“Eye in the Sky” by The Alan Parsons Project
There has been much debate as to what the “eye in the sky”, as used within the context of this song, actually refers to. The most-general understanding of the term is that it points to the idea of someone being surveilled. And that also seems to be fundamentally how it is utilized in this song.
Verses 1 & 2
It would seem that the first two verses are being relayed from the perspective of the party that is actually doing the monitoring. And basically, what he seems to be telling the addressee is that he has gathered enough information on him/her to prove this person’s guilt.
Now who the party is doing the surveilling is not specified. Nor do we know exactly who the addressee is. It has been suggested that it may be one lover spying on another. Or another prevailing theory is that it is a reference to a camera monitoring a casino, with the addressee being akin to a gambler.
Such ambiguity seems to be intentional. That is to say that who is initiating the surveillance is not particularly important. Rather the main focus is on the entire concept of a person being under constant watch. And the individual who is doing the watching is convinced that the subject of his observation is guilty. But that being said, classifying the “eye in the sky” as being tantamount to a casino’s security system makes more sense within the framework of this song than labeling it as some kind of obsessed lover.
Verse 3
The third verse reads as if it is rather being relayed from the perspective of the addressee, i.e. the person who is being watched. One clue to possibly support this idea is how in the chorus the narrator uses the word ‘fool’ in the third person, while in the third verse he uses it more from a first-person perspective, as if he were the one being called a fool prior. Moreover in the chorus the singer, i.e. the “eye in the sky”, claims that it has the power to cheat the addressee. Meanwhile in the third verse the singer is stating that he is no longer privy to being ‘deceived’, i.e. a victim of cheating. So once again it seems like Eric Woolfson switches roles – from the “eye in the sky” to the person the eye is on – for the third verse and only the third verse.
“Eye in the Sky” focuses on Surveillance
Ultimately we can say that those who concluded this song is about surveillance are in fact correct. And more specifically, the theory that it is based on the writer’s experiences in casinos is also very plausible. And generally speaking the implication is that if nothing else the casino, or whoever it is that is doing the surveillance here, is more dishonest than the person(s) it is tasked with overseeing.
Release Date of “Eye in the Sky”
This is the second single and title track from the English rock band’s sixth-studio album. It was released by Arista Records during June of 1982. The album in question was also titled “Eye in the Sky”.
Chart Success
“Eye in the Sky” reached number one in Canada and Spain. And overall it charted in 8 countries, including scoring a number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Who wrote “Eye in the Sky”
“Eye in the Sky” was written and produced by the core members of The Alan Parsons Project:
- Alan Parsons
- Eric Woolfson
I guess lover is a cheater. Better leave and don’t stay anymore. Full of lies.
It’s about someone who is with a cheater and a liar and he’s telling them to go find someone else to treat like a fool because it ain’t him.
The chorus? They’re saying they’ve learned what the signs are of a cheater and a liar, they know their lies, and they can lie and cheat too because they watched and learned from their partner.
Tracy Lawrence’s song “Alibies” is about the same exact thing.
I see you edited my comment. LOL
I sensed the verses were of the citizenry giving it to the people in power and the chorus is the government’s response throughout.
Well I was off. I figured it was about God warning us Children he is watching, listening, and not even our thoughts are private where HE is concerned.
I think it’s about the Cabal going down like it is currently. We know and see what you have done to us over centuries, tortured and maimed children for Adrenochrome to sacrifice to the devil himself, selling your souls for fame, glory, prestige, any piece of the action in every industry and country in the world. and we are fools no longer because we are awake and see what you have done. You constantly show us what you do and we are after you now because NCSWIC!! God will deal with you very very soon and you have lost this game you have played for too long.
Wow.
NCSWIC … Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming … DAMN STRAIGHT! YOU BETHCA!
Well said Anon & Just Someone; you are both very particulat persons regardless of your names and you are going to glide…just ignore those effects by goverments or whoever devils and just trance furr ur info to other people whenever possible. Peace n Love.
i think it could also be to a family member that was a liar and gaslighter ….. and got caught out … hence the phrase “I am the eye in the sky (person onto the Liar) looking at you …(watching them knowing their game) .. i am the maker of rules (meaning rules to live by .. dealing with fools (the perp)” .. lol i can relate to this having had caught a few ppl out with Lies and BS 😀
I had a cup of tea (yes, tea) with Alan at a cafe along Milpas Street one afternoon, and he revealed that the ‘eye in the sky’ was a reference to surveillance cameras that had been surreptitiously installed at the British Library, where his father Denys worked as press officer and scientist in the 50s & 60s. The cameras were used to monitor and unknowingly spy on library employees. Naturally, the cameras recorded a wide range of non-work activities, including relations between staff members, that was later used to enforce compliance with – quite possibly questionable – State demands.
I had a cup of tea (yes, tea) with Alan at a cafe along Milpas Street one afternoon, and he revealed that the ‘eye in the sky’ was a reference to surveillance cameras that had been surreptitiously installed at the British Library, where his father Denys worked as press officer and scientist in the 50s & 60s. The cameras were used to monitor and unknowingly spy on library employees. Naturally, the cameras recorded a wide range of non-work activities, including relations between staff members, that was later used to enforce compliance with – quite possibly questionable – State demands.