Underneath your gaze I was found in
The haze I'm wandering around in
I am lost in the dark of my own room
And I can't see a thing but the fire in your eyes

Clear my eyes, make me wise
Or is all I believe in lies
I really don't know when or where to go
And I can't see a thing 'til you open my eyes

I've been told by some you'll forget me
The thought doesn't upset me
I am blind to whatever they're saying
And all I can see is the fire in your eyes

Can't believe that it's on your mind
To leave me behind

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TODD RUNDGREN, TODD HARRY RUNDGREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Deep In Black

All comments from YouTube:

countrypaul

30w↑13

First outing for Todd Rundgren and one of the all-time power pop genius songs. It still sounds fresh, exciting and fired up 54 years later.

Itelkner

29w

Perfect description, Paul

John Mariano

7y↑178

The opening notes is very similar to the Who's "" I Can't explain" but the talented Rundgren takes these chords to a different stratosphere - the beginning almost gives you the sensation of blasting off in a rocket and then.....when he has you in that hard rock mood, he counter punches with the "can't believe that it's on your mind......." such s sophisticated change in melody but then, he returns to the hard rock. This song was soooo underrated - just like Todd has always been UNDERRATED

Luca Riboni

19w

Totally agree with you mate

fall precauxions

37w

"I can't explain" was the very first thought I had. but, like you said, they quickly took this elsewhere. nice track. I've been nuts about music from this era since I was a little kid. rundgren's early works were not on my radar until. while it's not jumping to the top of my playlists or anything, it's definitely masterful stuff.

Humberto Capellari

I think opening sounds something like bossa nova

Hug Bug

@Robert Goldstein This was out on the airwaves a yr. after it was recorded. Wfil famous 56 philadelphia, pa. played this fall of 1969. Great pop psych tune. Was 12 yrs.old when this was played along with "Hello It's Me" by Nazz too.Vietnam era!

Craig Everhart

Same rhythm as The Who, but much much less pedestrian chords. The Who has normal (E major) E, D, A, E. Nazz uses E, Gmaj7, Dmaj7/B, E. You’re right about the stratosphere!

8 More Replies...

Paul Mendoza

10y↑20

This Nazz tune (and the production on it) has a sound that is easily 3-4 years ahead of it's time, at least! It sounds less 1968 and more 1972-3.

Brother Andre

19w↑1

I totally agree with you on this. I can hear The Who, and the Yardbirds but I think this is much much closer to Big Star in a way, so that is 4 years ahead. They look like a psych band but I think they are hyper driven pop

ROMMIX

24w↑1

Oh it sounds like 1968 alright. Those psychedelic flanger effects give that away real quick. It's just that 1968 was probably the most experimental of the psychedelic years due to how rough the social/political climate was that year. Kinda like 2020 in a way.

Walt Fechter

9y↑27

The music I grew up with. I remember seeing the video for this on American Bandstand (of all places). This one is still king tone, baby. Thanks to Little Steven's Underground Garage and YouTube (for keeping this music alive and well). Thanks to Dick Clark, Todd Rundgren (and The Nazz) and the city of Philadelphia.

Dl515

31w

Yes, Philly had such good music. Had the 45 of this tune. My introduction to psychedelic music.

Hug Bug

2y↑3

Was 12 yrs. old late 1969 when this hit wfil 56 airwaves. Actually, the tune was recorded in late 1968. Great pop psych tune and vietnam era too. "Hello It's Me" came out same time by Nazz fall of 69. 1969 was a radical year. Hippies all over philly!

green priests

9y↑110

One of the best singles ever.

Dag Nabbit

52w

@Mr Green Jeans 1910 Fruitgum Co. You can diss them but they had some good songs and those hits they had , well, you can hear it in the Cars debut Album . Now back to the Nazz. Yes this is good and I have heard it before but forgot it .

Mr Green Jeans

Yet it never broke the billboard top 100. Astounding. Simon Says' from 1910 Fruitgum Company was a top 40 hit, Open my Eyes doesn't chart. Fickle fans back then.

