Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes Songtext
von Johnny Cash

The reason I wanna sing this next song
Is because it has so many, and such a strong memories for me
I can see me when I was 17 years old
Standing in the end of the Dyess high school gimnasium
At a senior class graduation, I was a junior at the time
The next year I graduated
But I was a junior and they called on me to sing a special
They called it for the graduation, for the commitment exercises, so
I′m sorry, but I don't remember my piano player′s name
It was a school teacher, she played a piano and I sang this song

This is... I guess this is when I was looking for myself
But I never forgot it
Because it was one of my first public singing occasions
And I've sang this song mainly to myself
Ever since I was 17 years old because of those memories
I suppose this song is Elisabehean
The words sound like King James version of the bible


Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I'll not ask for wine

A thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine
But might I of Jove′s nectar sip
I would not change for thine

I sent thee late a rosy wreath
Not so much hon′ring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be

But thou thereon did'st only breathe
And sent′st it back to me
Since when it grows and smells, I swear
Not of itself, but thee

Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine
Or leave a kiss within the cup
And I'll not ask for wine


The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine
But might I of Jove′s nectar sip
I would not change for thine