Actually, to understand the meaning you have to see the movie it is from, "Ben" the sequel to "Willard." Yes, the rat movie. In the second film Ben is a good guy, befriending a young boy who is lonely, mistreated by other children and alienated by the world in general. Ben is the new leader of the rats from the first film, and anyone who dares to bother this boy gets the whole pack of rats attacking them 'til they run off. While others see Ben as vermin to be shunned, the boy understands the value of loyalty & compassion shown him by Ben. Thus the "they don't see you as I do" sentiment. It's really very sweet. I will always prefer this version, but Crispin Glover did a very good cover of it in the extras of the remake of "Willard," where he played the title character, originally played in the 70s by Bruce Davison. Both excellent movies. It's sad, really, we had no idea poor Michael was so screwed up in the head that he would grow up to be such a freak. But he was wonderful then.