This song captures the profound moment, being transfixed in love. The setting for the moment is dreamy, late, private and mysterious. In the first stanza, images of soulful feelings (L1, L3-L5) alternate with feelings of vague uncertainty (L2, L6). Then the magic moment happens: “you gazed up at me.” In that moment he sees the gift of love, the light, and he is transformed. The second stanza explains what happened in the moment. Even though he had love inklings (little bell), he had tried to keep his defenses up (a fling, tried to run, saying he couldn’t love). The earlier tension between soulful feelings and insecurity resolve in that profound love moment. The third stanza returns to the moment. As he sees the love in the eyes of his beloved, he simultaneously experiences his love, his light. He is transfixed, and the moment changes everything, he is devoted.
Rundgren, who is a brilliant, productive, and meticulous artist downplayed this simple, elegant song, saying it was cliché filled and quickly written. He probably takes most pride in the more hard fought products of his storied career, which has explored musical forms from energetic rock to jazz fusion, created innovations in audio production engineering, and built collaborations with rockers, pop-artists, and even symphonies. I get that. But, Mr. Rundgren, don’t be too hard on this song, because a brilliant, hardworking musician can sometimes only need an inspired "moment" to create, transfix, and illuminate the light in our eyes.
This song captures the profound moment, being transfixed in love. The setting for the moment is dreamy, late, private and mysterious. In the first stanza, images of soulful feelings (L1, L3-L5) alternate with feelings of vague uncertainty (L2, L6). Then the magic moment happens: “you gazed up at me.” In that moment he sees the gift of love, the light, and he is transformed. The second stanza explains what happened in the moment. Even though he had love inklings (little bell), he had tried to keep his defenses up (a fling, tried to run, saying he couldn’t love). The earlier tension between soulful feelings and insecurity resolve in that profound love moment. The third stanza returns to the moment. As he sees the love in the eyes of his beloved, he simultaneously experiences his love, his light. He is transfixed, and the moment changes everything, he is devoted.
Rundgren, who is a brilliant, productive, and meticulous artist downplayed this simple, elegant song, saying it was cliché filled and quickly written. He probably takes most pride in the more hard fought products of his storied career, which has explored musical forms from energetic rock to jazz fusion, created innovations in audio production engineering, and built collaborations with rockers, pop-artists, and even symphonies. I get that. But, Mr. Rundgren, don’t be too hard on this song, because a brilliant, hardworking musician can sometimes only need an inspired "moment" to create, transfix, and illuminate the light in our eyes.