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The Who - Tommy lyrics



Tracks



01. Overture

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Captain Walker
Didn't come home
His unborn child,
Will never know him
Believe him missing
With a number of men
Don't expect
To see him again.

02. It's A Boy

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Nurse:
It's a boy Mrs. Walker, it's a boy.
It's a boy Mrs. Walker, it's a boy.
Chorus:
A son! A son! A son!

03. 1921

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
I've got a feeling twenty one
Is going to be a good year.
Especially if you and me
See it in together.

Father:
So you think twenty one is going to be a good year.
It could be for me and her,
But you and her - no never!
I had no reason to be over optimistic,
But somehow when you smiled
I could brave bad weather

Mother:
What about the boy?
What about the boy?
What about the boy?
He saw it all!

Mother & Father:
You didn't hear it.
You didn't see it.
You won't say nothing to no one
Never in your life.
You never heard it,
Oh, how absurd it
All seems without any proof.
You didn't hear it.
You didn't see it.
You never heard it not a word of it.
You won't say nothing to no one.
Never tell a soul
What you know is the Truth.

04. Amazing Journey

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Deaf Dumb and blind boy
He's in a quiet vibration land
Strange as it seems his musical dreams
Ain't quite so bad.

Ten years old
With thoughts as bold as thought can be
Loving life and becoming wise
In simplicity.

Sickness can surely take the mind
Where minds can't usually go.
Come on the amazing journey
And learn all you should know.

A vague haze of delirium
Creeps up on me.
All at once a tall stranger I suddenly see.
He's dressed in a silver sparked
Glittering gown
And His golden beard flows
Nearly down to the ground.

Nothing to say and nothing to hear
And nothing to see.
Each sensation makes a note in my symphony.

Sickness will surely take the mind
Where minds can't usually go.
Come on the amazing journey
And learn all you should know.

His eyes are the eyes that
Transmit all they know.
Sparkle warm crystalline glances to show
That he is your leader
And he is your guide
On the amazing journey together you'll ride.

05. Sparks

Music by Pete Townshend
[Instrumental]

06. Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)

Music & lyrics by Sonny Boy Williamson
Hawker:
You talk about your woman
I wish you could see mine.
You talk about your woman
I wish you could see mine.
Every time she starts to lovin'
She brings eyesight to the blind.

You know her daddy gave her magic,
I can tell by the way she walks.
You know her daddy gave her magic,
I can tell by the way she walks.
Every we start shakin'
The dumb begin to talk.

She's got the power to heal you never fear.
She's got the power to heal you never fear.
Just a word from her lips
And the deaf begin to hear.

07. Christmas

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Father:
Did you ever see the faces of the children
They get so excited.
Waking up on Christmas morning
Hours before the winter sun's ignited.
They believe in dreams and all they mean
Including heaven's generosity.
Peeping round the door
To see what parcels are for free
In curiosity.

And Tommy doesn't know what day it is.
He doesn't know who Jesus was or what praying is.
How can he be saved?
From the eternal grave.

Surrounded by his friends he sits so silently,
And unaware of anything.
Playing poxy pinball
Picks his nose and smiles and
Pokes his tongue at everything.
I believe in love
But how can men who've never seen
Light be enlightened.
Only if he's cured
Will his spirit's future level ever heighten.

And Tommy doesn't know what day it is.
Doesn't know who Jesus was or what praying is.
How can he be saved?
From the eternal grave.
Tommy can you hear me?

Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
How can he be saved?

Tommy:
See me, feel me,
Touch me, heal me,
See me, feel me,
Touch me, heal me!

Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
How can he be saved?

08. Cousin Kevin

Music & lyrics by John Entwistle
Cousin Kevin:
We're on our own cousin,
All alone cousin.
Let's think of a game to play
Now the grownups have all gone away.
You won't be much fun
Being blind, deaf and dumb
But I've no one to play with today.
D'you know how to play hide and seek?
To find me it would take you a week,
But tied to that chair you won't go anywhere.
There's a lot I can do to a freak.
How would you feel if I turned on the bath,
Ducked your head under and started to laugh?
What would you do if I shut you outside,
To stand in the rain
And catch cold so you died?

