A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.
Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Right Between The Eyes” deals with honest communication. In dealing with other people, especially friends and lovers, there is a lot of trust involved. If we don’t trust what people say, we could remain shut off to almost everyone. There are very few people who would want to wait around to “prove” to you that they are an honest person. So trusting is important.
We develop a kind of blindness to those we love. When that trust is broken it can be debilitating. When there are secrets that are later discovered…the same thing. Why couldn’t you just have told me? It makes you doubt that the relationship ever had any real value. Nash seems to value some of this radical honesty. A man would have looked me in the eyes and told me the truth.
Most of the power of “Right Between the Eyes” comes from the clear vocal delivery of a powerful message. But, of course, the melody is so beautiful. The harmonies that CSNY are so famous for are very subtle in this song. The band is able to show restraint which is difficult. Sometimes egos get in the way and everyone wants to sing lead—which ruins good harmonies. While CSNY has had clashes of egos their harmonies have still always been able to remain amazing.
Right Between The Eyes Lyrics
My head is hanging heavy with the thoughts of him in mind,
‘Tis sacrilege for us to take advantage of the blind.
So, tell before you come to me from out of yonder skies,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.
And the pain that we can bring to him,
I don’t think he could beat.
Please don’t ask me how I know
I’ve just been up that street.
And all the people living there
Have been silenced by their own lies…
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.
And talking’ from experience I know how he would feel,
Waking up and finding that his one love wasn’t real.
But the age of truth will soon appear, Aquarius arrives,
A man’s a man who looks a man right between the eyes.
written by Graham Nash