"Elisabeth's Eyes" | ||||
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Single by Nik Kershaw | ||||
from the album The Works | ||||
Released | 1989 | |||
Format | 7" single, 12" single, CD single | |||
Length | 4:37 | |||
Label | MCA | |||
Songwriter(s) | Nik Kershaw | |||
Producer(s) | Nik Kershaw, Julian Mendelsohn | |||
Nik Kershaw singles chronology | ||||
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"Elisabeth's Eyes" is the second single of 1989 from English musician Nik Kershaw. The single was the second and final single from Kershaw's fourth album The Works.
Since 1986, Kershaw's commercial success was declining with his singles charting lower and lower from the top 20 chart within the UK. The album's leading single "One Step Ahead" managed to peak at #55 in the UK, however "Elisabeth's Eyes" failed to chart in the top 100 altogether. This was Kershaw's first single to fail the chart since his debut release in 1983. After the release of the single, Kershaw decided to end his solo career, concentrating on writing and producing for other artists instead, until 1998 when Kershaw released the album 15 Minutes.
"Elisabeth's Eyes" was written by Kershaw who would write most of his material solely. The song was produced by Julian Mendelsohn and Kershaw. Mendelsohn is a British producer who has worked with numerous artists such as Pet Shop Boys, Elton John, Jimmy Page, Bob Marley and Paul McCartney. Although the album was produced by Peter Wolf and co-produced by Brian Malouf, both singles, including "Elisabeth's Eyes", were written shortly after Kershaw became unhappy with Wolf's production and his direction for the album. Both singles from the album were produced by Kershaw and Julian Mendelsohn, whilst the two also re-worked the production of the entire album, earning them an additional production credit.
The song's lyrics refer to American convict Willie Darden and his intimate relationship via letters with Elisabeth Allen from Stanford, England. Darden was convicted for a murder that occurred during the robbery of a furniture store. Allen and others in America were convinced of Darden's innocence and consistently battled for a reprieve. In early 1988, after spending years on death row, the State of Florida executed Darden in the electric chair. The state and federal governments failed to ensure Darden's right to a free and fair trial, whilst the unfair and racially discriminatory trial resulted in his execution. When Kershaw read about Allen's long-range romance he was so touched by the sentiment, he wrote the single, trying to imagine what Darden would have written in his last letter.