I wrote this song on Tuesday 12/4/79, the morning after eleven people were trampled to death in Cincinnati by an onrush of fans at a concert by The Who. The crowd errantly believed they were missing the beginning of the show, stormed the doors of the venue and plowed down anyone who was in their way. When I heard the news reports of the tragedy, it really angered me that such a thing could happen...that people could so blindly take these lives in their frenzy to see a band. I picked up my guitar and 'Can You See?' emerged. This version was recorded live by Pluto Jones one afternoon in June 1980 at the Brass Monkey Lounge in Marathon in the Florida Keys. I hung two Shure SM-57 microphones from the ceiling and pressed 'record' on an $80 Sanyo cassette deck. Somehow, I kept track of that old cassette, and I still have it today. There's also a newer version, recorded in 2008 during the session celebrating Michael's 50th birthday and Pluto Jones' 30th anniversary. Afterthought...I actually could've written Can You See today, as it is totally reflective of my current outlook on the world that surrounds me, my immediate family, and my entire human family in the 21st century. Can You See © 2024 - Joey Arata