"I close my eyes when I sing so I can feel the song better"

Mahalia Jackson, a popular gospel singer, is indicating that by closing her eyes when she sings, she can much better get in touch with the lyrics and the feeling of the tune. She is eliminating any visual interruptions and rather, counting on her other senses to completely immerse herself in the music. This enables her to communicate the tune's message more genuinely and passionately to her listeners.