RANKING CHANGED TO #37
37. I'm Looking Through You (Rubber Soul, 1965)
Beatles version:
Spotify YouTube
Written around the same time and due to the same circumstances as "You Won't See Me" - that is, Paul's dissatisfaction with his relationship with Jane Asher, and in particular his being "disillusioned over her commitment" due to her absences to Bristol for her acting career. Paul might be known for writing beautiful ballads, but I'd say his break-up songs are just as good; the lyrics for both this song and "For No One" (still to come) are devastating. These in particular are just killer:
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
Lyrics aren't always important to me, but these speak to me of relationships where one person has started to move on, to see the other person in a new way, but the partner might now realize it yet. In addition to the lyrics above, this one always hits me hard: "
You don't look different, but you have changed." To me, it's that moment when I've seen the person in a new light; they don't look different, but they've changed in my eyes. Jane Asher had a lot of gorgeous love songs written about her, but I'm not sure it was worth it to have to be the subject of these, too. Maybe after this is over I'll do my list of most crushing "#### you" song lyrics.
In addition to the powerful lyrics, two aspects of this song lead to its high placement on my list. First are the vocals - Paul's double-tracked lead vocals provide a lovely melody, and John's harmonies weave in and out perfectly. My favorite part of the song is the guitar, though. The song starts with an acoustic guitar that leads you to believe this is going to be folk-rock song. Then, as the vocal climbs in the register becomes more aggressive, ending each verse with the song title and then "you're not the same" or "you're nowhere," the lead guitar part becomes an electric stabby riff. That freaking riff! Not nearly so well known as other Beatles riffs, but it's one of my favorites (I have another favorite, generally lesser-appreciated riff coming in the top 20). Another tiny guitar part that I love, so small I'm almost embarrassed to mention it, comes after each of the times that Paul sings "Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?" Just after that line, the guitar plays two notes that sound slightly off-tune, and each time I think it's the guitar is repeating the question, like "Yeah, why?" A tiny part of the song that delights me every time.
Ringo alert! Ringo played organ(!) and matchbox cover on this song.
For the most part, I'm sticking with the "official" versions of these songs, except for a few off Let It Be where I'll insist on rating the "naked" versions. While I'm rating the UK Rubber Soul version, this one has a different first-take version that is cool enough that I wanted to post it, too:
bonus!
Mr. krista: "Great, another great Paul jam made greater by a great guitar jam. I like those needlie needlie nees.
[Attempts to sing guitar parts.] That's a great band, that can do those needlie nees. Lots of guitarists try to do the needlie nees but it sucks. Like Guns N Roses, try to do the needlies nees, and it's garbage. These guys rock the needlie needlie nees."
Suggested cover: Steve Earle doesn't do much inventive here, but I listen to this cover all the time; just love his voice so much.