The Smashing Pumpkins – By Starlight

"By Starlight" as written by and Billy Corgan....
By starlight I'll kiss you
And promise to be your one and only
I'll make you feel happy
And leave you to be lost in mine
And where will we go what will we do?
Soon said I, will know
Dead eyes, are you just like me?
'Cause her eyes were as vacant as the seas
Dead eyes, are you just like me?
And all along, we knew we'd carry on
Just to belong
By starlight I know you
As lovely as a wish granted true
My life has been empty, my life has been untrue
And does she really know, who I really am?
Does she really know me at last
Dead eyes, are you just like me?


Lyrics submitted by y2doggy, edited by BIRDDUDE830

By Starlight song meanings
Add your thoughts

56 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General CommentI love this song as well. My favorite line being, "My life has been empty my life has been untrue". He's felt so sad all his life...and at last, he feels like maybe he's finally found someone that reflects that sadness back at him, that feels the same way he does. He can see it in her eyes. It's almost like a fantasy; like, by just looking in her eyes, he imagines her to be this dark angel who maybe can't heal him but can at least they can share their sorrows together...and he won't have to be so alone anymore. But will the fantasy come true? It's bittersweet.
    DeathRockBoyon May 28, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIt's about seeing your same pain in the eyes of you lover.
    "Dead eyes, dead eyes, are you just like me?"

    Being able to share the same pain with someone you're in love with sounds purty emo but awesome.
    "I'll make you feel happy, and leave you to be lost in mine"

    My favorite Pumpkins song.

    TraViesoon February 08, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +2
    General CommentFound this:

    "In Billy Corgan's autobiography he describes his wedding day, writing that while the priest spoke he looked into his wife's eyes and thought she was a million miles away. He makes constant reference to her eyes in this song: "Dead eyes vacant as the sea." He didn't enjoy the wedding day and in the night when his wife had gone to bed he went out and looked up at the stars and thought he had made a mistake, hence "by starlight." He says, "I'll promise to be your one and only," and "Are you just like me," showing that he thinks she feels the same way. Corgan married Chris Fabian in 1993, and they divorced in 1997."
    TheSighon May 02, 2010   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +1
    General CommentI think this song was written about Billy's marriage to Chris. It tells the story about how he looks into her eyes and knew she felt nothing for him and in return he knew he didn't really love her either. Hence the lines, Dead eyes are you just like me? and her eyes were as vacant as the seas. He's wondering if he ever knew the person he's about to marry. I think somewhat he's even regretting his marriage.

    These don't seem like very loving, positive lines to me.
    FailedOpinionson June 10, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI just love this song so much...don't know what it means but I don't care right now!
    y2doggyon May 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentim in love with this song. and i have to agree with you, he found the right person who feels the same as him. "dead eyes dead eyes, are you just like me"

    this song is so perfect. it describes what everyone wants. that person that you can look at and now that they understand just how you feel.

    eyes are everything.
    xx.on June 05, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentsorry...i realized i missed a line in the lyrics..."Her eyes were as vacant as the sea".

    Powerful song.
    y2doggyon July 04, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI LOVE THIS SOOOOOONG!!
    I mean... I love almost all pumpkins songs...
    But this song is so special to me...
    I love smashing pumpkins
    I love billy corgan
    Nowhere_Girlon July 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment...Is she just like me?
    AnguishOfAngeron July 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is such a beautiful song, it really doesn't get as much recognition as it deserves. not only does it have beautiful lyrics, but the music just puts you in such a peaceful trance. this was my ex-boyfriend and i's song. it's really beautiful, and really special to me...every time i hear it, it makes me miss him a thousand times more
    eleventeen crayonon June 22, 2003   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain