MY EYES

"MY EYES" is a deeply introspective and dualistic track that explores the conflicting realities of Travis Scott's life. It functions as a song in two parts, each representing a different facet of his psyche and experiences. The first half, with its dreamy and melancholic soundscape featuring vocals from Sampha and Bon Iver, delves into themes of isolation, materialism, and the search for genuine connection amidst the disorienting haze of fame. Scott reflects on using wealth to solve emotional voids—buying property, cars, and watches—but ultimately finds solace only in the eyes of a lover. This section portrays a man questioning his own identity under the public microscope, asking, "Am I picture-perfect or do I look fried?"

The song's dramatic beat switch marks a pivot to a more raw, aggressive, and confessional second half. Here, Scott directly confronts the immense pressures and traumas he faces. Most significantly, he breaks his musical silence on the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy. The lines, "I replay them nights, and right by my side, all I see is a sea of people that ride wit' me / If they just knew what Scotty would do to jump off the stage and save him a child," reveal a sense of guilt and helplessness. This moment of vulnerability is juxtaposed with defiant braggadocio about his success and a fierce declaration of loyalty to his supporters and loved ones. The song's meaning is thus a complex tapestry of love, loss, fame, trauma, and the internal battle between vulnerability and a hardened exterior, encapsulating the chaotic duality of his world.

The song unfolds in two distinct acts, beginning with a dreamy and introspective atmosphere. It opens with a sense of weariness and the heavy weight of a lavish but empty lifestyle. The narrator attempts to buy his way out of his problems—purchasing a secluded house, faster cars for a quicker escape, and expensive watches as if to buy more time. These material possessions, however, fail to provide true fulfillment. He speaks of a deep, eternal connection with a lover, finding a universe within their eyes that offers a sense of permanence amidst the chaos. This first section is marked by a feeling of being scrutinized and misunderstood, questioning if his public image is real or just a distorted, 'fried' version of himself. There's a palpable sense of paranoia and emotional turmoil, with contributions from guest vocalists adding layers of soulful melancholy. The production is atmospheric, featuring ethereal synths and reverb-soaked vocals that create a soundscape reminiscent of a daze.

Suddenly, the song undergoes a dramatic transformation. The dreamy haze is shattered by a rapid, high-energy trap beat, signaling a significant shift in tone and perspective. The narrator's delivery becomes more aggressive, confident, and raw. He launches into a torrent of verses that touch upon his loyalty to his inner circle, his relentless work ethic, and the immense pressure he feels. In a moment of striking vulnerability, he directly addresses the devastating Astroworld festival tragedy. He describes replaying the horrific night in his mind, seeing a 'sea of people' who support him and expressing a desperate, hypothetical wish to have been able to jump off the stage to save a child. He grapples with the weight of his own creations and the challenge of finding a balance that can keep him inspired. The song then pivots to themes of braggadocio and defiance, listing his extravagant purchases and successes as a form of armor. The narrative concludes with a powerful declaration: if someone were to experience a single day through his eyes, they shouldn't blink, because they would miss everything in his fast-paced, overwhelming reality. It’s a final assertion of the unique and intense nature of his existence, a world of extreme highs and devastating lows that few can comprehend.

"MY EYES" was released on July 28, 2023, as a track on Travis Scott's fourth studio album, UTOPIA. The song was recorded in 2022 at Abbey Road Studios in London. It is known for its extensive and impressive list of collaborators. The production team included Travis Scott himself, Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Wheezy, WondaGurl, Vegyn, and Buddy Ross. The songwriting credits are shared among Scott (Jacques Webster), Sampha Sisay, Justin Vernon, Dua Saleh, Wesley Glass (Wheezy), Josiah Sherman (Buddy Ross), Joseph Thornalley (Vegyn), and Ebony Oshunrinde (WondaGurl).

The first part of the song features a distorted synth loop that samples "Over There" by the British indie pop act The Japanese House, a track which was also co-produced by Justin Vernon and released shortly before "MY EYES". This connection highlights Vernon's significant influence on the song's initial atmospheric sound. The inclusion of producers like Buddy Ross and Vegyn, known for their work on Frank Ocean's album Blonde, further contributes to the track's ethereal and emotionally raw first half. The song received critical acclaim upon release, with many critics highlighting it as a standout track on UTOPIA for its vulnerability, lyrical depth, and especially its dramatic, effective beat switch.

"MY EYES" showcases a dynamic and complex approach to rhyme and rhythm that mirrors its two-part structure.

In the first section, the rhythm is fluid and free-flowing. Travis Scott's vocal delivery is melodic and characterized by what has been described as "stuttering flows," reminiscent of Frank Ocean. The rhyme schemes here are less rigid, often relying on slant rhymes and assonance to maintain a dreamy, stream-of-consciousness feel that complements the atmospheric production. The tempo is a relaxed 119 BPM.

