♫ Doctor My Eyes ♫ (Redux)

Posted on by under Bits 'n Pieces, music, music history

Yeah, yeah, I know I just played this one almost five months ago, and I usually try to wait a couple of years, but … today is the first day of Jackson Browne Week!!!  And I think that this song is my favourite by Jackson Browne, the one that comes to mind for most people when they hear the name “Jackson Browne”, so I really wanted to lead off Jackson Browne Week with this song!

I discovered a few things I didn’t know about Jackson Browne, such as that he was born in Heidelberg, Germany because his father was a U.S. serviceman stationed in Germany at the time, and also that in 2015, Rolling Stone ranked him as 37th in its list of the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time“.

I’m open to all requests and suggestions for this week’s selections, so feel free to let me know what you’d like to hear!  I’m adding a second version of the song this time ’round, a collaboration as Playing For Change brings together the legendary Jackson Browne, with some of the greatest musicians from around the world for a stunning rendition of this song … I found it to be absolutely beautiful and I think you will, too!

And I highly recommend Clive’s post about Jackson Browne from 2021 for a deeper dive into Jackson Browne and his music!

Jackson Browne is a singer/songwriter/musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the U.S., but quite honestly I cannot think of another song of his beyond this one.  No doubt that is only a result of my flawed memory.  This song, recorded and released in 1972, was written and performed by Jackson Browne and included on his debut album Jackson Browne.

Browne’s Southern California musical cohorts David Crosby and Graham Nash sang harmony vocals. Browne was signed to Asylum Records, which was owned by David Geffen. According to Jackson, Geffen asked Nash if he thought there was a single on the album (Browne’s first), and Nash picked this one, with the proviso that Browne add a high vocal part, which he did.

This was Jackson Browne’s first single. The song isn’t typical of his work; it runs just 2:55 and lacks the personal, introspective lyrics he’s known for. Still, the song did very well in the U.S., and remained a fan favorite, garnering lots of airplay on classic rock and adult contemporary radio, and often earning a spot on Browne’s setlists.

Getting that first hit under his belt was satisfying for Browne, whose first recorded album (in 1968) was never released.  The guitar solo on this song was played by Jesse Ed Davis, a brilliant but troubled musician who performed on albums by Willie Nelson, Marvin Gaye and John Lennon. Davis died in 1988 at age 43 in what appeared to be a drug overdose.

In the UK, it was The Jackson 5 who had a hit with this song; their 1973 cover went to #9. On their version, Jermaine Jackson came in too early and ended up repeating the first line. His error was allowed to remain in the final mix.  I had no idea until tonight that The Jackson 5 had even covered this!  It isn’t their best work, in my book. This reached #4 in Canada, #8 in the U.S., and as best I can tell, the Jackson Browne version did not chart in the UK.

Doctor My Eyes
Jackson Browne

Doctor, my eyes have seen the years
And the slow parade of fears without crying
Now I want to understand

I have done all that I could
To see the evil and the good without hiding
You must help me if you can

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what is wrong
Was I unwise to leave them open for so long?

‘Cause I have wandered through this world
And as each moment has unfurled
I’ve been waiting to awaken from these dreams

People go just where they will
I never noticed them until I got this feeling
That it’s later than it seems

Doctor, my eyes
Tell me what you see
I hear their cries
Just say if it’s too late for me

Doctor, my eyes
They cannot see the sky
Is this the prize
For having learned how not to cry?

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Jackson Browne
Doctor My Eyes lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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44 thoughts on “♫ Doctor My Eyes ♫ (Redux)”

  1. Hi. Jill I loved the second video with all the different people and instruments. Credits to the people mixing the sound and videos, they earned their pay. But I love the inclusion of different people / cultures, different instruments to play sounds. Especially now in the US, especially in a red state like I am where anything not 1950s white southern culture is being stomped on hard with the attempt to make them disappear, seeing those different people all singing / playing the same song with the same joy but in their own dress, their own places, celebrating both the song and inclusion. Jill, it made my heart soar. Thank you for providing the wind beneath my wings. Hugs, love, and best wishes. Scottie

    Liked by 1 person

    • I’m really glad you liked that one, Scottie! Playing For Change is a multimedia music project that features many artists and songs like this one, and per Clive’s suggestion, I am planning to do a “Playing For Change Week” featuring as many of them as I can in the near future! The entire project focuses on what you mention — inclusion of different people, cultures, instruments, etc. I think we’ll all enjoy that! I’m happy to have made your heart soar, dear friend, and it brings me much joy when you say I provided the wind beneath your wings. Hugs & love, my special friend!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I have been a Jackson Browne fan pretty much from when he started his career. I’ve been to half a dozen live concerts, including the one at the Merriweather Post Pavillion in Columbia, MD, where most of the “Running on Empty” album was revorded. One of my favorite Jackson Browne records is “Fountain of Sorrow.” It’s a very poignant song. Pay attention to the lyrics.

    Liked by 3 people

    • WOW!!! Two in a row! I’m glad you liked it and happy to have expanded your knowledge … now you can play it for the neighbors! Yes, the week started off quite well … I actually got some deep housecleaning done for a change, so I feel pretty good about that. And how was yours, my friend? xx

      Liked by 2 people

    • Hi Michael. Jill and her posts are wonderful at expanding people’s knowledge. I often wonder if some of them should be used in school classrooms. The younger grades get the good people and Jolly Mondays along with music posts, the older grades get the snarky bits and political posts. Now that would be expanding reason and education. Plus it would make the maga / right wing heads explode, which in itself might be educational. 😏😀😃😄😍 Hugs. Scottie

      Liked by 1 person

      • Wow, Scottie! I think that might well be the nicest compliment I have ever had!!! I spent my career as an accountant, as I was raising three children on my own and needed to earn a decent living, but what I really wanted to do was be a diplomat or member of Congress … I even applied to the CIA way back in the early days after earning my B.A. in political science! Today, if I were starting fresh, I think I would consider a career as a teacher, for our system of education is failing miserably and we need people willing to think outside the box, willing to buck the system and actually TEACH children about history, sociology, and how to think for themselves. Thank you, dear friend, for your kindness and support … it means so much to me! Hugs

        Liked by 1 person

  8. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy this week! Thank you for mentioning my post, as that will probably mop up a few that you might not play. I did a post on Playing For Change last September and opened it with this one. As you say, it is a great version. And maybe you now have an idea for another series: Playing For Change Week 😊

    Liked by 4 people

  11. Pingback: ♫ Doctor My Eyes ♫ (Redux) | Filosofa’s Word | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

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