What does Daddy's Eyes mean?

The Killers: Daddy's Eyes Meaning

Album cover for Daddy's Eyes album cover

Daddy's Eyes Lyrics

I'll tell you what you wanna know,

But boy you better listen close.

People gonna tell you lies,

Don't let it come as a surprise.



That woman's on my back again,

I know she's got the best intentions.

When you begin to...

  1. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 28th 2023 !⃝

    The father cheated so he tells his kid and tells him he loves her but he has to go. This suggests a divorce and the father is telling the kid he is moving away possibly for good.

  2. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 6th 2012 !⃝

    i think this song is about a divorce, where the father is telling a child about his unfaithfulness.
    "I'll tell you what you wanna know" - he's saying what he's telling the boy is the truth.

    "People gonna tell you lies,Don't let it come as a surprise" - people are going to tell the child lies about what's happening, so he's telling the child the truth so that he won't be surprised and will know how to respond.

    "That woman's on my back again,I know she's got the best intentions." - his wife's nagging him to tell the child, but though he knows she's got the right ting at heart he still dislikes her for it.

    "When you begin to realize,You know you got your daddy's eyes." - when the child realizes the truth about his parents, the father is reminding him the child has his eyes, which can be taken two ways - a father claiming the child as his own flesh and blood, or him saying the child sees things his way 'daddy's eyes' being daddy's perspective.

    "And there's something that I want to say,
    I love her, too. And all of this has got nothing to do with you." - the father saying he cares for the woman as much as the child, and reassuring the child what is happening is not his fault while also warning him to keep his nose out ("nothing to do with you")

    "And I'd like to stay but I can't because
    I've been fooling around" - the father would like to stay with the child, but he can't because of the divorce sparked by his affair.

    "When you put it on the other hand, When you're old enough to understand." - when the child gets married ("other hand" meaning wedding ring, "other" referring to left hand) and understands what marriage is like.

    "And sometimes people get tired, And I woke up a little too late to lie." - i think this is where his wife catches him in bed with the 'other woman', and it was too late to lie, but it could also be symbolic of the marriage of the couple and the father's relationship with the child, meaning the father didn't realize the child was so old (and understood what was happening) until it was too late to hide teh truth from him, hence why this whole conversation is going on.

    "This is not what i'd call goodbye." - a promise that the father and child will not be separated forever, reassuring the child.

  3. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Mar 12th 2011 !⃝

    I'll tell you what you wanna know,
    But boy you better listen close.

    A father is telling his son about cheating, and he doesn't want him to take it lightly.

    People gonna tell you lies,
    Don't let it come as a surprise.

    He knows people will be saying bad things about him in the future, trying to turn his son against him, so he wants to put his side of the story forward.


    That woman's on my back again,
    I know she's got the best intentions.

    His wife is angry and upset beacuse he cheated (probably telling him to leave), but he knows she's right.

    When you begin to realize,
    You know you got your daddy's eyes.

    Even when he's left, his son will still be a constant reminder for his wife.

    And there's something that I want to say,
    I love her, too.

    He stills loves his wife, even if everyone is saying he doesn't because of his actions.

    And all of this has got nothing to do with you.

    Everything that happens isn't the son's fault, but his own. He's making this clear to his son so he doesn't blame himself in the break-up.

    And I'd like to stay but I can't because
    I've been fooling around and I know
    That you called because you never even knew
    That it was hurting me.

    He's been cheating, so can't stay, even though he wants to. He also wants his son to know he's been hurting this whole time, and never wanted to break-up with his wife.

    When you put it on the other hand,
    When you're old enough to understand
    That glove will bring it all to life,
    I didn't say that made it right.

    When he's older, he'll understand more, and see his father's point of view. When he does this though, his father wants him to know what he did was wrong, and that he shouldn't use his father's actions and an excuse to make the same mistake.

    And sometimes people get tired,
    And I woke up a little too late to lie.

    Both of his parents have been keeping up the charade for a while now (his wife may have known about the cheating but didn't say, or they had other troubles), but he was either caught or eventually just told his wife.

    Dreams should last a long time,
    This is not what I'd call goodbye.

    Their dreams as sweethearts should have lasted, but were ruined, and he can't change that. This isn't the goodbye he'd always imagined with her (mainly because it isn't on 'good' terms), as hisactions will be relived in both of their minds, and his son will always remind her, even if it is just through looks.

    I love her, too.

    A final sentiment, full of regret, and longing to turn back the clocks.

  4. anonymous
    click a star to vote
    Feb 8th 2011 !⃝

    I love this song, and the beat is really catchy. I think this song is a father talking to his son about how he was cheating with his wife (the son's mom)

    "I'll tell you what you wanna know,
    But boy you better listen close.
    People gonna tell you lies,
    Don't let it come as a surprise."

    He's telling his son what happened (between his wife and himself) so it doesn't come as a surprise for the son in the future.

    "Because that woman's on my back again,
    I know she's got the best intentions.
    When you begin to realize,
    You know you got your daddy's eyes."

    Recalling when his wife was on to him.

    "And there's something that I want to say,
    I love her, too.
    And all of this has got nothing to do with you."

    He is telling his son that he loves his wife as much as his son does but the affair has nothing to do with the son, basically 'stay out of it'

    "And I'd like to stay but I can't because
    I've been fooling around and I know
    That you called because you never even knew
    That it was hurting me."

    Pretty obvious. The father can't stay because he cheated on his wife.

    "And sometimes people get tired,
    And I woke up a little too late to lie.
    Dreams should last a long time,
    This is not what I'd call goodbye."

    I woke up a little to late to lie; his wife caught him cheating so he couldn't make up an excuse. Third line is him saying that he'll have them in his memories so it's not goodbye.


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