"Gary Gilmore's Eyes" is a single by the punk rock band the Adverts. The song reached #18 in the UK Singles Chart in September, 1977 and earned the band an appearance on Top of the Pops. [1] It was originally intended to be included on the band's debut album, Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts, but was dropped at the last minute. It has, however, been included in most re-issues of the album. [2] The song was used in the soundtrack for the HBO movie "Shot in the Heart". [3] [4]
Contents[]
[hide] *1 Background
Background[edit][]
The song is written from the point of view of a patient who has just had an eye transplant and discovers that he has received the eyes of the executed murderer Gary Gilmore. [5] Gilmore had requested that his eyes be donated to science after his execution as "they'd probably be the only body part usable". [6] After Gilmore's execution, several of his body parts were removed for possible use as transplants or for study. [7] His corneas were used for transplants. [8][9]
Track listing[edit][]
1977 release[edit][]
- "Gary Gilmore's Eyes"
- "Bored Teanagers"
1983 release[edit][]
- "Gary Gilmore's Eyes"
- "New Day Dawning"
- "We Who Wait"
Reception[edit][]
The song was called "anthemic punk" by Matthew Gilbert (The Boston Globe) [3] and a "forgotten gem" by David Browne (Entertainment Weekly). [10] Sounds described it as "the sickest and cleverest record to come out of the new wave: Single of the Week". [11] [12] Years later, it was included at #12 in Mojo (magazine)'s list of the best punk rock singles of all time.