I would like to know the derivation of the term "spanish eyes."  I
would like to know about any art, literature, music associated with
the term.  Specifically, I would like to know whether this term is
associated with a typical facial feature or eye morphology in hispanic
women.

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 24 May 2003 10:13 PDT

A discussion of "any art, literature, and music" associated with
"Spanish eyes" might take a long time.  Moreover, some people seem to
use "Spanish eyes" as meaning something distinctive about eyes of
Spanish (or Latin American) people, while for others it is at least
partially metaphorical (though perhaps still intending to convey
something distinctive and "Spanish" about the eyes).

I have found a few discussions of one particular partially
metaphorical association for "Spanish eyes", both literary (from the
early 20th century) and musical (from the late 20th century).  Would
an answer about this particular association, along with some other
uses of Spanish eyes in art, literature, and music, be a sufficient
answer?  (In responding, you might want to note the pricing guidelines
at http://answers.google.com/answers/pricing.html .)

---

Clarification of Question by drt123-ga on 25 May 2003 18:32 PDT

Hi,
This is background for a two minute news segment on hispanic women who
choose to have cosmetic eyelid surgery so it does not have to be too
in depth.  I just need a little background on the derivation of the
term and specifically on the importance of beautiful eyes in
spanics/latino culture.  Just give me whatever you have as I need the
info within 24 hours.
thanks

Hello drt123-ga,

In accordance with your instruction to give you whatever I have, here
is all that I have on "spanish eyes".

The main information that I have found, oddly enough, has to do with
the Irish.  There is a belief (perhaps not based in fact) that the
Irish have some Spanish ancestry, and thus have "Spanish eyes".  The
term "Spanish eyes" was used -- and perhaps originally popularized --
by James Joyce in his descriptions of Molly Bloom in "Ulysses".  More
recently, U2 had a song called "Spanish Eyes", which appears to be a
reference to Ireland.

"Do some Irish names come from Spanish Armada survivors?"
(19-Oct-1979)
The Straight Dope
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_111.html

"Prof. Dr. Hildegard L.C. Tristram" [under heading "Literatur":
citation of "Molly Bloom's Spanish Eyes"]
Universität Potsdam
http://www.uni-potsdam.de/u/lingtri/tristram/anglist.htm

"Letras dos Singles do Álbum The Joshua Tree: Spanish Eyes"
U2 Three
http://www.u2three.com.br/portugues/letras/letrasdossinglesdoalbumthejoshuatree.htm#eyes

"spanish eyes", thread in <soc.culture.europe> (Jan 21-22, 2001)
Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/groups?threadm=94ffmc%246dc%241%40diana.bcn.ttd.net

Google cache of "U2 - Beautiful Day" [scroll to last two messages on
the page]
SongMeanings 
http://216.239.37.100/search?q=cache:NP_Tvl77WV4J:www.songmeanings.net/lyric.php%3Flid%3D145

U2 might possibly be suggesting that Spanish eyes are "green and
gold".  However, I believe that the first thing that would come to
many people's minds -- as with cryptica-ga -- is the "blue Spanish
eyes" from the song peformed by Al Martino and many others.

In general, this and other songs called "Spanish Eyes" have been
recorded many times.  You can see and hear many of these versions
here:

"Search All Music '"spanish eyes"'"
Tower Records
http://music.towerrecords.com/towermusic?n=0&att=All_Music+%22spanish%20eyes%22&cs=%22spanish%20eyes%22&csn=3&csr=1&dym=1&cc=USD

You can view lyrics for the songs on these pages:

"Searched the web for lyrics 'spanish eyes'"
Google
://www.google.com/search?num=30&hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&safe=off&q=lyrics+%22spanish+eyes%22

Images, including some art, relating to "Spanish eyes" can be found by
browsing these pages:

"Searched images for 'spanish eyes'"
Google Image Search
http://images.google.com/images?q=%22spanish+eyes%22&svnum=30&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&safe=off&filter=0

I hope that this information is helpful.

- justaskscott-ga


Search terms used on Google:

"phrase spanish eyes"
"spanish eyes"
lyrics
u2
"james joyce"
irish

I'm not a researcher, so leave the hard stuff to justaskscott -- but
first thing musically that comes to mind is Al Martino's hit record,
"SPANISH EYES. Lyrics by Eddie Snyder & Charlie Singleton.   Music by
Bert Kaempfert.
A rhumba beat. . .  Doesn't answer your question about WHY, but was
wildly popular in the '60s.

Blue, Spanish eyes
Tear drops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please, please don't cry
This is just adios and not goodbye. 
Soon, I'll return
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold. 
Please, say "Si, si",
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me. 

Blue Spanish eyes, 
Prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
True Spanish eyes, 
Please smile for me once more before I go. 
Soon I'll return 
Bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Sí, sí",
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me