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The Who — I Can See For Miles
Album: The Who Sell Out
Avg rating:
7.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 2422









Released: 1967
Length: 4:05
Plays (last 30 days): 1
I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

If you think that I don't know about the little tricks you've played
And never see you when deliberately you put things in my way
Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

You took advantage of my trust in you when I was so far away
I saw you holding lots of other guys and now you've got the nerve to say
That you still want me
Well that's as may be
But you gotta stand trial
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

The Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal are mine to see on clear days
You thought that I would need a crystal ball to see right through the haze
Well here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Because all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
Comments (142)add comment
 keenevision wrote:

"In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released "I Can See for Miles", their only US top ten single."
WTF?!?!?! Their *ONLY* US top ten single?!?!?!
I never realized that....


I figured "My Generation" woulda been top ten, but nope, not in the US, although it was in many other countries, including Canada, Australia, Ireland, and
W Germany . . .
"In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released "I Can See for Miles", their only US top ten single."
WTF?!?!?! Their *ONLY* US top ten single?!?!?!
I never realized that....
Jesus Christ, Keith Moon was SO FAR ahead of his time. RIP you crazy bastard!
 Proclivities wrote:

As much as I enjoy this tune, I'd prefer to hear "Tattoo" or "Sunrise" from this album.


mmm, yes sunrise is so lovely.

this next to live at leeds may be my fav 2 the who albums.
 ziakut wrote:

Hard to believe this was the only hit from this amazing album.



yeah, i loved the entire thing. still listen semi-frequently.
Same. I think this was the first 45 I ever bought. Love it! Played on CHOM-fm Montreal all the time
I bought the 45 when it first came out.  I was 12yrs old . They were playing it on the radio a lot,  ...WMCA  570 AM  NYC (the Good Guys).
 bpemby wrote:


Funny, that was my exact response to The Dead South's "In Hell I'll Be In Good Company" 2014!


I'm a creep... radiohead
Hottest one-note guitar solo this side of Neil Young.
 fredriley wrote:

It's an awful, awful waste of baked beans, which are cheap, nutritious and tasty, and certainly wasted on the Who.
 
Oh! For Roger the places those beans will go. 
 Chrisjea wrote:
The Beatles and The Who in the same set!  The sixties, hemp, Triumph 650 and young in the good old USA with no known responsibilities.  {#Drummer} {#Motor}

 
 

Bonnie, my Triumph 650, kept me free for a good while back then.  One kick and she was ready to go, any trouble could easily be taken care of with the tool kit tucked under the seat.  God, I miss her now.
 kurtster wrote:



Stephen_Phillips wrote:coloradojohn wrote:I can never forget how, when I was a kid and this was still barely ten years old, the cool radio DJ was telling us about how he, when he was in a college dorm and this came on HIS radio for the 1st time, he looked at his roommate and said, Whoah, THIS is DIFFERENT.


And I wonder when those words are ever going to be said again... "Whoah. This is different."

Everything seems to be so formulaic these days, or at best a reinterpretation of the past i.e. "retro".
That is what I said the first time I heard Sultans Of Swing when it was released. I even remember right where I was the first time I heard the song.

Last band that got me to say that was Alice In Chains.

 

Funny, that was my exact response to The Dead South's "In Hell I'll Be In Good Company" 2014!
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
 coloradojohn wrote:
I can never forget how, when I was a kid and this was still barely ten years old, the cool radio DJ was telling us about how he, when he was in a college dorm and this came on HIS radio for the 1st time, he looked at his roommate and said, Whoah, THIS is DIFFERENT.

 
And I wonder when those words are ever going to be said again... "Whoah. This is different."

Everything seems to be so formulaic these days, or at best a reinterpretation of the past i.e. "retro".
 
That is what I said the first time I heard Sultans Of Swing when it was released.  I even remember right where I was the first time I heard the song.