The second half marks a dramatic rhythmic shift. The tempo accelerates to a driving 147 BPM, and Scott adopts a much more aggressive, airtight trap flow. The rhyme schemes become more intricate and multi-syllabic, characteristic of modern technical rap. He uses internal rhymes and dense patterns to build momentum and convey a sense of urgency and emotional outpouring. The interplay between his vocal rhythm and the hard-hitting hi-hats and 808s creates a feeling of controlled chaos, reflecting the lyrical content of grappling with trauma and the pressures of his life. The song moves from a hazy, almost arhythmic state to one of intense, percussive precision.

The most prominent stylistic technique in "MY EYES" is its dramatic structural shift, creating a song of two distinct halves.

Musical Techniques:

• Beat Switch: The song famously transitions from a slow, atmospheric, and reverb-heavy first half (at 119 BPM) to an aggressive, fast-paced trap beat (at 147 BPM) in the second. This switch acts as a narrative device, mirroring the shift from introspective melancholy to raw, confrontational energy.
• Vocal Layering and Features: The first section features the soulful, ethereal vocals of Sampha and the layered, hazy crooning of Justin Vernon (Bon Iver), creating a dreamlike texture. Scott's own vocals are heavily processed with Auto-Tune and reverb, giving them a distant, almost disembodied quality that contrasts with his more direct and ferocious rap delivery in the second half.
• Sampling: The track's opening synth melody is a sample from "Over There" by The Japanese House, grounding the song in an indie/ambient electronic feel before the trap elements take over.

Literary Techniques:

• Juxtaposition: The lyrics constantly juxtapose themes of immense wealth with deep emotional emptiness, and love with trauma. This is most evident in the transition where the introspective first half gives way to the braggadocio and painful confessions of the second.
• Rhetorical Questions: The line "Am I picture-perfect or do I look fried?" is a direct address to the listener and to himself, encapsulating his identity crisis under the glare of fame.
• Narrative Voice: The song employs a deeply personal and vulnerable first-person narrative, particularly in the second half where Scott drops his typical ad-libs for a more direct and sustained verse, rapping as if his life depends on it. This creates a sense of raw confession and emotional urgency.

Upon the release of UTOPIA, "MY EYES" was immediately singled out by critics and fans as a masterpiece and one of the album's most significant tracks. Its cultural impact stems primarily from its dual nature: it is both a sonically ambitious piece of progressive rap and Scott's most direct lyrical confrontation with the 2021 Astroworld Festival tragedy. The lines referencing his desire to have saved a child became a major point of discussion, analyzed by media outlets and fans as a public expression of guilt and trauma.

The song was widely praised for its production, particularly the seamless yet shocking beat switch, and the contributions from indie darlings Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) and Sampha, which helped bridge the gap between mainstream hip-hop and alternative music aesthetics. Its structure and lyrical depth have been compared to the work of Frank Ocean. While not released as a formal single, the song performed well on charts globally due to the album's massive streaming numbers. It has been certified Platinum in the United States and has charted in numerous countries. Scott's performance of the song at the 2024 Grammy Awards further cemented its status as a cornerstone of the UTOPIA era.

The central symbol of the song is the "eyes," which represent multiple, layered concepts. Primarily, they are a window to the soul and a conduit for genuine connection. In the first half, staring into his lover's eyes is an escape, a place of permanence ("You'll be there forever"). They also symbolize perception and public scrutiny. Scott questions how he is seen ("Am I picture-perfect or do I look fried?"), highlighting the distortion between his inner self and his public image. The final line, "If I gave you a day in my life or a day in my eyes, don't blink," uses his eyes as a metaphor for his entire existence and perspective, suggesting its blindingly fast and overwhelming nature.

Other key metaphors include:

• Material Possessions as a Façade: Scott lists buying a crib, whips, and watches not for pleasure, but to create distance ("harder to reach"), gain speed, and grasp for time, symbolizing a futile attempt to control his chaotic life with wealth.
• A "Sea of People": This phrase, used when referencing the Astroworld tragedy, is a powerful metaphor for the immense crowd he witnesses from the stage. It conveys both the support of his fanbase and the overwhelming, tragic memory of the event.
• Pushing Back the Ceiling: This imagery represents fighting against limitations and suppressing overwhelming emotions ("push back the feelings") to make difficult decisions and continue functioning under immense pressure.

The most significant recurring motif is the phrase "my eyes," which anchors the song's theme. It appears in the opening, framing the song's introspective nature, and in the powerful closing line, "If I gave you a day in my life or a day in my eyes, don't blink," solidifying its role as a metaphor for Scott's entire perspective and lived experience.

Another recurring theme is the juxtaposition of luxury and emotional turmoil. Scott repeatedly lists high-value items—"Bought the crib on a hill," "couple more whips," "couple more watches," "a thousand on my feet"—not as simple boasts, but as recurring symbols of his attempt to insulate himself or find meaning through materialism, a theme that pervades the track.

The idea of a chaotic, overwhelming world is a consistent motif. Phrases like "the things I created became the most weighted" and the need to "find balance" point to a recurring struggle with the consequences of his fame. This is musically reinforced by the dramatic beat switch, which acts as a structural motif representing the song's—and his life's—inherent duality and turbulence.