I'm Looking Through You by The Beatles

Album: Rubber Soul (1965)

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Songfacts®:

Paul McCartney wrote this when his girlfriend, an actress named Jane Asher, left on a theater tour instead of staying home like he had hoped she would.

Another Rubber Soul track, "You Won't See Me," is also about Asher. Despite McCartney's musical barbs, she has steadfastly refused to speak about Paul.
On the US stereo version, there are two false guitar intros. This version was released on Capitol Records.
Ringo played the Hammond organ on this track.
The version on the album is a second version the Beatles recorded. The one that appears on Anthology 2 was originally going to be the one put on Rubber Soul until a decision was made to do a remake. >>
Suggestion credit:
Adrian - Wilmington, DE
Back in the Beatles' early days, working at Abbey Road was expensive so rather than recording the song again, any small mistakes were frequently ignored. This explains why at around 1:20 on this track, if you listen carefully you can hear Paul McCartney dropping his tambourine.
The Muppets performed this on an early episode of The Muppet Show in 1977. The Halloween skit (Vincent Price was the guest) featured slightly transparent Muppet ghosts.

Comments: 28

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.

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