I'm the school bully!
The classroom cheat.
The nastiest playfriend,
You ever could meet.
I'll stick pins in your fingers
And tread on your feet...

Maybe a cigarette burn on your arm
Would change your expression to one of alarm,
I'll drag you around by a lock of your hair
Or give you a push at the top of the stairs...

I'm the school bully!
The classroom cheat.
The nastiest playfriend,
You ever could meet.
I'll put glass in your dinner
And spikes in your seat...

09. The Acid Queen

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Gypsy:
If your child ain't all he should be now
This girl will put him right.
I'll show him what he could be now,
Just give me one night.
I'm the Gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
I'm the Gypsy - the acid queen.
I'll tear your soul apart.

Give us a room and close the door
Leave us for a while.
Your boy won't be a boy no more
Young, but not a child.
I'm the Gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
I'm the Gypsy - the acid queen.
I'll tear your soul apart.

Gather your wits and hold on fast,
Your mind must learn to roam.
Just as the Gypsy Queen must do
You're gonna hit the road.

My work is done now look at him
He's never been more alive.
His head it shakes his fingers clutch.
Watch his body writhe
I'm the Gypsy - the acid queen.
Pay before we start.
I'm the Gypsy - I'm guaranteed.
To break your little heart.

10. Underture

Music by Pete Townshend
[Instrumental]

11. Do You Think It's Alright?

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Mother:
Do you think it's alright
To leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?
Do you think it's alright;
He's had a few too many tonight!
Do you think it's alright?

Father:
I think it's alright, yes, I think it's alright.

12. Fiddle About

Music & lyrics by John Entwistle
Uncle Ernie:
I'm your wicked Uncle Ernie
I'm glad you won't see or hear me
As I fiddle about,
Fiddle about,
Fiddle about!

Your mother left me here to mind you
Now I'm doing what I want to
Fiddling about,
Fiddling about,
Fiddle about!

Down with the bedclothes
Up with the nightshirt!
Fiddle about,
Fiddle about,
Fiddle about!

You won't shout as I fiddle about
Fiddle about,
Fiddle about,
Fiddle about!
Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.

13. Pinball Wizard

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Local Lad:
Ever since I was a young boy
I've played the silver ball.
From Soho down to Brighton
I must have played them all.
But I ain't seen nothing like him
In any amusement hall...
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!

He stands like a statue,
Becomes part of the machine.
Feeling all the bumpers
Always playing clean.
He plays by intuition,
The digit counters fall.
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball!

He's a pinball wizard
There has got to be a twist.
A pinball wizard,
S'got such a supple wrist.

'How do you think he does it? I don't know!
What makes him so good?'

He ain't got no distractions
Can't hear those buzzers and bells,
Don't see lights a-flashin'
Plays by sense of smell.
Always has a replay,
'n' never tilts at all...
That deaf, dumb and blind kid
Sure plays a mean pinball.

I thought I was
The Bally table king.
But I just handed
My pinball crown to him.

Even on my usual table
He can beat my best.
His disciples lead him in
And he just does the rest.
He's got crazy flipper fingers
Never seen him fall...
That deaf, dumb and blind kind
Sure plays a mean pinball!!!!!

14. There's A Doctor

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Father:
There's a doctor I've found
Could bring us all joy!
There's a doctor I've found could cure the boy!
There's a doctor I've found could cure the boy!

There's a man I've found could remove his sorrow,
He lives in this town, let's see him tomorrow,
He lives in this town, let's see him tomorrow!

15. Go To The Mirror!

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Doctor:
He seems to be completely unreceptive.
The tests I gave him show no sense at all.
His eyes react to light, the dials detect it.
He hears but cannot answer to your call.

