Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of an intense, unfulfilled longing sparked by a pair of serene green eyes. The initial verses establish a powerful, almost spiritual connection, where these eyes instilled an "eternal thirst to love" and offered "all the sweetnesses they knew how to give." This sets up a tone of deep admiration and a memory of profound emotional fulfillment, even if the specific actions are abstract – "longings and caresses," "kisses and tendernesses."
The central tension arises from the stark contrast between the memory of these eyes and the present reality. The narrator describes the eyes as "serene like a lake," a peaceful image that belies the turmoil they've caused. The line "in whose still waters I once looked at myself" suggests a moment of self-discovery or profound reflection triggered by this gaze. However, this peaceful reflection is shattered by the realization of the lasting emotional damage.
The most striking element is the heartbreaking final stanza. The narrator declares, "They don't know the sadnesses that in my soul they have left." This reveals that the serene gaze, which once offered sweetness, has now become the source of deep sorrow. The final, devastating line, "Those green eyes that I will never kiss...", crystallizes the unrequited nature of this affection and the permanent ache of this lost possibility. The lyrics masterfully use the image of serene eyes to convey both profound past joy and enduring present pain, highlighting the bittersweet power of memory and unattainable desire.