Hug Bug

2y↑3

Great tune that hit the famous 56 wfil airwaves late 69 in philadelphia pa.! Great pop psych tune!was 12yrs.old when this came out!

Kevin Campbell

Agree!

Skye MacAllister

3y↑1

@TralfazConstruction amen!!!!!!

1 More Replies...

Bill Paci

3y↑28

I love this song, especially when I heard it in 1970, tripping my brains out.

יעקב מישקה

44w

@Bill Paci you look very young to your age

Bill Paci

44w

@יעקב מישקהI'll be 70 in 8 days. I have to upgrade (downgrade?) my Facebook photos.

יעקב מישקה

44w

You dont look over 60

Lucynda B

2y↑1

Ditto!

Ken Herbst

4y↑38

One of the best bass lines of all time.

Scott Bohe

45w↑4

That fuzz guitar riff is superb!! Loved this song for over 50 years because of that guitar.

T.C. Bramblett

6y↑19

One of the most amazing songs ever recorded

ziply123

6y↑22

The best Nazz song, and still one of the very best songs of the psychedelic era. WHAT A JAM. 💜💜💜

RayNDeere

3y↑1

A brilliant song under 3 minutes but it doesn't seem like a short song. Nazz's best, but I love the original version of Hello It's Me as well

thomas zambelli

4y↑1

agreed

Linda Warwick

4y↑16

Featuring the genius of Todd Rundgren . Pure brilliance

Walter Fechter

1y↑5

Even after all these years since 1968, this tune still causes my mental synapses to go, "bam-pow-zap!" Psychonauts past and present unite!

Jay Warren

3y↑7

The Stone Roses regularly covered this song in their early days. Great song!

Walter Fechter

17w↑1

Forget an alarm clock. I wake up to this tune. I might feel lousy getting up in the morning, but this tune jump-starts my day in such a groovy way! When I was a travelling disc jockey (remember them?) I'd start each night's festivities with this mind-blowing number. Thanks to Little Steven's Underground Garage for keeping this kind of sound alive in the 21st century.

Chris Cummins

4y↑9

I bought the album when first came out. Great band.

Harry Mccabe

2y↑4

Nazz 1 what a gem ! Along with something / anything and Todd's another live ! Saw Todd live in Scotland back in the 70's great concert thanks !!

irishpogi

10y↑2

I have loved this song for decades! The opening riff hooks you and reels you in!

Walt Fechter

10y↑2

Like flying straight up and into the sun (without burning a wing). My mind snags the righteous trip-wire of the cosmos every time I cue up this brilliant gem! Psychedelia at its very best.

kenscapes

8y↑15

Yo Todd!! Ya gotta put this one on Spotify. Freekin excellent tune!!!!

Anthony Sacco

5y↑4

Fuck spotify...and buy the fuckin' ALBUM!!

houseofhits1

7y↑7

+kenscapes No he shouldn't. Why should he accept getting $0.005 per play for something so great? Spotify is a big part of the problem.

Timothy J. Horan

2y↑1

YES!!! My Nazz addiction gateway drug of choice: Lenny Kaye's mean, moody and magnificent two-disc compilation 'Nuggets: Original Artyfacts From The First Psychedelic Era' (Elektra 1972). ''Open My Eyes'' was a complete revelation to me. It was a standout track. It pointed a few light years ahead of 'Nugget's garage rock. It has remained on the short list of high-octane power pop masterpieces with the emphasis on POWWW--ER!! It's among the finest and thus the strangest never-was rock and roll mystery GEM that I know of. Also running, standing, jumping it could have been recorded yesterday!!!

Amiri Taylor

9y↑74

I think tame impala listened to this band... These guys are very underated in my opinion...

