Can’t You See Me?

words and music by Doug Howell (11 Nov 1975)

how can you look without seeing?
your eyes look at me almost every day
and yet you never see me
not the real me
that lives behind my eyes
you never let your eyes
touch mine for very long
you know that touch could
make us so strong
tell me—would touching be so wrong?

how can you listen without hearing?
your lips ask me questions almost every day
but you can’t wait for answers
I can see the clock that’s there
behind your smile
you never give yourself
to feel my pain
and as long as I can smile
we just maintain
tell me—what do we hope to gain?

how can you touch without feeling?
your hands come upon me
in so many ways
and yet you never feel me
you don’t send your soul to greet me
and reach beneath the skin

and even though
I leave my heart wide open to you
you always pause at the door
and then you’re gone
somewhere else to go
something else to do
someone else to see
can’t you see me?

1979 Notes

There is a pain that happens in a relationship when you long to go deeper, but realize that the one you love is satisfied to stay on the surface.

There is no greater pain than opening the door, only to find that no one wants to come in.

2007 Notes

The reason I wrote the song in the first place was that there were no words to describe what I was feeling and I guess there still aren’t.