Tommy:
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.

Doctor:
There is no chance, no untried operation.
All hope lies with him and none with me.
Imagine though the shock from isolation.
When he suddenly can hear and speak and see.

Tommy:
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.

Doctor:
His eyes can see,
His ears can hear, his lips speak
All the time the needles flick and rock.
No machine can give the kind of stimulation,
Needed to remove his inner block.

Go to the mirror boy!
Go to the mirror boy!

Father:
I often wonder what he's feeling.
Has he ever heard a word I've said?
Look at him in the mirror dreaming
What is happening in his head?

Tommy:
Listening to you I get the music.
Gazing at you I get the heat
Following you I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet !

Right behind you I see the millions
On you I see the glory.
From you I get opinions
From you I get the story.

Father:
What is happening in his head
Ooooh, I wish I knew, I wish I knew.

16. Tommy Can You Hear Me?

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Tommy, can you hear me?
Can you feel me near you?

Mother:
Tommy, can you feel me?
Can I help to cheer you.

17. Smash The Mirror

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Mother:
You don't answer my call
With even a nod or a twitch
But you gaze at your own reflection!
You don't seem to see me
But I think you can see yourself.
How can the mirror affect you?

Can you hear me
Or do I surmise
That you fear me?
Can you feel my temper RISE?

Do you hear or fear or
Do I smash the mirror?
Do you hear or fear or
Do I smash the mirror? SMASH!

18. Sensation

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Tommy:
I overwhelm as I approach you
Make your lungs hold breath inside!
Lovers break caresses for me,
Love enhanced when I've gone by.

You'll feel me coming,
A new vibration.
From afar you'll see me
I'm a sensation.

They worship me and all I touch
Hazy eyed, they catch my glance,
Pleasant shudders shake their senses
My warm momentum throws their stance.

You'll feel me coming
A new vibration.
From afar you'll see me
I'm a sensation.

Soon you'll see me can't you feel me
I'm coming...
Send your troubles dancing he knows the answer
I'm coming...
I'm a sensation.

I leave a trail of rooted people
Mesmerized by just the sight,
The few I touch now are disciples
Love as One, I Am the Light...

19. Miracle Cure

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
New boy:
Extra! Extra!
Read all about it.
Pinball Wizard in a miracle cure !
Extra, Extra, read all about it
EXTRA!

20. Sally Simpson

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Outside the house Mr. Simpson announced
That Sally couldn't go to the meeting.
He went on cleaning his blue Rolls Royce
And she ran inside weeping.
She got to her room and tears
splashed the picture
Of her new Messiah.
She picked up a book of her father's life
And threw it on the fire!

She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart,
But her Mother said never mind your part...
Is to be what you'll be.

The theme of the sermon was 'Come unto me,
Love will find a way',
So Sally decided to ignore her dad,
And sneak out anyway!
She spent all afternoon getting ready,
And decided she'd try to touch him,
Maybe he'd see that she was free
And talk to her this Sunday.

She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart,
But her Mother said never mind your part...
Is to be what you'll be.

She arrived at six and the place was swinging
To gospel music by nine.
Group after group appeared on the stage
And Sally just sat there crying.
She bit her nails, looking pretty as a picture
Right in the very front row
And then a DJ wearing a blazer with a badge
Ran on and said 'Here we go!'

The crowd went crazy
As Tommy hit the stage!
Little Sally got lost as the police bossed
The crowd back in a rage!

But soon the atmosphere was cooler
And Tommy gave a lesson.
Sally just had to let him know she loved him
And leapt up on the rostrum!
She ran cross stage to the spotlit figure
And brushed him on the face
Tommy whirled around as a uniformed man
Threw her off the stage.

