Meaning of "Someone Else's Eyes" by Aretha Franklin

The song "Someone Else's Eyes" explores themes of self-discovery, independence, and reclaiming one's identity. The lyrics convey the narrator's realization that she has been living her life based on other people's expectations and perceptions of her. She acknowledges that she has been singing someone else's melody, emphasizing the lack of authenticity and self-expression in her life. This revelation leads her to see reflections of the girl she used to be and the woman she has become, but both versions defined by someone else and not by her own sense of self. The lyrics highlight the importance of self-love and asserting one's own desires and aspirations. The narrator yearns to find her true self and no longer take herself for granted in someone else's eyes.

The chorus expresses the narrator's need for independence and self-reliance. She acknowledges that the person she was revolving around was like the sun in her life, but now she desires to be free and in control of her own destiny. The lyrics suggest that the narrator has lost herself in the relationship, relying too heavily on someone else to define her worth and identity. She realizes that she cannot love herself or love the person she has become through someone else's eyes. This realization prompts her to take control and find her own path.

The bridge of the song further emphasizes the narrator's journey towards self-empowerment. She asserts that she will show herself that she can exist without a man, indicating her desire to be independent and not define herself solely through romantic relationships. The lyrics convey a sense of liberation as the narrator strives to see herself as whole and not defined by anyone else, acknowledging that she was lost within the confines of another person's name.

The repetition of the chorus reinforces the message of the song, highlighting the narrator's determination to rediscover herself and resist being defined by someone else's perception. The song ends with the plea to God to hear the narrator's cry and be by her side as she navigates her journey back home, symbolizing her quest to regain her true self.