"My Eyes Have Seen You" is an urgent rock song written by Jim Morrison and credited to The Doors, originally composed in 1965 as one of Morrison's earliest pieces. The song holds a notable place in the band's formation story: it was the second tune Morrison played for Ray Manzarek during their formative meeting at Venice Beach in July 1965, the encounter that led to The Doors' creation. Morrison drew lyrical inspiration from the television antennas visible from his Venice rooftop, weaving imagery of vision and perception into an insistent, driving composition. An early demo was recorded in September 1965 at World Pacific Studios by the pre-Krieger lineup, capturing a raw garage sound with heavy echo. The version that appeared on the 1967 album Strange Days was significantly reworked, sped up from the demo with deeper vocals, distorted piano, and a heavier guitar presence that pushed the song from its garage rock origins toward psychedelia. The track carries a punk-like immediacy and electrifying energy within its compact running time, built on a repetitive organ riff and aggressive electric guitar work that builds tension without relying on complex harmonic movement. The Doors performed the song frequently in their 1966-1967 club dates but largely dropped it from setlists after the album's release, with a rare return at the 1970 Felt Forum shows in New York, where it was integrated as a coda into a cover of "Gloria." It remains a deep cut in the band's catalog, valued for its raw intensity and its connection to Morrison's earliest creative output.
