Songfacts®:

• "Looking Into You" is one of Jackson Browne's first songs. Musically it is very spare, mostly just piano and vocals, but it's very strong from a poetic perspective. The song is about a young man looking back over his life and the places he has been, then some of the conclusions he draws from it all. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Shane - Providence, RI
• Browne had a lot of songs built up by the time he recorded his self-titled debut album in 1971 (it was released early in 1972). He got quite a musical education leading up to it, playing guitar in what would become the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and writing songs that were recorded by other artists, including The Byrds ("Mae Jean Goes To Hollywood") and Tom Rush ("Colors Of The Sun"). "Looking Into You" made it on the tracklist, and although it wasn't released as a single, became a fan favorite and one Browne often played in concert.
• When the Eagles did press for their Hotel California album in 1977, Don Henley would often quote these lyrics from "Looking Into You" to make a point about what they were trying to get across in the title track:
  
  It's a hotel at best
  You're here as a guest
  You oughta make yourself at home
  While you're waiting for the rest
  
  "We live in Hotel California," Henley told Crawdaddy. "Everybody comes here in search of the big American Dream."
  
  Browne co-wrote the first Eagles single, "Take It Easy."
• In 2014, a passel of musicians who were influenced by Browne contributed to the album Looking Into You: A Tribute to Jackson Browne. Kevin Welch recorded the song "Looking Into You" for the set.