I'm Looking Through You
The Beatles (Capitol Albums) Lyrics


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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,
Any other way.

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!

Overall Meaning

In “I’m Looking Through You”, The Beatles seem to be addressing a person who has gone through some changes and has become a different person altogether. The singer is struggling to understand the change in the person they thought they knew so well. The song captures the feeling of betrayal and uncertainty that comes with realizing someone who you knew intimately is not who they claimed to be. The lines "You don't look different, but you have changed" and "You don't sound different, I've learned the game" suggest that the person is trying to present a façade of normalcy but the singer sees right through it.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm looking through you,
I'm trying to figure out who you really are


Where did you go?
Why did you change so much?


I thought I knew you,
I used to understand you


What did I know?
But I was mistaken


You don't look different, but you have changed.
You appear the same, but your personality has transformed


I'm looking through you, you're not the same.
I'm realizing that the person I knew is gone


Your lips are moving,
You're speaking to me


I cannot hear.
But I can't understand what you're saying


Your voice is soothing,
You sound calm and gentle


But the words aren't clear.
But your message is unclear


You don't sound different,
Your tone hasn't changed


I've learned the game.
But I see through your tactics


Why, tell me why, did you not treat me right?
Why did you mistreat me?


Love has a nasty habit of disappearing overnight.
Sometimes love fades out suddenly


You're thinking of me,
You remember me


The same old way.
In the same manner as before


You were above me,
You used to be superior to me


But not today.
But now you're not


The only difference is you're down there.
The sole contrast is now you're inferior


I'm looking through you, any other way.
I can see the real you now, no matter how you act


I'm looking through you,
I'm trying to figure out who you really are


Where did you go?
Why did you change so much?


I thought I knew you,
I used to understand you


What did I know?
But I was mistaken


You don't look different,
You appear the same


But you have changed.
But your personality has transformed


I'm looking through you,
I'm realizing that the person I knew is gone


You're not the same!
You've changed too much for me to accept you as the same person




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN LENNON, JOHN WINSTON LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY, PAUL JAMES MCCARTNEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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