Last band that got me to say that was Alice In Chains.
When I was a kid my dad told me about a band called the who that was so wild and loud and would destroy their equipment on stage. It made a huge impression on me but decades later, whilst I understand that the Who are probably historically important, I still find their music pretty pop-ish and uninteresting compared to some other bands from that era. 
Never get tired of hearing The Who
Hard to believe this was the only hit from this amazing album.
 Proclivities wrote:

Yeah, that's a tricky question, but maybe that's just how it seems.  Most music in the 1960s - or any era - was formulaic, or at least some sort of interpretation of music of the past.  It is difficult to find something where one can say "this is (completely) different" - but I guess there are always examples one could find with hindsight.  If something were too "different" most people would probably dislike it anyhow.

  Not exactly. There were tons of songs that were shockingly different at the time; however, the bandwagons that latched onto them trying to copy their success grew fast and large. It's basically the reason Dylan went electric, but that's just the tip of iceberg. Tons of psychedelic stuff that seem to rise out of nowhere. Hendrix blew minds constantly. Then there was Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, the MC5, the New York Dolls, and so much more. The 70s were overrun with big swaths of categorized music and corporate overloads, until of course punk ripped it a new asshole. The 80s had so much innovative music if you knew where to look and a lot of it intentionally shocking. The problem you're seeing is that there hasn't been any significant musical rebellion in this new century. 

BBC 1967 "Twice a Fortnight"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFDSCLF3m6c
 {#Drummer} !!!!!!!!
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:

And I wonder when those words are ever going to be said again... "Whoah. This is different."

Everything seems to be so formulaic these days, or at best a reinterpretation of the past i.e. "retro".

 
Yeah, that's a tricky question, but maybe that's just how it seems.  Most music in the 1960s - or any era - was formulaic, or at least some sort of interpretation of music of the past.  It is difficult to find something where one can say "this is (completely) different" - but I guess there are always examples one could find with hindsight.  If something were too "different" most people would probably dislike it anyhow.
My mate, Pete Townsend, spent his life denying he could get tickets to the Who gigs.
Ahh, the curse of a homonymical surname.  And yes, I did just make that word up,

 coloradojohn wrote:
I can never forget how, when I was a kid and this was still barely ten years old, the cool radio DJ was telling us about how he, when he was in a college dorm and this came on HIS radio for the 1st time, he looked at his roommate and said, Whoah, THIS is DIFFERENT.

 
And I wonder when those words are ever going to be said again... "Whoah. This is different."

Everything seems to be so formulaic these days, or at best a reinterpretation of the past i.e. "retro".
I can never forget how, when I was a kid and this was still barely ten years old, the cool radio DJ was telling us about how he, when he was in a college dorm and this came on HIS radio for the 1st time, he looked at his roommate and said, Whoah, THIS is DIFFERENT.
 thewiseking wrote:
Ahhhh, the Who.
A work of staggering genius. Alas, they have indeed Sold Out the catalogue.
Would not be surprised to hear this over a Windex commercial. 

 
HA!  And I can see it now.  Somewhere some ad exec just read your remark and thought...."Hey...that's not a bad idea!"  And then will come the....

Image result for window cleaning

So it goes.

Highlow
American Net'Zen



Ahhhh, the Who.
A work of staggering genius. Alas, they have indeed Sold Out the catalogue.
Would not be surprised to hear this over a Windex commercial. 
 kcar wrote:
The Police "Driven To Tears" —> The Who "I Can See For Miles"

That's a shit-ton of drumming. Great segue. 

Yes, Keith goes off here but Entwistle's bass-work sounds something like a WWII fighter coming in for the kill. 

 
Spot on
The Police "Driven To Tears" —> The Who "I Can See For Miles"

That's a shit-ton of drumming. Great segue. 

Yes, Keith goes off here but Entwistle's bass-work sounds something like a WWII fighter coming in for the kill. 
Is this Kurtster's version?
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
I love listening to Keith Moon's antics on the drums. He may not have had perfect timing but he was still incredibly original.

 
and loud... and fast...
I love listening to Keith Moon's antics on the drums. He may not have had perfect timing but he was still incredibly original.
 Stefen wrote:
Wonderful Radio London.
 
As much as I enjoy this tune, I'd prefer to hear "Tattoo" or "Sunrise" from this album.
An AWE-and-then-SOME track. 
my first encounter with the 'fuzz' (guitar that is) :)
{#Bananajam}
Wonderful Radio London.
 Chrisjea wrote:
The Beatles and The Who in the same set!  The sixties, hemp, Triumph 650 and young in the good old USA with no known responsibilities.  {#Drummer} {#Motor}

 

 

And Vietnam...
 zepher wrote:

Triumph 650.... Oh Yeah!



