Introduction:
Country crooner Keith Whitley’s emotional ballad, Don’t Close Your Eyes, released in 1988, is a cornerstone of neotraditional country music. The song, which appears on Whitley’s studio album LA Freeway, was written by songwriter Bob McDill. Garth Fundis, known for his work with artists like Ricky Skaggs and George Strait, produced the track.
Don’t Close Your Eyes became a defining song for Whitley’s career. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in 1988, solidifying Whitley’s place among the leading voices in country music. Don’t Close Your Eyes is lauded for its plaintive melody and Whitley’s smooth, soulful vocals, which convey the heartache of a man yearning for a love overshadowed by the woman’s past relationship. The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the complexities of love and loss with a simple yet powerful message of letting go and embracing the present.
Don’t Close Your Eyes has transcended its time on the charts. In 2004, the song was inducted into the Country Music Association’s Hall of Fame, a prestigious honor reserved for country music’s most significant and influential songs. Don’t Close Your Eyes has also been covered by numerous artists**, a tradition that continues to illustrate the song’s lasting impact on the genre. From its chart-topping success to its place in the Country Music Hall of Fame, Don’t Close Your Eyes cemented Keith Whitley’s legacy as a country music great.
Video:
Lyrics:
I know you loved himA long time agoEven now in my armsYou still want him, I knowBut darling this timeLet your memories dieWhen you hold me tonightDon’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyesLet it be meDon’t pretend it’s himIn some fantasyDarling, just once let yesterday goAnd you’ll find more loveThan you’ve ever knownJust hold me tightWhen you love me tonightAnd don’t close your eyes
Maybe I’ve been a foolHolding on all this timeLyin’ here in your armsKnowing he’s in your mindBut I keep hoping some dayThat you’ll see the lightLet it be me tonightDon’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyesLet it be meDon’t pretend it’s himIn some fantasyDarling, just once let yesterday goAnd you’ll find more loveThan you’ve ever knownJust hold me tightWhen you love me tonightAnd don’t close your eyes
Don’t close your eyesLet it be meDon’t pretend it’s himIn some fantasyDarling, just once let yesterday goYou’ll find more loveThan you’ve ever knownJust hold me tightWhen you love me tonightAnd don’t close your eyes
Just hold me tightWhen you love me tonightAnd don’t close your eyes