"Big Eyes" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lana Del Rey. It was written by Del Rey and producer Dan Heath and served as the title track to Tim Burton's film Big Eyes. It was officially released on December 23, 2014 via digital download by Interscope Records as part of the movie's soundtrack album. The song's lyrics make reference to the lead character's emotions as she discovers her paintings being sold in a supermarket in the middle of the film.
The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards. On December 13, the song was shortlisted as one of 79 potential nominees for the Academy Awards for Best Original Song, but failed to earn a nomination.
Background[]
The song was first officially teased on December 1, 2014, on Yahoo! Movies within a one-minute lyric video featuring scenes from the film.
According to one of the film's co-writers and producers Larry Karaszewski, "Tim Burton showed Lana Del Rey the film and she fell in love with it. Women, in particular, seem to get the movie, and Lana really got the movie. The whole thing is about a woman who can't find her voice [and when the song first plays in the movie] it almost becomes a musical. Lana's song expresses what Margaret is feeling so perfectly, it's like a soliloquy of her inner thoughts."[1]
Lyrics[]
With your big eyes
And your big lies
With your big eyes
And your big lies
I saw you creeping around the garden; what are you hiding?
I beg your pardon, don't tell me "nothing"
I used to think that I could trust you
I was your woman
You were my knight and shining companion
To my surprise
My love's demise
Was his own greed
And lullabies
With your big eyes
And your big lies
With your big eyes
And your big lies
I noticed you got hot in summer
You had no comfort
Your shirt was cotton
Your face was sunburned
You paced around like you'd been waiting
Waiting for something
Your world was burning and I stood watching
As I looked on
The flames grew high
You watched me frown
I said "goodbye"
With your big eyes
And your big lies
With your big eyes
And your big lies
Is it me, was I wrong to have trusted you?
Did I see what I wanted, what wasn't true?
Was I wrong to go on like a little fool?
It's amazing what women in love will do
With your big eyes
And your big lies
With your big eyes
And your big lies
Videos[]
Reception[]
Billboard's Chris Payne wrote that Del Rey's "vocal theatrics and some harrowingly haunting string-laden production draw us in". Esther Zuckerman of Entertainment Weekly said the title track "delivers on its Del Rey-ian promise with a dramatic, retro flair".