Most likely, you’ve never heard of “The Adverts”. And that is somewhat believable, although not completely forgivable. I was familiar with their hit song from 1977, if you consider Number 18 in the UK Singles Chart a hit. AHA!, you are not exclaiming, still without a clue about who The Adverts were or what their song was. To end your suspense, or heightened malaise, the song to which I refer is “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes”. I’m guessing that many of you don’t know who Gary Gilmore was either. Yes, was. The late Mr. Gilmore was executed by a firing squad, bless his bullet-pierced heart. There are any number of interesting details concerning Gilmore’s trial, sentencing, and demise, not the least of which is the fact that his corneas were donated. Inspired by these events, “Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” was written, recorded, distributed, and played on the radio months later. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. I couldn’t remember all the lyrics, so I revisited them via the interweb. They were fascinating, at least to me, and provide some food for thought.
“I smash the light in anger. Push my bed against the door.
I close my lids across my eyes, And wish to see no more.
The eye receives the messages, And sends them to the brain.
No guarantee the stimuli must be perceived the same…
When looking through Gary Gilmore’s eyes.
Gary don’t need his eyes to see. Gary and his eyes have parted company.”
In spite of what you may have seen from Hollywood or heard on a number 18 hit in the U.K., a donee doesn’t also receive the soul of the donor. Carroll Shelby still loved and built fast cars after his heart transplant. Gary Coleman, even after two kidney transplants, didn’t stop wondering aloud what Willis was talking about. As far as we know, the receiver of Gary Gilmore’s corneas didn’t become a murderer. But it does beg the question. What if we could see with new eyes, or more broadly speaking, have a new or expanded perspective?
(Click “Stand on Firmer Ground” for a deeper look into New Eyes)