Song Review: Luke Hemmings Close My Eyes
Written by: Mikaila Storrs
Luke Hemmings has released the second installment of his upcoming EP, titled "boy," which is set to be released on April 26. In his new song, "Close My Eyes," he grapples with the realization that his youth is now behind him, delving into the emotions that come with this recognition.
It's a common experience for those in their mid to late twenties to grapple with. You reflect on your teenage years, with all the mistakes and awkward moments, and suddenly realize you're now an adult, facing important decisions about your future. In "Close My Eyes," Luke Hemmings seems to be struggling to fully accept this transition. It seems like we'll see him work through these emotions in the rest of the EP.
Throughout "Close My Eyes," Luke expresses a reluctance to accept the reality of growing up, avoiding the introspection needed to confront his past mistakes.
In a vulnerable email to fans, he says, “I wrote this as I headed into my late 20s and felt an unavoidable wave of fear and anxiety towards the inevitable death of my youth. I found myself unable to sleep because every time I tried, it was as if a film of my life was projected onto the back of my eyelids. The mistakes, successes, everything that could have been and everything that was. I felt physical growing pains of becoming a fully realized version of myself while having to say goodbye to the past.”
The lines "watch it die in the mirror" and "I never got to say goodbye" stood out to me. They evoke the experience of seeing oneself age in the mirror, symbolizing the gradual loss of youth. It feels like this change happens suddenly, without the opportunity to properly say goodbye to that youthful phase of life. I imagine this is a challenge for Luke, given that he rose to fame at 16, missing out on many typical teenage experiences and facing more freedom and challenges than most, while also being in a haze of constantly touring for most of his adolescence.
I'm eagerly anticipating the rest of the "boy" EP and the complete narrative that Luke is unfolding about the journey from childhood to adulthood. As a long-time fan who has witnessed this transition in real-time, and is currently going through it herself, I'm especially intrigued by how Luke will continue to explore this theme.