"I'm Looking Through You" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1965 album Rubber Soul. It was written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. McCartney wrote the song about English actress Jane Asher, his girlfriend for much of the 1960s, and her refusal to give up her stage career and focus on his needs. The line "You don't look different, but you have changed" reflects his dissatisfaction with their relationship. The lyrics also refer to his changing emotional state: "Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight".

Composition

"I'm Looking Through You" is in the key of A major. The song primarily features McCartney's lead vocals, which is double tracked throughout, with Lennon's harmony vocals being tracked in the third phrase of each verse. The outro switches over to single-tracking, which Alan W. Pollack opines creates a "surprising last-minute sense of increased intimacy and immediacy". The primary instruments featured on the song are the acoustic guitar, electric bass, and tambourines, along with hand claps. The North American stereo version of the song contains two false guitar starts, which were cut from the other mixes. Allegedly, the engineers at Capitol Records thought the false start was intentional, and left it in.

The album sleeve and other sources indicate that Ringo Starr played Hammond organ on this track. Starr plays quick two-note vamps in the choruses. Mark Lewisohn reported that Hammond organ was not listed on the session tape box.

Critical reception

In his contemporary review of Rubber Soul for the NME, Allen Evans said that "I'm Looking Through You" sounded "like earlier Beatles numbers", adding: "A quiet, rocking song about a girl who has changed after letting her boy down. Ringo on organ!" Record Mirrors reviewer recognised Starr's unfamiliar role as an example of the album's "spirit of everybody having a go at everything". The writer admired the song's rhythm, McCartney's singing, and George Harrison's "top-notch guitar-work". Nikki Wine of KRLA Beat described the track as a "really swingin' cut" and "Wonderful fun", with an "almost-bluesy sound".

Thomas Ward of AllMusic calls "I'm Looking Through You" one of the "finest" songs on Rubber Soul and one of the "minor gems of the Beatles canon". He highlights McCartney's lyrics, describing them as one of the most "mature" of the period, and praises his lead vocal.

Personnel

According to authors Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin except where noted:

  • Paul McCartney – double-tracked vocals, bass guitar
  • John Lennon – harmony vocal, acoustic guitar
  • George Harrison – lead guitar, tambourine
  • Ringo Starr – drums, matchbox, Hammond organ

References

Sources

  • Full lyrics for the song at the Beatles' official website