The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Sailing down behind the sun
Waiting for my prince to come
Praying for the healing rain
To restore my soul again
Just a toe rag on the run
How did I get here?
What have I done?
When will all my hopes arise?
How will I know him?
When I look in my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
When I look in my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
Then the light begins to shine
And I hear those ancient lullabies
And as I watch this seedling grow
Feel my heart start to overflow
Where do I find the words to say?
How do I teach him?
What do we play?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That's when I need them
That's when I need my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
That's when I need my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes (yeah)
Then the jagged edge appears
Through the distant clouds of tears
I'm like a bridge that was washed away
My foundations were made of clay
As my soul slides down to die
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That he was here with me
And I looked into my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
I looked into my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
My father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
I looked into my father's eyes (looked into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
(Look into my father's eyes, yeah, yeah)
Waiting for my prince to come
Praying for the healing rain
To restore my soul again
Just a toe rag on the run
How did I get here?
What have I done?
When will all my hopes arise?
How will I know him?
When I look in my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
When I look in my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
Then the light begins to shine
And I hear those ancient lullabies
And as I watch this seedling grow
Feel my heart start to overflow
Where do I find the words to say?
How do I teach him?
What do we play?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That's when I need them
That's when I need my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
That's when I need my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes (yeah)
Then the jagged edge appears
Through the distant clouds of tears
I'm like a bridge that was washed away
My foundations were made of clay
As my soul slides down to die
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That he was here with me
And I looked into my father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
I looked into my father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
My father's eyes (look into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
I looked into my father's eyes (looked into my father's eyes)
My father's eyes
(Look into my father's eyes)
(Look into my father's eyes, yeah, yeah)
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
My Father's Eyes Lyrics as written by Eric Patrick Clapton
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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my dad's a prick.
@Compuwiz19 ...hah...LOL !
Beautiful song, that's it. Hands Down
Clapton wrote this song (along with "Tears in Heaven") in memory of his son, who died after falling out of their apartment's window.
"I never met my father," Mr. Clapton told his biographer in 1985. "And I realized that the closest I ever came to looking into my father's eyes was when I looked into my son's eyes." -- from an interview in The Ottawa Citizen
@Layla76 I never knew that Eric never met his father!! Amazing how he put it in words!!!
The song is inspired by the fact that Clapton never met his father, who died in 1985. It also refers to the brief life of Clapton's son Conor, who died at age four after falling from an apartment window. "In it I tried to describe the parallel between looking the eyes of my son, and the eyes of the father that I never met, through the chain of our blood", said Clapton in his autobiography. He retired the song in 2004, along with Tears in Heaven. It describes how Clapton wishes he knew his father.
But it's true the saying that to really create genuis one must truly suffer. Clapton has suffered.
I'm gonna guess its about god. But as much as i hate this crap music this song makes me cry almost becuz it was my moms favorite song and she died. i still listen to this song when i'm sad or mad or just thinkin about my mom!
I think it's a spiritual song. It's really deep. About healing and renewal and like a cosmic support from his dad.. IT hits home and makes me sad becasue it reminds me of my step-dad, and he has a terminal disease.
I always think of my father when I hear this song.. Would always play it when I was living with him... Eric Clapton is someone that I could never get old of... Truly an artist and this song is truly beautiful !
I think this is about losing a child, and feeling like you forgot so much about parenting, but it all comes back to you when you look into your father's eyes, because you feel that love and connection and you begin to understand, to remember how it was like. And that's what saves you.
This song maked Eric Clapton first new song off an album aince 1989's Journeyman album (excluding Change The World EP and Tears In Heaven)
This song is obviously talking about Clapton's father in most parts of the song- he never knew his father. I think I read his mom was 17 when she had him. Until he was 9 years old he was told his mother was his sister and his grandparents were his parents. His father was already married to someone else when Clapton was concieved. Clapton's father was a Canadian pilot I believe.