Oh  there is a motorcycle in that pic.  

 


{#Notworthy} The best rock band of all time! {#Notworthy}
 Chrisjea wrote:
The Beatles and The Who in the same set!  The sixties, hemp, Triumph 650 and young in the good old USA with no known responsibilities.  {#Drummer} {#Motor}

 

 
Triumph 650.... Oh Yeah!


 El_atleta wrote:
Guau....Wow....!!!!!!!{#Guitarist}

 
Esto mismo.
 Jannne wrote:
 My world changed when I heard this stuff   {#Bananajumprope}

 
Indeed! 
 My world changed when I heard this stuff   {#Bananajumprope}
The Beatles and The Who in the same set!  The sixties, hemp, Triumph 650 and young in the good old USA with no known responsibilities.  {#Drummer} {#Motor}

 
Guau....Wow....!!!!!!!{#Guitarist}
The Who are Epic. This song is FUCKIN EXCELLENT MAN!!! (maybe Ken Russel had all those beans re-used for Ann Margrets wicked bean-bath in Tommy!  {#Tongue-out}  )
Good song.
{#Bananapiano} ....... 10
Always loved this entire album!
power guitar defined.
Who said the beans got wasted? How do you you what happened to them? There might have been four very gassy rock stars that day who did not need to go out for dinner after the photo shoot.

 
fredriley wrote:

It's an awful, awful waste of baked beans, which are cheap, nutritious and tasty, and certainly wasted on the Who.

 


{#Dancingbanana}
 RedGuitar wrote:
One of the greatest rock singles ever!

 
My Ultimate Fight Song in high school. The drumming, the stinging guitar, the throbbing bass, the double-tracked vocals...top fucking notch. This is like flying at Mach 3. 
Just excellent...
 RedGuitar wrote:
One of the greatest rock singles ever!

 
Totally - driven along by Animal on drums and the Ox on bass.
 ziakut wrote:
I prefer 'Odorono' or 'Tattoo' from this great album. I'll take this hit from here.

 

Tattoo is a lyrically marvelous song, right up to the last line, where it turns into the most disappointing let down you'll ever hear.
One of the greatest rock singles ever!
Their best album? At least their best album cover.
Love this!  {#Bananapiano}
This is very mod...I liked it when they were very mod.
I cannot count the number of times I have heard people — many of them were also DJs — say, "I can recall exactly what I was doing, where I was, and who I was with when THIS first came on," and wow, it can still make me reach to crank the volume, all the way up, after all this time.  An astounding and immortal jam...
Must upgrade to 10.
Showing my age - Remember seeing this on a BBC comedy/satirical show in 1967. It was certainly different then!
See:- https://www.rockpeaks.com/video/w/Who/Twice-A-Fortnight-1967/I-Can-See-for-Miles 
One of the all-time great rock singles.
Who, at their peak, was as powerful as The Who? {#Guitarist}
 fredriley wrote:

It's an awful, awful waste of baked beans, which are cheap, nutritious and tasty, and certainly wasted on the Who.
 
Bravo!  I applaud your consistency when it comes to the Who, Fred.  Even H8rhater has to relent in the face of such dedication.  Kudos, my friend.
 Proclivities wrote:

I believe Hold your group together with Rotosound strings... precedes this tune.
 
At the other end there's an ad for Charles Atlas' muscle building course—Pete intoning "with dy-namic TENshun" that will turn you into (John growling) "a beast of a man."

One of The Who's bestbestbest songs. Used to beat this death in high school. If you don't like this one I don't think you'll like anything by The Who.  
One of the best from The Who...the album is overlooked by many and "I Can See For Miles" was the only single from this entire gem. Love the song 'Tattoo' and 'Odorono'...actually love everything from this. Never again will any band create such a huge collection of great tunes. One of the first idealistic concept rock albums.
The national anthem of the United States of Acid!  Pete never sounded better, and Mooney- off the hook...
 sajitjacob wrote:
That album cover is just brilliant. Where can I get me a giant Odorono?
 