Pilletta Doinswartsh

So did White Denim. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edm4qQ0355M

Robert Bobo

5y↑8

Amiri Taylor Todd did a remix of Elephant

Morgenthau

28w

Great sound ... that was always Todd Rundgren's power! No wonder he produced and played on "Bat out of Hell" years later ... but for now:

Let's stick to the psychedelia ! I'm groovin' ...

gk10002000

5y↑4

My buddy I grew up with in the 70s had a cassette tape recorder and would listen to FM WBRU, the Brown University station. They played weird and great stuff. This song stuck in my mind for decades. Now here in the 2000's thanks to youtube I was able to stumble onto it. Oh such good and simple times, some bad, many good

Walter Fechter

8y↑4

I remember seeing the video for this gem on American Bandstand (of all places). Thanks, Nazz (and Dick Clark).

BenjaminRenegadeAngel

i love this song, i imagine it being a song for an awesome movie trailer lol

Light Worker

I SO LOVE THIS JAM!! BE SAFE PEOPLE!! YES IN 2021!!!✌🙏❤

Walt Fechter

10y↑3

Precisely! Todd knew (and knows) great engineering/production. I remember seeing the video to this tune on American Bandstand (of all places). This tune is still king tone. Little Steven Van Zandt thinks so, as well! Best -- Mickey

Alice Wolfson

2y↑1

One of my all time favorite songs.

Liz Crooks

8y↑3

such an amazing song! havent heard it in years. Nazz were so good. THANKS

Bob

2y↑3

Love this tune, always liked The Nazz better than Todd solo.

J.D. JD Think Tankers org.asa.

5y↑4

Todd with Nazz is Incredible!

whatt

9y↑26

good song, not widely known today--nice guitar

Walter Fechter

9y↑3

"Not widely known today" -- Little Steven is trying to change that, my friend. The guitar is nice and so are the vocals. Take care. -- W

MicroFighter Z

28w

Sometimes Spotify absolutely nails it with recommending songs. This is insane. Definitely gonna be listening to this next time I smoke up.

Xeokym

2y↑1

My first car was an '81 Ford Escort that came with an 8 track player. I used to go to this used music shop and get 8 tracks for 25 cents a piece and just pick out whatever looked worth taking a chance on. I had the album Nazz and man I loved this song, I used to blast it.

Deep In Black

Shagata Ganai

12w

Garage band drummer from the sixties says, "If it's too loud you're too old." Todd is God.

Alli Herrod

10y↑1

this is a KILLER song!!! I just became aware of it from hearing a cover version by the BANGLES (and their version is tastefully done!)...

Bobby O'Dell

5y↑1

This is so amazing!!

For Werewolves Only

3y↑1

Is it me, or is Todd Rundgren a man ahead of anyone's time?

Debora Oriolo

LOVE Nazz, especially this track and Hello It's Me (both versions)!

deztroyer76

45w

“Love her all I Can” thanks you for that opening riff.

Walt Fechter

10y↑3

Ah..., the music of my wayward youth. This one's for Lenny Kaye and Little Steven and The Underground Garage. This is still king tone.

cree8vision

This is what made music in the late 60's so exciting.

Bp McLeod

The germ of a blossoming career and the promise of music to come. Amazing first effort from the Runt.

Skanthropologist

You can hear the 1970s trying to break through at points within the overall psychedelic sound. Wow.

hector merly

32w↑1

I'm gagged it sounds so fresh better than what's on the air now !

Punker

3y↑3

I love “Nazz” and this song is my favorite

tombassman

3y↑2

They were way ahead of their peers in terms of musicianship and production

teague

30w↑1

The production on this song was YEARS ahead of it's time. Shame they didn't get more attention than they did

andy massingham

I had a wicked bootleg of The Move covering this. But this is amazing!

trfesok

24w

In return, Utopia covered "Do Yש!"

JR Bradfield

3y↑3

Before British Progressive Rock this song opened up the Genre in less than 3 minutes.

hellohellohello

2y↑1

The way the guitar rips open at the start ✌😎

James Tannehill

8y↑2

I had this album, and this was one of my fave's on the album (and Hello, it's me, of course).

Walter Fechter

Each time I listen to this one, something inside me just lights up and then I take a grand tour of the cosmos (sans LSD).

Hugh Barton

Beyond spectacular.
Look out, world.
Here comes Todd.

Alex DeLarge

Another great song from my youth.

