Inside-Looking Out

"Inside-Looking Out", often written "Inside Looking Out",[2] is a 1966 single by the Animals. It was a substantial hit, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, number 21 in Canada, and number 34 in the United States on the U.S. pop singles chart.[3] The song is very loosely based on a prison work chant entitled "Rosie," attributed to C. B. and Axe Gang, that was collected by musicologist Alan Lomax and released in his album Popular Songbook.[4][5]

"Inside Looking Out" redirects here. For other uses, see Inside Looking Out (disambiguation).
"Inside-Looking Out"
Single by the Animals
from the album Animalization
B-side
  • "Outcast"
  • "You're On My Mind" (Burdon/Rowberry) (USA)
Released11 February 1966
Recorded9 January 1966[1]
GenreHard rock, blues rock, proto-metal
Length3:44
LabelDecca F12332
MGM 13468 (USA)
Songwriter(s)John Lomax, Alan Lomax, Eric Burdon, Chas Chandler
Producer(s)Tom Wilson
The Animals singles chronology
"It's My Life"
(1965)		 "Inside-Looking Out"
(1966)		 "Don't Bring Me Down"
(1966)

It was the group's final single with drummer John Steel, who left shortly after its release. He was replaced by Barry Jenkins, who would go on to play with Eric Burdon and the Animals.

In 1969 it was covered by Grand Funk Railroad, who on their album Grand Funk added some marijuana references to the lyrics such as changing the original's "rebirth" to "reefer" and "canvas bags" to "nickel bags" ("burlap bags" in later reissues). It was a concert staple of the band for years and is included on their Live Album.

A reworking of portions of the song was also recorded by the Austrian band Novak's Kapelle in 1969 as "Hypodermic Needle". It was later covered by doom metal band the Obsessed, released on their 1999 compilation album Incarnate and again by the Greenhornes on their 2001 self-titled second album. In 2001, Eric Burdon released a live cover on Official Live Bootleg 2000.

Other covers include those by Gerry Joe Weise, Shot on Site, the Mops, the Makers, and the Rationals. Grand Funk's version is sampled in the songs "Sound of da Police" by KRS-One and "High 5 (Rock the Catskills)" by Beck. Canadian guitarist Pat Travers also covered the song in 2003 on his album Power Trio.

References and notes
  1. "Chrome Oxide - Music Collectors pages - Animals - 05/12/2018". www.chromeoxide.com. Retrieved 2019-10-24.
  2. The spelling "Inside-Looking Out" refers to the spelling on the original 1966 singles (Decca, MGM)
  3. The Animals, "Inside Looking Out" Chart Positions Retrieved March 20, 2015
  4. Lomax, Alan (R.D. Cohen, ed.), 2003: Alan Lomax: Selected Writings 1934-1997, Routledge, p. 73
  5. Sturman, Janet. "Rosie." Instructor materials for Music 109, "Rock and American Popular Music."



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