Meaning of “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel
In Your Eyes is a song performed by noted English singer and songwriter Peter Gabriel. According to Gabriel himself, the lyrics of In Your Eyes, which are inspired by the African tradition, can either refer to a romantic relationship between a man and a woman or a divine relationship between someone and his God.
You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes at Lyrics.org.
It is said that the American actress and film director Rosanna Arquette was the inspiration behind the song. Gabriel wrote the song while he and Arquette were in a romantic relationship. However, it is worth noting that Gabriel has never confirmed that Arquette was the inspiration behind the song.
Facts about “In Your Eyes”
- In Your Eyes was written by Peter Gabriel.
- Gabriel produced the song along with American bassist and producer Bill Laswell and Canadian music producer and musician Daniel Lanois.
- The song was released in September 1986 as one of the five singles from Gabriel’s fifth studio album titled So, which in 1987 received a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year but lost to Paul Simon’s critically acclaimed album Graceland.
- Some of the choruses of the song are sung by the renowned Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour in his native language of Wolof. It is important to take note of the fact that in addition to being spoken in Senegal, the Wolof language is also spoken in Mauritania and the Gambia.
- The song was used in a key scene in the 1989 romantic comedy-drama film Say Anything… starring John Cusack and Ione Skye. The song’s appearance in this film made the song gain popularity once again in 1989.
- According to the film’s director Cameron Crowe, actress Rosanna Arquette (the reported inspiration of the song) was the one who persuaded Gabriel to give his permission for the song to be used in the film.
- The producers of Say Anything… reportedly paid somewhere in the region of $200,000 to use In Your Eyes in the movie.
- In April 2014, when Gabriel was being honored with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he performed the song with Youssou N’Dour.
- The song peaked at number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
- In 2001, American singer and guitarist Jeffrey Gaines’ cover version of the song peaked at number 22 on the U.S. Adult Top 40 chart, making it one of Gaines’ most successful works.
34 Responses
-
[…] In Your Eyes […]
This particular song is written about,(if you search the song history),about the relationship between Peter Gabriel and Rosanna Arquette. If you research the personal relationships between two individuals,you might “kinda sort of” find out that THIS is the way that certain relationships end up. I don’t know, I don’t make my living researching those things. I
I found this song weirdly when watching an episode of The Goldbergs. The lyrics completely resonated with me. At the time I was struggling with severe postnatal depression and those lyrics spoke totally of the relationship between me and my child and the absolute love I had for her, even at the most difficult points when I wanted to run away.
Gabriel’s Mercy St is another track that breaks my heart and the tale behind those lyrics.
Omg I was just thinking the exact same thing while looking at my autistic son.
My husband relates to this song as it’s the song of him and his mistress. Been married 32 years. I made him lose the love of his life because of his “obligation” to me. You all will think he’s wonderful thought because he’s retired officer USMC. He cheated our whole marriage but I was too naive and trusting because he travelled all the time. I was busy raising children. You will think he’s wonderful though. He gave up his family for her. She’s “engaged” now though to someone else after hours on the phone with him. . He “broke”
her when he chose to stay. “That was the wrong thing to do”.— Stay with his wife.
Anonymous, You should find a professional to talk to. If your husband does not think about you when he hears this song you deserve better than he can give. Everyone deserves to have this song about them. Life is too hard to miss out on this kind of love. As a therapist myself it hurts my heart to hear these things from people. We all are good, we all want love and want to give love. Please fight for this-you are good!
Love…
I get so Lost..
Sometimes… 😔
( I Really Liked ur Response)
It’s lovely that you took the time to try to help this person. YOU are good.
Totally agree
No offense but I’ve been on both sides of this table and when I here one side I always wonder what the other sides view is
It’s never okay to cheat. It’s always the selfish/abusive thing to do.
You are so right about that. No happiness comes for anyone being in the wrong place.
This cannot be true.
@Anonymous.. you should find a professional and someone else. You deserve better! Quakers say that everyone has a little bit of God in them, and that makes you deserving of love!