Ron Capece

I love this song

Headboy

31w

Fantastic track

LucidDream

8y↑25

Damn, this is good.

mugshotts71

9y↑2

The lesser know original "A" side to "Hello It's Me" in '68. This puppy was released at least twice that I can remember. (again in '69...only was flipped to promote the more well known hit side) Thanks for posting this stereo gem!

cool username

1y↑1

Sounds like the Beatles, Who and Byrds all combined. I can't believe I haven't listened to this sooner!

Dave Wilson

Amazing!

Joe Postove

Peaked at #112 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Chart in 1968.

Criminal!

RMoribayashi

8y↑25

That's not an effects box on the chorus. It was done by playing the song back on two tape recorders just the tiniest out of sync. Then you would hold your finger on the edge or "flange" of the recorder that was ahead until you got that sweeping sound. Then you would slow down the other one. That's why early 60's flanging was always in perfect tiime.

leelaine01

It's actually called "phase shifting". Because of Todd's ingenuity, there are now devices that can do that for instruments. He was way ahead of his time!

Jeff Williams

4y↑5

@Nick Newcombe Hey don't get smart, cuz you ain't. He's just stating fact. That's how us old guys did it in the day. Take a lesson clown cuz you don't know what the fuck you're talking about...all the same shit my ass!

Nick Newcombe

4y↑1

flanger/chorus/delay all the same shit just used differently. i can make a delay plugin a flanger by setting the delay to 2 milliseconds, adding modulation, 50/50 wet/dry. Definitely worth the distinction if you are using analog gear that created those definitions but it kinda is just formalities at this point.

Anthony desilvis

Thanks for bringing that issue up, I had totally lost track of that.

jdrukman

5y↑3

Definitely tape flange, not a leslie.

1 More Replies...

Walt Fechter

10y

On Christmas Eve 2012, I'm gonna play this one and "The Fire Burning " by The Urges -- VERY LOUD!

Luke J

7y↑5

The Stone Roses were heavily influenced by psych pops bands of the 60s such as Nazz and even did a cover of this song.

Elayne Young

Luke Jackson-Bluglass yep..... They got it right...seen em live a few times and see the influences loud n clear.... eg.... factory- gone sounds a lot like made of stone

Saoirse Go Deo 1986

7y↑2

They covered this song at their first gig, at an anti-Heroin benefit run by Pete Townsend

Dave Taylor Spoken Poetry

Birmingham band THE MOVE who later became E. L.O did a cracking cover of this. I recommend highly!!! :)

John Baldino

4y↑2

I WAS 15, my first LP!! I laughed when younger friends were shocked that Hello it's me was written in 68 and released as a single in the 80's?

a_missippian

This & Nugent’s Journey to the Center of the Mind blew me away back then.

Space Clown

I can't explain why this reminds me of The Who ;-)

I forgive them though because this song is so awesome.

Eddy G's Music World

too good to be a hit

Greg White

9y↑1

great song

honey west

20w

Great song

Carolyn Zaremba

Nobody nowadays is doing anything half this good.

Gregory Clark

I like the "Fun Fact" listed under additional info. If you know of Nazz but are unaware this was Todd Rundgren's break into music, did you know Wings's frontman Paul McCartney was in a band before that one?!?

MrDonnyAir

7y↑5

Nazz! Awesome.

Thomas Mangan

8y↑12

Thank You Mr. Steven Van Zandt for reminding me about The Nazz.

Todd Charles

7y↑19

Heady times, sizzling guitars, pretty girls and Heaven Scent perfume wafting through the sunlit halls of our junior high school; 1969...

Carolyn Zaremba

I was already out of college in 1969.

John D Anderson

Just an amazing song! Wow!

Sir Switch Crookington

5y↑2

As 22 year old, I would trade places with you guys. 60s and 70s seemed like a magical time for music, creativity, art etc... Not to mention $8 ounces, an O will run you at least $150 now.

Lotus kwe

5y↑1

It was a great year

MICHAEL M

6y↑2

$8 ounces

laurabryannan

44w

Archetypal '68 sound!