She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart,
But her Mother said never mind your part...
Is to be what you'll be.
Her cheek hit a chair and blood trickled down,
Mingling with her tears,
Tommy carried on preaching
And his voice filled Sally's ears

She caught his eye, she had to try
But couldn't see through the lights
Her face was gashed and the ambulance men
Had to carry her out that night.

The crowd went crazy
As Tommy left the stage!
Little Sally was lost for the price of a touch
And a gash across her face! Oooooh.

Sixteen stitches put her right and her Dad said
'Don't say I didn't warn yer'.
Sally got married to a rock musician
She met in California.
Tommy always talks about the day
The disciples all went wild!
Sally still carries a scar on her cheek
To remind her of his smile.

She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart,
But her Mother said never mind your part...
Is to be what you'll be.

21. I'm Free

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Tommy:
I'm free - I'm free,
And freedom tastes of reality.
I'm free - I'm free,
An' I'm waiting for you to follow me.
If I told you what it takes
To reach the highest high,
You'd laugh and say 'nothing's that simple'
But you've been told many times before
Messiah's pointed to the door
No one had the guts to leave the temple!

I'm free - I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality.
I'm free - I'm free
An' I'm waiting for you to follow me.

Chorus:
How can we follow?
How can we follow?

22. Welcome

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Tommy:
Come to my house
Be one of the comfortable people.
Come to this house
We're drinking all night,
Never sleeping.

Milkman come in!
And you baker,
Little old lady welcome
And you shoe maker

Come to this house!
Into this house.

Come to this house
Be one of us.
Make this your house
Be one of us.

You can help
To collect some more in
Young and old people
Let's get them all in!

Come to this house!
Into this house.

Ask along that man who's wearing a carnation.
Bring every single person
From Victoria Station,
Go into that hospital
Bring nurses and patients,
Everybody go home and fetch their relations!

Come to this house
Be one of the comfortable people.
Lovely bright home
Drinking all night, never sleeping.

We need more room
Build an extension
A colourful palace
Spare no expense now!

Come to this house
Be one of us.
Come into this house
Be one of us
Come to our house
Come to this house

23. Tommy's Holiday Camp

Music & lyrics by Keith Moon
Uncle Ernie:
Good morning campers!
I'm your Uncle Ernie
And I welcome you to Tommy's Holiday Camp!
The camp with the difference
Nevermind the weather,
When you come to Tommy's the holiday's forever!

The camp with the difference, nevermind the weather
When you come to Tommy's the holiday's forever!
WELCOME!!!

24. We're Not Gonna Take It (See Me, Feel Me)

Music & lyrics by Pete Townshend
Tommy:
Welcome to the camp,
I guess you all know why we're here.
My name is Tom and I became aware this year
If you want to follow me,
You've got to play pinball.
So put in your earplugs
Put on your eyeshades
And you know where to put the cork!

Hey you gettin' drunk
So sorry, I've got you sussed.
Hey you smoking mother nature
You missed the bus
Hey hung up old mister normal,
Don't try to gain my trust
Cos you ain't gonna follow me
Any of those ways
Although you think you must!

Guests:
We're not gonna take it
We're not gonna take it
We're not gonna take it
Never did and never will
We're not gonna take it
Gonna break it!
Gonna shake it!
Let's forget it better still!

Tommy:
Now you can't hear me,
Your ears are truly sealed.
You can't speak either,
Your mouth is filled.
You can't see nothing,
And pinball completes the scene.
Here comes Uncle Ernie
To guide you to
Your very own machine.

Chorus:
We're not gonna take it!
We're not gonna take it!
We're not gonna take it!
Never did and never will
Don't want no religion
And as far as we can tell
We ain't gonna take you
Never did and never will
We forsake you!
Gonna rape you!
Let's forget you better still!

Tommy:
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.

Listening to you I get the music.
Gazing at you I get the heat.
Following you I climb the mountain.
I get excitement at your feet!
Right behind you I see the millions.
On you I see the glory.
From you I get opinions.
From you I get the story.