In the late ’80s, hard rock was known for big hair, flashy solos, and wild energy — but sometimes, something darker and more introspective slipped through the cracks. One of the most haunting and unexpected duets of the era was “Close My Eyes Forever” by Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne. Released in early 1989 as the final single from Ford’s Lita album, the gothic-tinged ballad cracked the Billboard Hot 100 Top 10, peaking at #8, and quickly became a classic.
The song wasn’t the product of a strategic industry plan — it came about almost by accident. According to both artists, it began as a casual studio moment that turned serious fast.
An Accidental Duet That Hit Hard
Lita Ford was riding high off her hit “Kiss Me Deadly” and working on her Lita album with producer Mike Chapman. One night, Ozzy Osbourne stopped by the studio. As the story goes, a bit of late-night songwriting turned into something more: a raw, emotional track about love, death, and letting go.
Co-written by Ford, Osbourne, and Chapman, the song leaned into a somber, almost funereal tone — a far cry from the usual glam-metal themes of partying and lust. It was bold, and it struck a chord.
Two Voices, One Dark Story
The power of “Close My Eyes Forever” lies in the contrast between the two singers. Lita Ford brings a haunting vulnerability, while Ozzy’s mournful, almost fragile delivery adds a layer of emotional depth we didn’t often hear from the self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness.
Lines like:
“Close my eyes forever / So I can’t see you anymore” tap into themes of emotional exhaustion and the longing for release. It’s a ballad, but one steeped in gothic melancholy — more tragic than romantic.
The lyrics suggest a relationship on the edge, worn down by pain and unable to move forward — and that’s what gives the song its punch. It doesn’t pretend things will get better. It leans into the heartbreak.
A Moment That Still Echoes
Musically, “Close My Eyes Forever” is carefully built. It starts with a soft, eerie piano line and finger-picked guitar, then gradually builds to a storm of layered guitar leads and crashing drums. Ford handles the solo work herself, keeping it melodic and emotional instead of flashy — exactly what the song calls for.
The music video, soaked in candlelight and shadow, added to the song’s mystique and played in heavy rotation on MTV. It helped the track cross over from metal circles into mainstream pop culture.
Decades later, “Close My Eyes Forever” remains one of the most powerful duets in rock history. It’s proof that something real can come from an unlikely pairing, and that vulnerability and heaviness don’t have to be left out of hard rock. For Ford, it became her biggest hit. For Ozzy, it was another curveball in a career full of surprises.
And for fans? It’s a song that still gives chills.