# Song lyrics (not tearing out eyes) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 18, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639 "2020-01-18T23:39:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/1 "2020-01-18T23:39:36Z")
There’s a song I heard years ago, a nasty breakup song I think, and the kicker goes something like this: > [@](#): > > And the only thing that keeps me from tearing out my eyes > is the fear that I would see you in my mind I can’t find any reference online to this lyric, and I can’t remember any of the rest of the song. Does this ring a bell for anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/2 "2020-01-20T22:40:49Z")
If you search for a subset of your posted lyrics, you find a Surfjan Stevens song called [The Only Thing](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adKEqin5SoI) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/3 "2020-01-23T01:22:56Z")
Thanks! I found that result, but it’s definitely not the song I’m thinking of. That song is sweet and breathy and chill. The song I’m thinking of is kind of rockabilly, a little Robert Earl Keen and a little Pogues, real fast and funny/angry. I think it might be by Luther Wright and the Wrongs (a weird Canadian band best known for their bluegrass cover of The Wall), but I can’t find their lyrics anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/4 "2020-01-23T13:18:41Z")
“When he saw what he had done, He tore his eyes out, one by one. A tragic end for a loyal son Who loved his mother” – Tom Lerher, _Oedipus Rex_ ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/5 "2020-01-23T13:43:48Z")
“He took the rhinestone barrette from her hair And put out both his eyes And as soon as he had put out both his eyes He kind of wished he hadn’t.” – P.D.Q. Bach, _Oedipus Tex_ ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/song-lyrics-not-tearing-out-eyes/846639/6 "2020-01-23T21:29:22Z")
Thanks, but neither of those are it. Late last night I woke up and think I remembered. When I was a teenager there was a local folk singer I adored, Joe Williams. I’m pretty sure this was a lyric from a song he wrote. Since he was pretty much only a local musician, no wonder I can’t find it online. ([here’s an example of his songs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFST2I8Hi-k), if anyone cares.)