“Tell Me What You See,” like all of John and Paul’s Beatle compositions, is officially credited to both songwriters. Paul, who describes the song as “not awfully memorable,” estimates that his actual contribution compared to John’s may have been 60%, although he is not sure.

The song, which is on the “Help” album though not part of the movie Help, is notable for its use of an electric piano and Latin percussion. John and Paul share lead vocals.


Big and black the clouds will be,
Time will pass away.
If you put your trust in me,
I’ll make bright your day.

Here is a nice acoustic version of "Tell Me What You See" from Joe and Pat, courtesy of YouTube:

John and Paul would end up using an altered and secularized version of this stanza as the second verse of the Beatles “Tell Me What You See.” 

This is the second verse of that song:

As a child, John was amused by a religious stanza that his aunt Mimi had framed on a wall in their home. 

What if John and Paul had decided to do things a little differently? What if, instead of secularizing the religious stanza and then building a song around it, they had kept the original version of the stanza and built a religious song around it?

It probably would go something like this....

Saint Francis de Sales: “By turning your eyes on God in meditation, your whole soul will be filled with God. Begin all your prayers in the presence of God.”

Lennon/ McCartney: "Won't you open up your eyes?"

Lennon/ McCartney: "And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light that shines on me."

“Tell Me What You See” (Spiritual Version)

If you let God take your heart, He will prove to you
You will never be apart, if He’s part of you
Open up your eyes now, tell me what you see
It is no surprise now, what you see is Thee

However black the clouds may be, in time they’ll pass away
Have faith and trust and you will see, God’s light make bright your day

Look into His eyes now, tell me what you see
Don't you realize now, what you see is Thee
Tell me what you see

Listen to me one more time, how can I get through?
Can't you try to see that He’s trying to get to you?
Open up your eyes now, tell me what you see
It is no surprise now, what you see is Thee
Tell me what you see

Listen to me one more time, how can I get through?
Can't you try to see that He’s trying to get to you?
Open up your eyes now, tell me what you see
It is no surprise now, what you see is Thee

Mmm mmm mmm mmm mmm


John Lennon/Paul McCartney

         However black the clouds may be,

                In time they’ll pass away.      

         Have faith and trust and you will see,

          God’s light make bright your day. 









    OPEN UP YOUR EYES NOW