By Starlight

Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In Billy Corgan's autobiography he describes his wedding day, writing that while the priest spoke he looked into his wife's eyes and thought she was a million miles away. He makes constant reference to her eyes in this song: "Dead eyes vacant as the sea."

    He didn't enjoy the wedding day, and at night when his wife had gone to bed he went out and looked up at the stars and thought he had made a mistake, hence "by starlight." He says, "I'll promise to be your one and only," and "Are you just like me," showing that he thinks she feels the same way. Corgan married Chris Fabian in 1993, and they divorced in 1997. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Leanne - Dublin, Ireland

Comments: 1

  • Ripu from North Shore, New ZealandHm i totally disagree with this interpretation. i allways thought it was about how maybe seeing someone and really just liking them at that moment but knowing their name or anything just knowing them by a distinctive feature (like dead eyes as vacent as the seas) and wondering if the person is just as lonely as you and just like you
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

Paul Williams

Paul WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

He's a singer and an actor, but as a songwriter Paul helped make Kermit a cultured frog, turned a bank commercial into a huge hit and made love both "exciting and new" and "soft as an easy chair."

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes

Chris Robinson of The Black CrowesSongwriter Interviews

"Great songwriters don't necessarily have hit songs," says Chris. He's written a bunch, but his fans are more interested in the intricate jams.

Edie Brickell

Edie BrickellSongwriter Interviews

Edie Brickell on her collaborations with Paul Simon, Steve Martin and Willie Nelson, and her 2021 album with the New Bohemians.