I'll Close My Eyes (song)

I'll Close My Eyes is a song with words and music originally written by the English songwriter and bandleader Billy Reid and published in 1945.^[1] It is usually performed in a later version with different words by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye to Reid's original music. It has become a jazz standard.

Original version

The original version of the song had both music and lyrics written by Billy Reid.^[2]

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".^[3] 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.^[4]

Version with lyrics by Buddy Haye

Soon after its release, new words were written for the Billy Reid tune by the American songwriter Buddy Kaye.^[5]

The new words make the song more upbeat.^[6] 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".^[7] 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.^[8]

Gender neutrality

The words in both versions of the song are gender neutral, written in the first person ("I") and addressed to an unnamed love ("You").^[9][10]

The song has been sung both by men and women.

Jazz standard

Like other jazz songs, the song has been used as a theme in purely instrumental performances and versions by a number of jazz performers.^[11]

Performers

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

• Dorothy Squires (with Billy Reid's original words) - 1945^[12]
• Andy Russell - 1947
• Mildred Bailey - 1947
• Vic Damone - 1947
• Sarah Vaughan - 1957
• Dinah Washington - 1957
• Connie Francis. In 1959, she recorded both versions of the lyrics, with the same orchestral arrangement. The 1959 album released from this session was My Thanks To You which included only the original version of the lyrics; the recording with the later version of the lyrics was released in 1993.^[13]
• Blue Mitchell - 1960
• Marilyn Michaels - 1965 - Warner Bros. Records: The Fantastic and Exciting Debut of Marilyn Michaels.
• Joan Regan
• Dinah Shore
• Joanie Sommers
• Peggy Lee
• Cannonball Adderley and his orchestra
• Gene Ammons
• Ray Anthony
• Betty Scott
• Jimmy Beaumont
• Big Maybelle
• Bob Montgomery
• Donna Fuller
• Kenny Burrell
• Hank Crawford
• Barrett Deems
• Joan Griffith
• Johnny Desmond
• Anita Ellis
• Percy Faith
• George Shearing
• Von Freeman
• The Skyliners
• Renato Sellani
• Keith Jarrett
• Louis Smith
• Russell Gunn
• Ken McIntyre
• Peter Marshall
• Claire Martin
• Ken McIntyre
• Ted Heath
• Andreas Petterson
• Don Lusher
• Tony Monaco
• Buddy Morrow
• Little Jimmy Scott
• Dakota Staton
• Mark Murphy
• Tommy Newsom
• Diane Schuur
• Doug Raney
• Dizzy Reece
• Frank Sinatra
• Humphrey Lyttelton and his band
• KC and The Sunshine Band

References