"Behind Blue Eyes"
Single by The Who
from the album Who's Next
B-side	"Going Mobile"
Released	6 November 1971
Format	7"
Recorded	8 July 1971[1] at Olympic Studios in London, England
Genre	Rock
Length	3:42
Label	Decca, MCA, Track, Polydor
Writer(s)	Pete Townshend
Producer	The Who, Glyn Johns
The Who singles chronology
"Let's See Action" (1971) "Behind Blue Eyes" (1971) "Join Together" (1972)

"Behind Blue Eyes" is the title of 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 originally for his Lifehouse project.^[2][3] The song is one of The Who's most well known recordings and has been covered by many artists.

Overview

The song starts off with a solo voice singing over an arpeggiated acoustic guitar. A bass guitar and ethereal harmonies are added in later. Eventually, the song breaks out into a full-scale rock anthem when a second theme is introduced near the end - but it ultimately wraps up with a brief reprise of the quieter first theme. Songs written in alternating sections were something of a trademark of Townshend's writing of the period, going back at least to Tommy, where it was used in "Christmas" and "Go to the Mirror!" The guitar riff at the end of the rock anthem section is also used after the bridge during the song "Won't Get Fooled Again", perhaps serving as a link between the two songs when Behind Blue Eyes was intended to be a rock opera. (Some musical themes from Tommy and Quadrophenia also appear in multiple places.)

The version of "Behind Blue Eyes" on the original Behind Blue Eyes 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.^[4] 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.

Lifehouse story

"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.

Personnel

• Roger Daltrey - vocals
• Pete Townshend - acoustic guitar, lead guitar, backing vocals
• John Entwistle - bass guitar, backing vocals
• Keith Moon - drums

In the media

• This was the song selected for CSI: NY's opening, but the CBS director, Leslie Moonves, chose "Baba O'Riley" instead.
• During season two of Californication, Sheryl Crow's cover plays whilst Lew Ashby overdoses and ultimately dies.

Covers

Limp Bizkit cover

"Behind Blue Eyes"
Single by Limp Bizkit
from the album Results May Vary
Released	28 November 2003
Recorded	2002
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	6:05
Label	Flip, Interscope
Writer(s)	Pete Townshend
Producer	Rick Rubin
Limp Bizkit singles chronology
"Eat You Alive" (2003) "Behind Blue Eyes" (2003) "Home Sweet Home/Bittersweet Symphony" (2005)

"Behind Blue Eyes" was covered by Limp Bizkit and was released as a single from their album Results May Vary. Limp Bizkit's arrangement is notable for featuring a Speak & Spell during the bridge.^[5]

Allmusic writer Stephen Thomas Erlewine panned the cover, calling it "boneheaded".^[5]

Chart performance

Year-end

Other covers

"Behind Blue Eyes" has also been covered by numerous artists, including Bryan Adams, Sheryl Crow, Elf, Testudo, Ian Stuart Donaldson, Jon English, Suzanne Vega, Silvertide, The Chieftains (some live and recorded versions featuring Roger Daltrey), Skrewdriver, Unknown Hinson and Lights.

• In Buffy the Vampire Slayer the song had been performed by character Rupert Giles (played by Anthony Stewart Head) in the episode "Where the Wild Things Are".
• Austrian rapper Chakuza and German rapper Bizzy Montana, sampled the song on their free track "Behind Blue Eyes".^[22] It's not known if they had sampled The Who's original version or Limp Bizkit's version.

References