The Who - Behind Blue Eyes Lyrics Meaning

The song "Behind Blue Eyes" was originally part of Pete Townshend's "lifehouse project", which was shelved. Of course, a great deal of that aborted project would end up on the album "Who's Next", including this song. It is written from the point of view of the "villain" character (from the story that compromises the "lifehouse project"), showing even bad people have emotions like the rest of us. The "behind blue eyes" refers to the thoughts and feelings of the villain, in his head, behind his eyes.

Like any song lyrics, how you interpret it is up to you, or it may have a special meaning for you, and that is all good. But the songwriter's intended meaning of the lyrics when he wrote the song, is what is listed above. It is not about nazis, being gay, or drugs.

I read along time ago, the inspiration for the villain character, and for the lyrics, was some record executive (who I guess Pete did not think much of), but once he read the lyrics back to himself, he was surprised to find the lyrics reminded him of himself as much as the record executive.