Dark Eyes
Two Approaching Riders Lyrics
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They're drinking up and walking and it is time for me to slide
I live in another world where life and death are memorized
Where the earth is strung with lover's pearls and all I see are dark eyes.
A cock is crowing far away and another soldier's deep in prayer
Some mother's child has gone astray, she can't find him anywhere
But I hear another rum beating for the dead that rise
They tell me to be discreet for all intended purposes
They tell me revenge is sweet, I'm sure it is
But I feel nothing for their game, where beauty goes unrecognized
All I feel is heat and flame, and all I see are dark eyes.
Oh, the French girl, she's in paradise and a drunken man is at the wheel
Hunger pays a heavy prize to the falling god of speed and steel
Oh, time is short and the days are sweet and passion rules the arrow that flies
A million faces at my feet but all I see are dark eyes.
In the first verse of "Dark Eyes," Two Approaching Riders describes a scene where a group of men enjoy their nighttime drinks by the riverside. The singer of the song tells us that it's time for him to "slide" away because he lives in a different world than the men in the song. He interacts with the world through poetry, imagination, and memories rather than through indulgence. The world he lives in is one of life and death, love and heartbreak- where pearls hang from the earth and all he ever sees are dark eyes. Dark Eyes, in this sense, could refer to mourning or sadness, as the singer’s world lives in memorials to the memories of the dead rather than the revelry of the living.
The second verse of the song further emphasizes the theme of the dead- the singer hears the sounds of a rooster crowing and a soldier saying their prayers for those who have experienced a soldier's death. The song makes reference to the pain of mothers who have lost their children, lost in war or lost wandering, unable to find their way home. The singer hears the beat of another drum- that of death, which is inevitable to all of humanity. The beast of nature fears us all when we come to the end of the path, making all worldly troubles and pleasures around us seem trivial. Despite it all, the singer only sees those dark eyes.
The third verse speaks of revenge being sweet but ultimately leaving the singer numb. He sees beauty unrecognized and feels only heat and flame. The French girl who appears in the last verse is in paradise with a drunken man at her side, and the song depicts the idea of hunger to be the cause of the fall of the "god of speed and steel," showing that in a world of decadence, morals will inevitably be laid aside. Nonetheless, even amidst all the excitement and pleasure, the singer is surrounded by faces, yet all he ever sees are dark eyes.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, the gentlemen are talking and the midnight moon is on the riverside
Men are gathered together talking about various things while the moon is shining bright on the side of the river.
They're drinking up and walking and it is time for me to slide
The men are taking in alcohol, walking around and having fun while the singer has to leave.
I live in another world where life and death are memorized
The singer has a different view of the world that emphasizes the importance of both life and death.
Where the earth is strung with lover's pearls and all I see are dark eyes.
The world may have beautiful things but the singer can only see sadness and despair through their dark eyes.
A cock is crowing far away and another soldier's deep in prayer
The rooster is signaling the arrival of dawn while another person is praying deep in thought.
Some mother's child has gone astray, she can't find him anywhere
A mother is worried about her child who is missing and cannot be found.
But I hear another rum beating for the dead that rise
Another sound can be heard, indicating the dead are rising from their graves.
Whom nature's beast fear as they come and all I see are dark eyes.
The singer is seeing the horror in the rise of the dead and the fear it causes in nature's creatures.
They tell me to be discreet for all intended purposes
Others suggest that the singer be less obvious in their actions.
They tell me revenge is sweet, I'm sure it is
Others suggest that revenge can be enjoyable, although the singer is not convinced.
But I feel nothing for their game, where beauty goes unrecognized
The singer is not interested in engaging in games where true beauty is not appreciated.
All I feel is heat and flame, and all I see are dark eyes.
The singer feels intense emotions and sees only sadness and despair in the world.
Oh, the French girl, she's in paradise and a drunken man is at the wheel
A French girl is experiencing paradise while a man who is intoxicated is in control of a vehicle.
Hunger pays a heavy prize to the falling god of speed and steel
The desire for speed and power can come at a great cost to those who seek it.
Oh, time is short and the days are sweet and passion rules the arrow that flies
Life is brief but enjoyable, and one should be passionate in all they do.
A million faces at my feet but all I see are dark eyes.
Many people surround the singer, but the only thing they can perceive is darkness and despair in their eyes.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind