more.


Line by Line Meaning

I lie, I wait
I am inactive and unproductive, waiting for something to happen.


I stop, I hesitate
I struggle to make decisions and often find myself feeling stuck.


I am, I breathe
I exist, but my actions are minimal and insignificant.


I meant, I think of me
My intentions are self-centered and I often prioritize my own desires above others'.


Is it any wonder I can't sleep?
The way I live my life is causing me great mental distress and anxiety.


All I have is all you gave to me
I am dependent on others and feel unfulfilled by what they offer me.


Is it any wonder I found peace through you?
Despite my struggles, I have been able to find some solace and contentment through my relationships with others.


Turn to the gates of heaven, to myself be damned
I am seeking salvation or redemption, even if it means sacrificing my own well-being in the process.


Turn away from light
I am rejecting positivity or hope in favor of negativity and despair.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am constantly seeking more, despite what I already have or what others provide me.


I taste, I love
I experience pleasure and affection.


I come, I bleed enough
I have endured hardships and pain.


I hate, I'm not
I possess negative emotions and have feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness.


I was, I want too much
I have been in a better place in the past, but my desires and expectations have increased to an unsustainable level.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.


It's not enough, just a touch
I am still dissatisfied and crave more.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William Patrick Corgan

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