It's an awful, awful waste of baked beans, which are cheap, nutritious and tasty, and certainly wasted on the Who.
One of the best by the Who, and they have so many great songs. 
That album cover is just brilliant. Where can I get me a giant Odorono?
IMHO...The Best Song of 1967 and that's saying something
Supposedly Roger Daltrey's favorite single of those the group released.

 countyman wrote:
Who was this.
 

Yes... It was Who !
 TimeWaster wrote:
So let me get this straight; what you're trying to say is that you can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles? It's not very clear in your lyrics; just wanted to be sure.
 
I had a friend, an inveterate punster, who said he wanted to get really drunk and see Mr. Davis play the trumpet, just so he could say "I can see four Miles".  I swear it wasn't me!

 kaybee wrote:

Ughh!  Kind of wrecks the song for me!  Somehow, too, I don't think the Who would have appreciated their song being used that way...

 
This will wreck things for you even more. There's a reason the album is called The Who Sell Out: Around the same time as its release, The Who actually did at least one Army recruiting radio commercial in the U.S. 

So let me get this straight; what you're trying to say is that you can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles? It's not very clear in your lyrics; just wanted to be sure.
Great!!! Another on-board when I drive homewards (or the opposite way) on those roads of France!
I prefer 'Odorono' or 'Tattoo' from this great album. I'll take this hit from here.
 Stefen wrote:
I wanna hear the faux radio commercials which run between tracks on side A.
 
I believe Hold your group together with Rotosound strings... precedes this tune.


 Businessgypsy wrote:
I heard this second hand from a guy who was supposedly in the room, if anybody can confirm or debunk, please do:

You know how Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries is blasting from the helicopter gunships as they approach their target in the movie Apocalypse Now? According to my guy, Coppola based the idea for the approach music from tales of Vietnam helicopter pilots blasting I Can See For Miles on battle approach, which came to be known as the gunner's song. Pretty chilling, if you put the lyrics in that context.

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

If you think that I don't know about the little tricks you've played
And never see you when deliberately you put things in my way

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Beacuse all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

So, during production supposedly screenwriter John Milius convinced Coppola to switch to Wagner to better mesh with Conrad's Heart of Darkness theme and punch up the visuals. Hard choice.

 
Ughh!  Kind of wrecks the song for me!  Somehow, too, I don't think the Who would have appreciated their song being used that way...

 1wolfy wrote:
These lyrics rule
 
Yeah, all five of them.

They'll never make it. Just a flash in the pan.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Such great memories.  Ah-h-h, the tall, lanky young man who carried me on his shoulders through town while singing this song at the top of his lungs.  Oh well.  Back to work.
Not my favorite one, but, anyway...  yeeeaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaa!
I heard this second hand from a guy who was supposedly in the room, if anybody can confirm or debunk, please do:

You know how Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries is blasting from the helicopter gunships as they approach their target in the movie Apocalypse Now? According to my guy, Coppola based the idea for the approach music from tales of Vietnam helicopter pilots blasting I Can See For Miles on battle approach, which came to be known as the gunner's song. Pretty chilling, if you put the lyrics in that context.

I know you've deceived me, now here's a surprise
I know that you have 'cause there's magic in my eyes

I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

If you think that I don't know about the little tricks you've played
And never see you when deliberately you put things in my way

Well, here's a poke at you
You're gonna choke on it too
You're gonna lose that smile
Beacuse all the while

I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles
I can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles
Oh yeah

So, during production supposedly screenwriter John Milius convinced Coppola to switch to Wagner to better mesh with Conrad's Heart of Darkness theme and punch up the visuals. Hard choice.

I suddenly have an urge for...baked beans!  WOT?!!  {#Mrgreen}
I wanna hear the faux radio commercials which run between tracks on side A.
Ok,,it will be Cowboy Dinner tonight !{#Cowboy}
BEANS !
 bachbeet wrote:
Some forget that the Who did a lot of good stuff before Tommy and Who's Next.  Their earlier stuff had more of a rawness.
 
You've got that right! I still hold up "Who's Next" as their best. I suppose that's because the album was my introduction to the band.