Sara Roberts

17w

6th grade way back time machine so glad this era was my music foundation

The Last Guitar Hero

10y

wow i heard this for the first tim e about 10 minutes ago...great song

Michael Nolan

10y↑1

They were broken up by 1970 or so; just did 2 albums, really. From Philadelphia (Upper Darby, I believe). If you've heard of Todd Rundgren, he's the lasting element that came out of Nazz. That's him on the left in the photo.

Frank Carmack

Michael Nolan Cheap Trick grew out of the remains of Nazz. They were known as The Sick Man of Europe; i known Moonie was in it-not sure about Stewkey and Carson. It didn't last long. On CT's album THE LATEST, there's a song titled-"Sick Man of Europe." I'm sure its a backhanded glance at their past.

rian settles

One song that has stuck with me forever.This song is begging to be covered.

RON2 Skate

AkronPorBarack right on the bangles cover is very good that where i hear it first

AkronPorBarack

The Bangles did a great cover.

Raph Le cout

OMG! Thank you for showing me this!!!! 🙃

creepingnet

It sounds a bit like a cross between The Dave Clark 5, the Beatles, and The Cars to my ears. Especially the lead guitar and bass.

low down

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!! Rock on baby peace.

Daryle Pompeo

Interesting that The Who's "Can't Explain" came out two years after this, considering the opening chords.

Virus.

6y↑3

God Damn it Daryle... Research Brother

Greg C

8y↑5

@Daryle Pompeo The Who's "I Can't Explain" was released in 1964. This song was released four years later, in 1968.

Dawn of Upheaval

3y↑3

Here because of KGATLW! Both great versions!

Přemysl Ondra

I can almost imagine John Lennon comming to Paul Mc'Cartney with "Hey man, got this new band...Genesis...it sounds amazing..let's do something similar but you know, in like Beatles way.." If this had happened i bet it would sound something like this :)

thoughtcircles

7y↑63

This is where kevin parker took his sound from

BilisNegra

Not a bad choice if that's the case, considering how forgotten this band is now despite having Todd in it.

Chris Schuett

2y↑1

I'm literally SHOOK right now. I'd heard Kevin talk about Todd Rundgren before but I guess I never really did my homework!

Robert Bobo

5y↑1

thoughtcircles YES

Darrin Baker

Are all four members of the group still with us? If so, REUNION TIME!!

Humphrey Bogart

4y↑1

Saw 4 Utopia live performances in the 70s & early 80s. Never disappointed.

Jason Vancura

7y↑37

The album cover kind of reminds me of the Meet the Beatles album cover.

RandomPlayIist

2y↑1

@ray thomas Yeah this was definitely a nod to With the Beatles for sure.

ray thomas

Queen II - 1974

David Wagner

3y↑2

That was intentional.

ranatlas

6y↑3

Outstanding in their field.

Dan B 0809

6y↑9

Todd Rundgren, from the Nazz, was a big fan of the Beatles. The Nazz were influenced greatly by the Beatles. Todd went on to make the band Utopia, which made an album called Deface the Music. It contained lots of Beatles-style songs. Now look up Utopia Deface the Music on a Google Images.

Thadmotor1044

5y↑1

cant see a thing to you open my eyes has a great break and transition that is way different than the Who's cant explain . The Nazz Rock . Begat the great Todd Rundgren , nuff said

山崎章

3y↑2

カッコいいねえ。ヒットしなかったのが不思議。
早すぎたのかな。

Lou the trooper711

It's a good song also The Bangles cover this tune too

mykylc

Page 405. Nothin' to Lose: The making of KISS (1972 - 1975) "I seem to recall they were working on Paul's "love her all I can", a truly fun track that Paul Cheerfully admitted he'd swiped from "open my eyes" by Todd rundgren's Nazz."

Walt Fechter

10y↑3

This one and "We Ain't Got Nothing Yet" by The Blues Magoos

AWC

2y↑2

Did anyone catch this?... At marker 1:37, they play the riff and add 2 beats, play the riff and add 4 beats, play the riff and add 6 beats, play the riff and add 8 beats.