I'll Close My Eyes (song)

"I'll Close My Eyes", first published in 1945, is a song written and composed by the English songwriter and bandleader Billy Reid.[1] This song is usually performed with altered lyrics by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye. The song has become a jazz standard.

Composition and recordings

The original version of the song had both music and lyrics written by Billy Reid.[1] In this original version, the song is a song of regret, with a verse introducing the theme in words which include: "Love was mine, you gave me a chance; But my heart was not content and I lost my romance.." The main song refrain then begins (as it does in the later version) "I'll close my eyes" but continues "and make believe it's you".[1] The song then continues on the theme that the singer has foolishly lost his love and can now only close his eyes and imagine her in his loneliness. It was recorded with the original Billy Reid words by the English singer Dorothy Squires, who had a close association with Billy Reid.[2]

Soon after its release, new words were written for the Billy Reid tune by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye.[3] The new words make the song more upbeat.[4] The initial phrase of the song remains "I'll close my eyes" but now it continues "...to everyone but you". The song then continues on the theme that the singer will always be faithful, will "lock my heart to any other caress" and will close his eyes to see his love "through the years" in "those moments when we're apart".[3] It thus becomes, not a song of loss, but a commitment to fidelity in a relationship which is expected to last. In this form, it was taken up by a number of singers. It was broadcast by Frances Langford with the new words as early as 1947, in a Maxwell House Radio Show.[5]

The Jazz standard "I'll Close My Eyes" (with Buddy Kaye lyrics) has been covered by 50+ recording artists, including the Dinah Washington (and Quincy Jones Orchestra) recording that is licensed for soundtrack use in THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY (film) and Lee Daniels’ THE BUTLER (film).

List of recordings

Performers who have recorded the song in vocal or instrumental versions include:

References
  1. Billy Reid. The Forties. International Music Publications Ltd. p. 43.
  2. Squires, Dorothy. "I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  3. "I'll Close My Eyes (lyrics, both versions)". International Lyrics Playground. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  4. See e.g. the performance of the new lyrics by the Sliding Hammers (2008). "Sliding Hammers - I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. Langford, Frances. "I'll Close My Eyes". YouTube. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  6. William Ruhlmann: Connie Francis 1955–1959, supplement to 5 CD Boxed Set White Sox, Pink Lipstick... and Stupid Cupid, Bear Family Records BCD 16 616 EI, Hambergen (Germany) 1993
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