But their early singles were unbelievable. Punker friends of mine used to spin "My Generation", "Substitute", "Magic Bus" and others on the same mixed tapes as The Clash and The Sex Pistols!

These guys have definitely made their presence known from day one. Their appearance on "The Smothers Brothers" is one for the books, BTW. {#Drummer} {#Bananajam}{#Guitarist} {#Yell}
 Pharlap wrote:
height of psycheedelia.(the whole albulm)
Daltry could really sing at one time.
My favorite of 1968 and that year had a few other good ones.
 
This was my very first album for my very first stereo and it was a tough decision.


Some forget that the Who did a lot of good stuff before Tommy and Who's Next.  Their earlier stuff had more of a rawness.
 countyman wrote:
Who was this.
 
Thats the comment!!!

Nice tune
In Canada, this song is known as "I Can See For Kilometers"
 southernman wrote:

Once again, (with feeling, altogether now): GOD BLESS KEITH MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 

A most enthusiastic drummer.....

{#Drummer}

Who was this.
 WonderLizard wrote:
I think Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" also qualifies.
 
{#Think} Ya know, you're right.

 DrCyKosis wrote:


Absolutely...when I hear his drums here, I totally see that impish, mischievous look in his eyes.
 

that was not impish....that was insanity.....yeah i know...what's my point? {#Lol}
I saw you holding lots of other guys, and now you've got the nerve to say
That you still want me
Well, that's as may be
But you gotta stand trial
keller1 wrote:

Oh, man ... Ann-Margaret rolling around in beans and then chocolate in that skin tight body suit. Made my knees weak.


Darn it! Now I'm going to have to watch the movie. I hate you.


I gave this a "ten" last time and did not comment?!? {#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana}
 Frater_Kork wrote:
Wonder if he kan se his house from there?
 
No but he can see Russia from his living room....

Once again, (with feeling, altogether now): GOD BLESS KEITH MOON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


These lyrics rule
 RedGuitar wrote:

Only if Ann-Margaret is there with me!
 

Oh, man ... Ann-Margaret rolling around in beans and then chocolate in that skin tight body suit.  Made my knees weak.

I actually have some stills of that in my screen saver, along with Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct, Jamie Lee Curtis in True Lies ... the scenes that are etched on yer brain if you possess a Y chromosome.


 PeaceInIraq wrote:


I take it you never experienced the joy of swimming in baked beans. It will put the magic in your eyes.
 

Hualp. {#Sick}
 PeaceInIraq wrote:


I take it you never experienced the joy of swimming in baked beans. It will put the magic in your eyes.
 
Only if Ann-Margaret is there with me!


 holborne wrote:
Love love love this song, but my god, is that cover REPULSIVE. I've always thought so.
 

I take it you never experienced the joy of swimming in baked beans. It will put the magic in your eyes.
Love love love this song, but my god, is that cover REPULSIVE. I've always thought so.
 keller1 wrote:



for f***s sake quit dragging peoples mothers into it.

...that's what she said...

 sharkartist wrote:

Oh, and let us not overlook what is probably the only one-note guitar solo in the history of rock 'n roll


  I think Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" also qualifies.

This song just grabs you by the throat and demands your attention from that first chord that Pete and Entwistle throw at you and then bombard you with Keith's wave of percussion. Total bliss! Oh, and let us not overlook what is probably the only one-note guitar solo in the history of rock 'n roll
The parodies of radio-style ads between the tracks of this album deserve air time of their own. Wonderful Radio London!
out_to_lunch wrote:
your MOM is repetitive...puke...
I agree with the pro tune sentiment here, but for f***s sake quit dragging peoples mothers into it. It's juvenile.
sdn wrote:
GAH! Insanely repetitive!!
your MOM is repetitive...puke...
keller1 wrote:
Nobody can do Keith Moon
Absolutely...when I hear his drums here, I totally see that impish, mischievous look in his eyes.
mandolin wrote:
...complete awesome coolness...
Pure Rock!
...completely awesome coolness...
DoctorHooey wrote:
I read that sitting in those beans gave Roger Daltrey pneumonia, which forever changed his voice into the lower more gravelly variety you start to hear on "Who's Next"
Wow who would of thought it was all down to beans!....great song, great band