Singer-songwriter Brother James, also known as Justin James Sinclair, hones in on the simple grace of life, love and friendship with his stirring waltz, “Beauty in Our Eyes.”
Brother James was asked to write this song for his friend’s wedding – a song to walk down the aisle to and have their first dance to. What a beautiful request! It’s a love song built on the foundation of goodness and faith, and not the initial desire for love or marriage at all.
There’s a pretty common saying that when you stop looking for something it finds you. Though of course this is not always true, it seems to fit pretty well with this song’s backstory. Sam and Tessa, who Brother James wrote the song for, grew their roots in friendship, activism, Christianity, and empathy before even realizing that they had also grown in love.
Ain’t it funny and beautiful that though I didn’t want to call
And after years that you were always here I wrote you that poem
It’s silly and really I love that you didn’t know
That you were into me, Socrates hadn’t quite found his home
As the story goes, Sam wrote Tessa a poem in an email after he’d moved away from her, saying: “I have everything I always thought I wanted here, but it feels empty because you’re not here”. The two began sharing long phone conversations soon after, asking each other to describe the beauty in their eyes, Tessa’s being two trees which over the course of time grew nearer together. It’s a truly unique and incredible story; you can read it in full over on Brother James’ website.
In a display of talent, attentiveness, and powerful friendship, Brother James does Sam and Tessa’s love story perfect justice in “Beauty in Our Eyes.” It’s a swirling waltz, and a sweet testament to the pureness of love showcased through a simple melody that moves with the strumming guitar rhythm. Rich piano notes and chords dance throughout, and my favorite addition to the song, a moody violin, stirs up the emotions and romance, bringing the song together in a sweet and comforting way.
Brother James sings with Jenna Alleman; their voices weave beautifully together as they sing in conversation with each other, the result feeling simultaneously skillful and down to earth.
Do you remember when you told me that our friendship was through
And then I haggled just a little bit till you reformed your views?
I’m not proud of that and I’ll confess this much is true
If I have any friends from college left it’s all thanks to you
During the choruses they join together for a moving harmonization as the music picks up, and heavy skirts spin about in circles. Swaying softly like two dancing trees, each component meets together with a congruent gentleness.
Cause every single seed to have a hold first needs to die
But they grow into trees to have and hold all of our lives
And now we’ll never need to love alone
Always your hands are with mine
Holding the pain, and beauty in our eyes
I feel inspired after reading about Sam and Tessa’s love story, by the way they grew in love and also the way they inspired such a beautiful song. There is absolutely no pretending in “Beauty in Our Eyes”. It’s stripped down and vulnerable, and that makes it so interesting and unique. In the end, the song is a lesson: to look around and notice the beauty in my own eyes, and the eyes around me.