Don’t settle for less. You worth being loved by someone who thinks your the best.
ok so my son has been missing for almost 6 years now after taking his life in our hydro canal . A medium had said that my son connects with me thru this song. I’m not sure how to interpret it. (He did suffer from psychosis). I don’t usually believe in mediums but today when I passed the hydro bridge, I said hi to my boy. Within seconds of passing the bridge, this song came on. It brought me to tears.. What would this song mean??
Isn’t it obvious? ????. His spirit still lingers on earth some days and he arrives here where he died (probably easier to find the intense vibration forever there as a connection point) and at that place where he left us.. because of the loss of his life. He experiences the feeling of being lost.. then he seeks comfort where he knows it best.. In you ???? his mama. You may not believe in mediums but it doesn’t stop the fact that you are one! He sees the world through your eyes because he wants to share it with you still and, he does!
Monique, I’m sorry about the loss of your son. I am the type of person that would take that as a sign. And especially if it gives you some peace, I would continue to look for signs. ❤️
To me, this song is a spiritual song of wanting to be complete and see myself through the eyes of God.
But. One does not get in car and drive to where you are, heart gets empty, work so hard for US. many more just don’t fit with the god thing. Video is woman missing her man, need to get back to life she brings after crazy work schedule they both had. It romantic . God don’t need help. ????
Does anyone know if the Senegalese lyrics at the end of the song are simply the chorus or do those lyrics have a different meaning?
I grew up with this song and it is one of my favorites. It originally spoke to my personal journey to find my authentic self and self-love.
Interestingly, this was also supposed to be the first song played at my wedding reception, but my husband and I ended up eloping in Kauai. What is more, my husband of 25 years passed away unexpectedly in 2018.
When I hear this song now, it is both a reminder of my blessed relationship with my husband and my divine relation to my sacred God!
Peter Gabriel is a genius and we are lucky to have him. I’ve seen him in concert and I’m a huge fan. As a side note, my favorite Peter Gabriel album is the Original Soundtrack to the movie The Last Temptation of Christ.
Enjoy and thanks.
I am planning to walk down the aisle at my wedding to this song to my love of my life! This song speaks to me about my commitment and deep love for my soon to be husband, my man, my world.
Oh so sorry you’re so special how dare someone cheat on you. Just because you said it, it must be true. 1,000 heavens are waiting for you. Poor woman with so many children and no appreciation from your husband after giving birth multiple times…
You sound like a cheater
Hi, how is life now? Did you leave your worthless husband? I hope so. You deserve better
Sa Bet (Your Eyes) Ci Lamp Ci Taangay (The light, the heat) Sa bet (tus ojos) Maan Gaiy ci biir (Im inside)
I too interpret this song to spiritual,,, me looking in the and through the eyes of God. How sad,,, we let him down.
This song reminds me of my high school sweetheart. It is bittersweet when I hear this song because the lyrics I” get so tired working so hard for our survival” foreshadowed that despite all of efforts, we could not survive long distance. I still maintain my love for Peter Gabriel and wish he would make more music. His concert was the best concert I have ever attended.
This song is in memory of my beautiful late wife whom I lost last to Covid. She was taken away from me before her time. The lyrics sum up how I feel. “When I want to run away, I drive off in my car.” Sometimes it’s too hard to take and I find myself driving to get my mind off of my grief. “But whichever way I go, I come back to place you are.” I can’t help looking into her eyes in her photos. That’s what I feel whenever I hear this song.
She is your angel. I have been going through a difficult time. No words, a deep connection when you can look in the eyes. It is total trust.
The fact that this could be about our relationship with God OR a romantic relationship speaks volumes. What romantic partner WOULDN’T want that kind of love to be about them? It explains why the lyrics resonate so powerfully. What a great job he did writing them!
It’s clearly about God and our being drawn to Him. But – Dave – your point is apropos too!
And this epitomizes the music of PG. Bringing good vibes to all. What a kind bunch of commentary.
My wife passed in 22 and she loved both this song and Shaking the Tree. Saw him live in both 75 and 19, true genius and also a guy with a lot of compassion as the concert in 19 was opened by a deaf/b!one choir.