I am still elated by the video-call my kids and I had with my brother last night. Like Dylan sang in Long and Wasted Years: ‘It’s been such a long, long time‘. Any-hows, today’s featured track Bright Eyes couldn’t be more apt and timelier because it embodies the spirit of our childhood bond. Bright Eyes will forever be etched into our memories.
Bright Eyes was written (and performed) by English singer-songwriter Mike Batt. The music from his criminally underrated record Tarot Suite remains as much a part of our upbringing as any other. Bright Eyes was magnificently sung by Art Garfunkel and became a huge hit around the World except in the US where it barely made a ripple.
Is it a kind of a dream?
Floating out on the tide
Following the river of death downstream
Oh, is it a dream?
There’s a fog along the horizon
A strange glow in the sky
And nobody seems to know where it goes
And what does it mean?
Oh, is it a dream?
Bright eyes, burning like fire
Bright eyes, how can you close and fail?
How can the light that burned so brightly
Suddenly burn so pale?
Bright eyes
Bright Eyes was rearranged as a pop song from its original form in the 1978 British animated adventure drama film Watership Down. It topped the UK Singles Chart for six weeks (No. 2 in Australia) and became Britain’s biggest-selling single of 1979, selling over a million copies. In the United States, it failed to reach the Billboard Hot 100. Richard Adams, author of the original novel, is reported to have hated the song. The original director of Watership John Hubley requested the song be about death. Batt described recording the song as “one of the most difficult sessions” of his career (due to different musical opinions).
Both Art Garfunkel and Mike Batt’s version are presented below. I hope you enjoy them and thanks for reading.
References:
1. Bright Eyes (Art Garfunkel song) – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
Excellent…both…I’d never heard this before..
I can’t understand how this song did nothing in the US. I remember hearing it so often in my youth. I’m chuffed you like it.
Can’t understand either…I sure like it.
I like how he sings the first verses and the melody. Over time I have found the chorus has become a bit tiresome.
😁
Art has such a great voice…and the song is great also.
Yes, he does Max. It fits this spiritually enveloping song to a tee.