I'm Looking Through You

Album: Rubber Soul (1965)
Play Video
  • I'm looking through you, where did you go
    I thought I knew you, what did I know
    You don't look different, but you have changed
    I'm looking through you, you're not the same

    Your lips are moving, I cannot hear
    Your voice is soothing, but the words aren't clear
    You don't sound different, I've learned the game
    I'm looking through you, you're not the same

    Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?
    Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight

    You're thinking of me the same old way
    You were above me, but not today
    The only difference is you're down there
    I'm looking through you and you're nowhere

    Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?
    Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight

    I'm looking through you, where did you go
    I thought I knew you, what did I know
    You don't look different, but you have changed
    I'm looking through you, you're not the same

    (Yeah, ah baby, you've changed)
    (I'm a-lookin' through you, yeah)
    (I'm lookin' through you)
    (You've changed, you've changed, you've changed) Writer/s: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TuneCore Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 29

  • Lord Hamsted from SpEveryone thinks it's about Asher.
    I fancy at least 3rd verse is about Lennon, when realising his composer talent was actually bigger than John's.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaHave felt like this about myself when something has changed my life in a drastic way.
  • Wesley from King's Lynn, United KingdomI love this song. It shows one of the many things that make the Beatles amazing: the lyrics are pretty hard and heart-wrenching, but the tune disguises it so well.

    :)
  • George from Belleville, NjThis one is a gem from the classic Rubber Soul.It's a mixture of rock pop and folk all rolled into one.The music is upbeat,the melody strong,the lyrics a little dark,but showing a growing maturity in their songwriting.This is what music should sound like.
  • Breanna from Henderson, NvThis song always reminds me of one of my friends.
  • Joe from Cleveland, OhRingo may be clapping and slapping his lap, but there's an interesting tidbit in former-Remains Barry Tashian's memoir of the Beatles' 1966 tour, _Ticket to Ride_. In one of
    the excerpts from Tashian's journal, he recounts asking Ringo what the tapping sound is on "I'm Looking Through You." He quotes Ringo as
    replying, "Oh, I just tapped on a pack of matches with my finger."
  • David from Youngstown, OhListen carefully and you won't hear any drums on this song. Ringo claps and while sitting down, slaps his lap in time, called "percussion" on this song.
  • Jared from Racine, WiLennon/McCartney song writing at its finest!
  • John from New York, NyAnybody else think that the Anthology 2 version should have been left on the album. I think it is so much better. But I guess it doesn't really fit the tone of Rubber Soul. Still the Anthology version is much more fun.
  • Charles from Glenside, PaAs pointed out earlier, Steve Earle does do a fantastic cover of this song on his disk Train a Comin'. I don't know if I'd go as far as to say that it is a better version though:)
    I've also heard a fair number of bluegrass artists play this song whenever they feel like lightening up the mood a bit.
  • Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiI think that "guitar riff" is actually the organ.
  • James from Vidalia, GaIs it just me or is the guitar (keyboard?) riff from this song used at the beginning of Steve Miller Band's "Living in the USA"?
  • Kristen from Philadelphia, Pamy favorite song of of rubber soul;
    & one of my favorite beatles songs
  • Lucyinthesky from Philadelphia, PaMatt, this is a great folk rock song *not* mostly pop! And Ellen you are so right about it being inaccurate and disgraceful to call The Beatles a "pop" group! The Beach Boys were truly a pop band,I have never heard anything rocking from them at all,all of their hits were soft beach and surfing music. The Beatles had a harder electric guitar sound even in their early days than The Beach Boys. And I have never heard a Beach Boys song played on classic rock stations only oldies stations,but The Beatles are still played on classic rock stations!
  • Linda from London, AlI love this song! I love the way that even though it's about Paul's relationship troubles with Jane Asher, it still sounds happy. Well maybe not exactly happy, but it doesn't sound all dark and depressing like music today does. That's what I love about 60's music - even if the song's about something bad or sad, it still sounds happy! (most of the time). The Beatles rock!
  • Ray from Palm Bay, Idif you play just one side on the stereo, (left or right side) you hear almost only the sound of someone clapping to the song
  • Dan from Indianapolis, InI'm surprised this wasn't a single. It certainly is an excellent song, probably my favorite from Rubber Soul.
  • Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaMore pop than Jesus. They certainly are!
  • Joe from Lethbridge, CanadaYeah, Ellen! The Beatles were more pop than Jesus! Maybe that's how John should've phrased it.
  • Andrew from Glasgow, ScotlandEllen, "pop" music simply means popular music. To say that referring to The Beatles as pop is disgraceful is, effectively, saying that they were not and aren't popular.
    Surely not?
  • Linus from Hamilton, On, CanadaOne of my favourite Beatles ones.
  • Lee from Clearwater, FlGood song. It belongs on rubber soul, that seems so evident to me. It is like alot of beatles songs. It makes you want to hum it all day after you hear it.
  • Jon from Danville, CaEllen, Matt did not call the beatles a "pop" band, he said that the song was one of the greatest pop songs ever. Most of The Beatles songs were pop earlier in their careers. Also, calling them pop is not disgraceful crazy.
  • Dylan from Cambridge, MnSteve Earle re-did this as well. I almost like it better than this one.
  • John from Shelby, NvTheres a slower version of this on anthology two that i like better. John Lennon Fingerpicks his guitar on it.
  • Martin from Sterling, VaThe ghost characters covered this in an episode of the Muppet Show, adding some "oooOOOooo" noises to make it clear they're trying to make it sound like it was about a ghost, not a changed girlfriend. It was awesome.
  • Ellen from Nashville, Tnmatt, i would prefer it if you would never call the beatles pop...its disgraceful
  • Matt from Durham, NhOne of the finest pop songs ever.
  • Carolyn from P'ville, CaThe Wallflowers sang this song for I Am Sam movie.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots

Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple PilotsSongwriter Interviews

Stone Temple Pilots bass player Robert DeLeo names the songs that have most connected with fans and tells the stories behind tracks from their Tiny Music album.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.