The Who - Behind Blue Eyes (HQ)

"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 and was written by Pete Townshend. The song is one of The Who's most well known recordings and has been covered by many artists.

[Lt_Col.Henry_Blake]

In 1985 my best and I friend performed an 'unplugged' version of this in our high school's annual talent show - he played guitar, I sang. Brought the house down. I will NEVER forget that.

[AK_]

This is an absolute melancholy masterpiece of lyrics by Pete Townsend. ‘ My dreams they aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be’ is fantastic writing up there with anybody

[JamesTheNomadic]

“Everyman has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad”- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

[erikolson]

My dad passed away nearly two weeks ago. He told me years ago to play this, and "great gig in the sky" at his funeral. I refused to listen, would even change the station, until now. Now I understand why he chose this song. I love you Dad. RIP ❤️

[christopherruge]

6 year old me: dad, can we listen to the Batman song?
Dad: what are you talking about?
Me: know one knows what it’s like to be the baaatmaaan
Dad: *uncontrollably laughs*

[e.r.sd.soficial]

I'm a young man approaching 20 years old and I really like these old rock songs. Rock is eternal, Rock forever!

[roberthunt]

I am now a 77 year old Vietnam veteran. US Army via the draft. The song has always resonated with me. The way our vets were treated I feel like the man behind blue eyes in the song.

[ivansimkovic]

What makes Behind Blue Eyes so good is the transition from calmness/sadness to anger in 2:20. Same thing that makes Freebird so good.

[scottty]

We played this at my brothers funeral as he requested. Rest In Peace Jerry
Love you brother

[rdlewis]

The lyrics, the guitar, the harmony, the quality of the voices, the time change. This is a masterpiece, but then so many of their songs are. I get lost in these lovely works of art.

[Kimberlytheresam]

The Who will always be one of my all time favorite bands. So many great songs. Live they were unbelievable !!

[steveabdelkoui]

The Who music will never die. It will live on beyond us all. Salute to all of you who love the Who.

[paulrobinson]

Saw the Limp Bizkit version and searched for the original. I knew there was no way they wrote such a classic song.

[MagicalToothpaste]

This song is actually really, really, really dark; But it's so soft and comforting

[henryniemann]

To me it's a story about a lonely and a depressed man and it describes a state of mind some of us might recognize. It's the feeling that no one actually understands you. You always lie to people because you think they won't care about what's wrong with you and even if they would actually listen, you yourself don't believe they care. Therefore the lyrics "fated to always tell lies" and "behind blue eyes". Since you pretend to be something you are not so no one would find out the sadness and anger that's been building up in you. Because this person has felt for very long that he has been hated by everyone and can't see past it. But there is hope at the end of the song and it seems like the writer of the song encapsulated the will of trying to overcome such despair because he knows this is not the way the world is or at least it shouldn't be. It certainly is a song about someone who likes to spend a lot of time in their head and holds it all back and NEVER wants to release it. At one point they will have to.

[thekingoflunch]

Only just realized they've all pissed on that pillar

[pasqualeterzi]

Yours is a beautiful memory.
I was 14 years old (now 63) and I remember getting the Who's Next album without going through the cashier.

[arildsolemdal]

When he sings "My love is vengeance"....goosebumps!

[chrisbennett]

The drumming by Kieth Moon on this song (as well as many, many others) is masterful

[Dylan_____]

The best version of the song will always be this one.