The Who – “Behind Blue Eyes”
No One Knows What It’s Like…
When you’re a rockstar, you’re under a magnifying glass for the duration of your entire career. The Who’s Pete Townshend understood this intimately when he penned the lyrics to 1971’s ‘Behind Blue Eyes’, a song detailing the struggles of trying to reach those who don’t know what it’s like to be him, to constantly have to keep up with expectations that force him to be what he isn’t and vilify him for what he is.
As a result, we don’t really know who Pete is beyond what we see on a surface level. We know Pete as the guitarist we love to hate, but who is it behind those piercing blue eyes that’s so desperate to get out?
One of their most popular songs, ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ is a constant staple at every Who show.
This is one of The Who’s greatest songs because it’s so introspective! While it’s easy to read Townshend’s lyrics as being a little selfish, it’s also worth noting that we to really see deep into what Townshend thinks of himself at the end of the day. That in itself, in addition to great musicianship, is what makes ‘Behind Blue Eyes’ worth listening to after all these years!
+ Behind Blue Eyes lyrics +
No one knows what it’s like
To be the bad man, to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
No one knows what it’s like
To be hated, to be fated
To telling only lies
But my dreams, they aren’t as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance that’s never free
No one knows what it’s like
To feel these feelings like I do
And I blame you
No one bites back as hard
On their anger, none of my pain and woe
Can show through
But my dreams, they aren’t as empty
As my conscience seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance that’s never free
When my fist clenches, crack it open
Before I use it and lose my cool
When I smile, tell me some bad news
Before I laugh and act like a fool
And if I swallow anything evil
Put your finger down my throat
And if I shiver, please give me a blanket
Keep me warm, let me wear your coat
No one knows what it’s like
To be the bad man, to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
