THE WHO - "Behind Blue Eyes"

The Who
"Behind Blue Eyes"
Single / B-side: "My Wife" (U.S.), "Going Mobile" (Europe)
Released: 6 November 1971
Album: Who's Next (Released: 14 August 1971)
Writer: Pete Townshend
Label: Decca, MCA, Track, Polydor
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Behind Blue Eyes" is a song by English rock band The Who. It was released in November 1971 as the second single from their fifth album Who's Next. Pete Townshend originally wrote this about a character in his "Lifehouse" project, which was going to be a film similar to The Who's Tommy and Quadrophenia. Townshend never finished "Lifehouse," but the songs ended up on the album Who's Next. The song is one of The Who's most well known recordings and has been covered by many artists.

The Who's  "Behind Blue Eyes" single, 1971
(Photo courtesy of Polydor)

The Who - "Behind Blue Eyes" (45rpm)

The origin of the song comes from an event that occurred after The Who's June 9th, 1970 concert in Denver. Townshend was tempted by a groupie. He went back to his room alone and wrote a prayer beginning, "If my fist clenches, crack it open..." The prayer was more or less asking for help in resisting this temptation. The other words could be describing Townshend's self pity and how hard it is to resist.

"Behind Blue Eyes"  is  sung  from the point of view of the main villain  of  Lifehouse, Jumbo. The lyrics are a first-person lament from Jumbo, who is always angry and full of angst because of all the pressure and temptation that surrounds him, and the song was intended to be his "theme song" had the project been successful. 

The version of "Behind Blue Eyes" on the original Who's Next album was the second version the band recorded;  the first version  was recorded  at  the Record Plant  in New York  on 18 March 1971   and features Al Kooper on Hammond Organ. The first version was released as a bonus track on the 1995 CD reissue of Who's Next.

The Who's album: Whos Next, 1971 (front cover)

The Who - "Behind Blue Eyes" (original version)

Pete Townshend has also recorded two solo versions of the song. One, the original demo of the song, was featured on the Scoop album. The demo along with a newer recording of the song featuring an orchestral backing was featured in The Lifehouse Chronicles.

Pete Townshend - "Behind Blue Eyes" (Lifehouse version)

The Who on stage, 1971 (Photo by Joe Sia)

"Behind Blue Eyes" was covered by American nu metal Limp Bizkit. It was released in November 2003 as a single from their album Results May Vary. Limp Bizkit's arrangement is notable for Speak & Spell during bridge. Rolling Stone magazine readers choose this Limp Bizkit version as the Worst Cover Songs of All Time, and in 2013 Ultimate Classic Rock put it as Terrible Classic Rock Covers.

Line-up / Musicians:
Roger Daltrey - vocals
Pete Townshend - acoustic guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals
John Entwistle - bass guitar, backing vocals
Keith Moon - drums

Links / Reviews:
Wikipedia: Behind Blue Eyes
Songfacts: Behind Blue Eyes by The Who
Rolling Stone: Rolling Stone Readers Choose the Worst Cover Songs of All Time
Allmusic: Behind Blue Eyes - The Who
Ultimateclassicrock: Terrible Classic Rock Covers