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Through the Eyes of the Other
Through the Eyes of the Other is a Venusia song about empathy: the conscious act of seeing life from another person’s point of view. Andrew Bayuk and Anisah Alyahya trade lead vocals throughout the song, creating two perspectives that gradually move toward understanding.
The Story Behind the Song
Through the Eyes of the Other was written in 2008 after Andrew heard the story of an Israeli mother and a Palestinian mother having a conversation. They began by describing to one another the terrible treatment each had experienced from the other side. As they continued talking, however, they came to realize that they wanted essentially the same things: food, shelter, freedom, safety, a good education for their children, and the many other things human beings need in order to thrive.
As each woman began to understand what the other was actually experiencing and why, a new empathy and understanding became possible. Many challenges still remained, yet an opening had been created for dialogue and reconciliation.
How We Recorded It
Andrew performs vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums. Anisah performs vocals, piano, synthesizer and cello. The song was mixed and mastered by Reto Muggli at Powerplay Studios in Zürich.
Lyrics
An eye for an eye will make us blind
A tooth for a tooth ignores the truth,
A hand for a hand can’t understand,
No way to play
Fight fire with fire we all get burned
Thirst for revenge then no one learns
A tit for a tat can’t handle that
It all goes wrong.
If we could only learn to see through the eyes of the other
Just discover
That we are really cut from one cloth
A tapestry of you and me
It’s alright
Get payback, then be attacked
Retaliate, but don’t turn your back
Just desserts are always served
Up cold, I’m told.
If you keep on getting even
Wind up bleeding dry
I don’t think there’s satisfaction from reaction
There’s no wrong that makes it right
An eye for an eye still makes us blind
A tooth for a tooth is so uncouth,
A hand for a hand just leaves no hand,
To lend, my friend
If we could only learn to walk in the steps of the other
Just discover
That we are really cast from one mold
Our legacy that sets us free, it’s alright
it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
Through the Eyes of the Other was written in 2008 after Andrew heard the story of an Israeli mother and a Palestinian mother having a conversation. They began by describing to one another the terrible treatment each had experienced from the other side. As they continued talking, however, they came to realize that they wanted essentially the same things: food, shelter, freedom, safety, a good education for their children, and the many other things human beings need in order to thrive.
As each woman began to understand what the other was actually experiencing and why, a new empathy and understanding became possible. Many challenges still remained, yet an opening had been created for dialogue and reconciliation.
How We Recorded It
Andrew performs vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bass and drums. Anisah performs vocals, piano, synthesizer and cello. The song was mixed and mastered by Reto Muggli at Powerplay Studios in Zürich.
Lyrics
An eye for an eye will make us blind
A tooth for a tooth ignores the truth,
A hand for a hand can’t understand,
No way to play
Fight fire with fire we all get burned
Thirst for revenge then no one learns
A tit for a tat can’t handle that
It all goes wrong.
If we could only learn to see through the eyes of the other
Just discover
That we are really cut from one cloth
A tapestry of you and me
It’s alright
Get payback, then be attacked
Retaliate, but don’t turn your back
Just desserts are always served
Up cold, I’m told.
If you keep on getting even
Wind up bleeding dry
I don’t think there’s satisfaction from reaction
There’s no wrong that makes it right
An eye for an eye still makes us blind
A tooth for a tooth is so uncouth,
A hand for a hand just leaves no hand,
To lend, my friend
If we could only learn to walk in the steps of the other
Just discover
That we are really cast from one mold
Our legacy that sets us free, it’s alright
it’s alright, it’s alright, it’s alright
Watch / Listen
Credits
Written and Produced by Andrew Bayuk
Performed by Venusia — Andrew Bayuk and Anisah Alyahya
Recorded at Guardians Records
Mixed and Mastered by Reto Muggli at Powerplay Studios, Zürich
Through the Eyes of the Other
Song © 2008 Andrew Bayuk
Sound Recording ℗ 2026 Andrew Bayuk / Guardians Records
All Rights Reserved
Written and Produced by Andrew Bayuk
Performed by Venusia — Andrew Bayuk and Anisah Alyahya
Recorded at Guardians Records
Mixed and Mastered by Reto Muggli at Powerplay Studios, Zürich
Through the Eyes of the Other
Song © 2008 Andrew Bayuk
Sound Recording ℗ 2026 Andrew Bayuk / Guardians Records
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2022 - 2026 Andrew Bayuk and Anisah Alyahya
All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved