About The Song
Keith Whitley released the song “Don’t Close Your Eyes” as the third single from his album of the same name in 1988. The song quickly reached number 1 on the country music charts and secured the number 2 spot in Canada. It also became the top country single on Billboard for that year.
At the start of his music career, Keith Whitley achieved success rapidly. The Kentucky-born singer initially began with bluegrass music. He played in a band called East Kentucky Mountain Boys alongside Opry legend Ricky Skaggs before both were discovered by Ralph Stanley and invited to join the Clinch Mountain Boys in 1970.
After several years in bluegrass, Whitley moved to Nashville in 1983 to pursue a career in country music, where he gained legendary status and had 19 singles chart on Billboard’s country music rankings.
With songs like “When You Say Nothing At All,” “No Stranger In The Rain,” “Miami, My Amy,” and “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” Whitley clearly established a unique style. No other singer has been able to convey emotion quite like he did.
Written by Bob McDill, “Don’t Close Your Eyes” tells the story of a man who loves a woman still haunted by memories of a past relationship, and every time she closes her eyes, she thinks of him.
“Don’t close your eyes. Let me be the one. Don’t pretend it’s him, in a dream. Darling, just this once, let go of the past. And you’ll find more love than you ever knew. Just hold me tight when you love me tonight. And don’t close your eyes,” the man pleads with her.
However, Whitley faced many personal struggles, which ultimately cost him his life in 1989 – he died from alcohol poisoning at just 33 years old. Five of Whitley’s early solo singles topped the charts, but he only lived to see three of them reach the number one spot.
Although Keith Whitley’s life was cut short, his music and spirit continue to live on in the hearts and lives of fans who cherish the timeless talent of this star. You can watch his emotional performance in the video below.
Video
Lyrics
I know you loved him
A long time ago
Even now in my arms
You still want him I know
But darling this time
Let your memories die
When you hold me tonight
Don’t close your eyesDon’t close your eyes
Let it be me
Don’t pretend it’s him
In some fantasy
Darling just once
Let yesterday go
You’ll find more love
Than you’ve ever known
Just hold me tight
When you love me tonight
And don’t close your eyesMaybe I’ve been a fool
Holding on all this time
Lyin’ here in your arms
Knowing he’s in your mind
But I keep hoping some day
That you’ll see the light
Let it be me tonight
Don’t close your eyesDon’t close your eyes
Let it be me
Don’t pretend it’s him
In some fantasy
Darling just once
Let yesterday go
You’ll find more love
Than you’ve ever known
Just hold me tight
When you love me tonight
And don’t close your eyesDon’t close your eyes
Let it be me
Don’t pretend it’s him
In some fantasy
Darling just once
Let yesterday go
You’ll find more love
Than you’ve ever known
Just hold me tight
When you love me tonight
And don’t close your eyesJust hold me tight
When you love me tonight
And don’t close your eyes
he had Really good music