Meaning of "Dark Eyes" by Bob Dylan

In "Dark Eyes," Bob Dylan paints a bleak and melancholic picture of the world. The lyrics suggest a feeling of detachment and isolation from the experiences of others. The gentlemen talking and drinking by the riverside represent society's distractions and superficialities. The narrator, however, sees through this facade and recognizes the harsh realities of life and death. The repetition of "dark eyes" emphasizes the somber tone and suggests a sense of hopelessness.

The mention of a cock crowing and a soldier praying alludes to the presence of war and conflict. The mother searching for her lost child symbolizes the anguish and desperation that comes with loss and separation. The beating drum for the dead that rise highlights the inevitability of death and the fear it instills in both humans and nature.

The narrator's refusal to conform to societal expectations is evident in their dismissal of revenge as something hollow and meaningless. They reject the idea that beauty should go unrecognized and instead feel only heat and flame—a raw, passionate emotion that contrasts with the darkness they see.

The reference to a French girl in paradise and a drunken man at the wheel represents the destructive nature of desire and the consequences it brings. Hunger, both literal and metaphorical, pays a heavy price in the pursuit of fleeting pleasures. Time is fleeting, and passion rules the decisions made in its wake.

Ultimately, the lyrics of "Dark Eyes" suggest a sense of desolation, disillusionment, and a yearning for something more meaningful in life. Through the repeated image of dark eyes, Dylan captures the essence of a world that appears bleak and devoid of hope.