Released: 1996 • Features: Kenny G
On the surface, “Every Time I Close My Eyes” is classic Babyface – a smooth, jazz-tinged R&B ballad that drenches you in velvet emotions and soul-touching melodies. But delve deeper into the lyrics where the heart of the song lies, and there’s a story told of genuine love and blessed contentment. Babyface is expressing gratitude for an incredible love that feels like a dream. With keen observations and surprising metaphors, he explores the beauty of reciprocated love.
The opening lines set up the context; it’s been a long wait for this love. The lyric “It feels like springtime in winter it feels like Christmas in June” uses metaphorical language to describe the anticipation and joy of being in love, playing with our expectations of seasons and celebrations to create a sense of timelessness and delight.
When Babyface sings “And every time I close my eyes I thank the Lord that I’ve got you,” he’s expressing his deep appreciation for this relationship. The idea that he pinches himself because he can’t believe the reality is a common euphemism to express amazement, indicating the overwhelming beauty of the love he has received.
The lyrics, “You really oughtta know how much you mean to me – It’s only right that you be in my life right here with me,” underline the importance of this significant other in his life. His words are a reassurance of a love that has changed the loneliness and hurt of the nights where he cried himself to sleep. His past sadness makes the present love even more extraordinary, because it has transformed his tears into joy.
The phrase “With you baby, it never rains and it’s no wonder – The sun always shines when I’m near you,” is a classic way to emphasize the positive influence the loved one has on his life. The sun is often used as a metaphor for enlightenment, joy, warmth, and love, suggesting a state of constant bliss when he’s with her.
Overall, this song is about appreciating a love that is transformative and uplifting. It’s about the kind of love that feels too good to be true. Babyface really knocks it out the park, painting a vivid picture of a love that feels like a fairytale, all the while grounding it in very relatable emotions. There’s a reason he’s considered a genius in the R&B genre, folks!
