Roger Daltrey’s dog got run over on the day he recorded his vocals for this song – it was the first dog he ever had. Conveniently enough, Durst included a scene where he kisses Berry in the video. Berry appeared in the video, which was directed by Bizkit frontman Fred Durst. This version was used in the Halle Berry movie Gothika. To the horror of many Who fans who turned up their noses at nu-metal, Limp Bizkit covered this song on their 2003 on their album Results May Vary, taking it to #18 UK and #71 US (the only cover version to chart). Pete Townshend has said at various stages of his career that while he believes it’s a great song, he doesn’t get any satisfaction performing it, as he feels it is out of context of his Lifehouse project. This is one of the most popular live songs from The Who, played at the majority of their concerts. Knowing what a miserable sod he can be, he’s telling us not to let himself enjoy it because he doesn’t want to enjoy making us (the fans) happy. The lyrics are based on Townshend’s own feeling of angst – that no one knows what it’s like to be him, with high expectations and pressure to be someone he’s not. This rendition, which was recorded live at the Grand Opera House in Belfast, features traditional Irish instruments, including fiddle and bodhrán. Roger Daltrey did a new version of this song with the Irish group The Chieftains, which was released on the group’s 1992 album An Irish Evening. The other words could be describing Townshend’s self-pity and how hard it is to resist. He says that he went back to his room alone and wrote a prayer beginning, “If my fist clenches, crack it open…” The prayer was more or less asking for help in resisting this temptation. Townshend, who got married in 1968, was tempted by a groupie after The Who’s Jconcert in Denver. He says it was a run-in with a groupie that was the impetus for this song. Pete Townshend has explained that he never behaved like a typical rock star when he was on tour, especially when it came to groupies, which he tried to avoid. Townshend has said that he wrote it to show “How lonely it is to be powerful.” Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey both have blue eyes, but the song is not autobiographical. The song peaked at #34 in the Billboard 100 and #23 in Canada in 1971. Townshend released this version on his 1983 album Scoop. The original demo version is a lot quieter and stripped-down. I wrote this next part in my review of the album…Behind Blue Eyes is a song that lulls you with a beautiful melody with sparse accompaniment (probably the longest Moon ever sat on his hands while recording) and then it happens…all hell breaks loose and Roger sings…no correction…he doesn’t sing…he demands When my fist clenches, crack it open, Before I use it and lose my cool… it’s like getting hit by a bus that you didn’t see coming…and then it’s over. Townshend was going to use this as the main song in the Lifehouse film for the villain, Jumbo. Townshend never finished “Lifehouse,” but the songs ended up on the great album Who’s Next. Pete Townshend originally wrote this about a character in his “Lifehouse” project, which was going to be a film similar to The Who’s Tommy and Quadrophenia. And if I shiver, please give me a blanket
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