Damn You, Bobby Vee!

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, Part 2

Ever since yesterday's blog about the music video for Bobby Vee's 1963 hit The Night Has A Thousand Eyes, I've had the song stuck in my head (and no Bic, it has nothing to do with the guy in the speedo). Kim calls this a music worm; the annoying condition wherein you hear a song and then can't stop thinking about it or singing it. This bouncy little tune has been playing in the juke box in my brain for the past 24 hours and I've had plenty of opportunity to actually think about the lyrics. It occurs to me that beneath the quaint early 1960's lyrics is a not-so-innocent subtext that needs to be explored (and I'm just the guy to do it). If you haven't read yesterday's blog, I suggest you do so before reading further.

Lyrics:
They say that you're a runaround lover
Though you say it isn't so
But if you put me down for another
I'll know, believe me, I'll know
Translation:
My friends say you're a slut, you say you're not.
Either way, I'll find out the truth, biatch.

Lyrics
'cause the night has a thousand eyes
And a thousand eyes can't help but see if you are true to me
So remember when you tell those little white lies
That the night has a thousand eyes
Translation
Basically I don't trust you so watch out or you may end up on an episode of Cheaters.

We interrupt this blog to bring you a Mr. Mike Fun Fact:
The Night Has A Thousand Eyes is a poem written by British poet Francis William Bourdillon in the late 19th Century:

The night has a thousand eyes,
And the day but one;
Yet the light of the bright world dies
With the dying of the sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes,
And the heart but one;
Yet the light of a whole life dies
When love is done.

And now back to our blog:

Lyrics
You say that you're at home when you phone me
And how much you really care
Though you keep telling me that you're lonely
I'll know if someone is there
Translation
Maybe it's the connection, but it sounds like you're breathing heavy; is everything OK, honey? Oh God, don't tell me you're bumping uglies with another guy while we're talking on the phone!


Lyrics
One of these days you're gonna be sorry
'cause your game I'm gonna play
Translation
I'm going to sleep with your best friend

Lyrics
And you'll find out without really tryin'
Each time that my kisses stray

Translation
Hell, I'm going to sleep with all your friends


Lyrics
'cause the night has a thousand eyes
And a thousand eyes will see me too
And no matter what I do
I could never disguise all my little white lies
'cause the night has a thousand eyes
Translation
I'll make sure you know I'm sleeping with all your friends (and really, there's no point in trying to hide it because you'll find out eventually).

Lyrics
So remember when you tell those little white lies
That the night has a thousand eyes
Translation
Look, you're a slut, I'm a male whore, there's no use denying it; we belong together.

Bobby Vee Fun Fact: In February 1959, a band comprised of 15 year-old Bobby and some fellow Fargo North Dakota high school students filled in for Buddy Holly at the Moorhead, Minnesota stop of the Winter Dance Party Rock and Roll Tour. Buddy, of course, wasn't there because he (along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson) had just died in a plane crash. Despite the circumstances, the performance was a success and launched Bobby's career.