Artist: The Who Album: Tommy {1969}

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

It's a boy, Mrs. Walker, it's a boy
It's a boy, Mrs. Walker, it's a boy

A son, a son, a son

Got a feeling '21 is gonna be a good year
Especially if you and me see it in together
So you think '21 is gonna be a good year
Could be good 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

What about the boy, what about the boy
What about the boy, he saw it all

You didn't hear it, you didn't see it
You won't say nothing to no one ever in your life
You never heard it, 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

Got a feeling '21 is gonna be a good year
Especially if you and me see it in together
Got a feeling '21 is gonna be a good year
Especially if you and me see it in together
I had no reason to be over optimistic
But somehow when you smiled I could brave bad weather

What about the boy

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 thoughts can be
Loving life and becoming wise in simplicity

Sickness will 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 sparkled glittering gown
And his golden beard flows nearly down to the ground

Nothing to say, nothing to hear, 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
He is your leader, he is your guide
On the amazing journey together you'll ride

INSTRUMENTAL

You talk about your woman, I wish you could see mine
Yeah, 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
Her daddy gave her magic, I can tell by the way she walks
Every time she start to shakin' the dumb begin to talk

She's got the power to heal you, never fear
Oh, she's got the power to heal you, never fear
Just a word from her lips and the deaf begin to hear

Did you ever see the faces of the childen, 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
Yeah, he 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
Tommy, can you hear me
Tommy, can you hear me
Can you hear me
How can he be saved

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
Tommy, can you hear me
Tommy, can you hear me
Can you, can you, can you hear me
How can he be saved

Did you ever see the faces of the childen, 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 doors to see what parcels are for free in curiosity

And Tommy doesn't know what day it is
Yeah, he doesn't know who Jesus was or what praying is
How can he be saved from the eternal grave

We're on our own, cousin, all alone, cousin
Let's think of a game to play
Now the grown-ups have all gone away
You won't be much fun being blind, deaf and dumb
But I've no one to play with today
Do 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 with 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

We're on our own, cousin, all alone, cousin
Let's think of a game to play
Now the grown-ups have all gone away
You won't be much fun being blind, deaf and dumb
But I've no one to play with today
Do 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 with a freak

Maybe a cigarette burn on your arm
Would change your expression to one of alarm
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

If your child ain't all he should be now this girl can 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
The Gypsy, I'm guaranteed to tear your soul apart

Give us a room, close the door, leave us for awhile
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
The Gypsy, I'm guaranteed to 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 gotta 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

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
The Gypsy, I'm guaranteed to tear your soul apart

INSTRUMENTAL

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

Yes, I think it's alright, I think it's alright
Do you think it's alright
I think it's alright

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 your nightshirt
Fiddle about, fiddle about, fiddle about
Fiddle about, fiddle about, fiddle about

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

Ever since I was a young boy I've played the silver ball
From Soho down to Brighton, I must've played 'em 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
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 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

Ain't got no distractions, can't hear no buzzers and bells
Don't see no lights a-flashin', plays by sense of smell
Always gets the replay, never seen him fall
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 favorite 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 kid sure plays a mean pinball

There's a man I've found could bring us all joy
There's a doctor I've found could cure the boy
A doctor I've found can cure the boy

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

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

See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me

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

See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me

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

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

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

What is happening in his head
Ooh, I wish I knew, I wish I knew

Tommy can you hear me, can you feel me near you
Tommy can you see me, can I help to cheer you
Ooh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy

Tommy can you hear me, can you feel me near you
Tommy can you see me, can I help to cheer you
Ooh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy

Tommy can you hear me, can you feel me near you
Tommy can you see me, can I help to cheer you
Ooh Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy

You don't answer my call with even a nod or a wink
But you gaze at your own reflection, alright
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
Rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise
Rise, rise, rise, rise, rise, rise

Do you hear or fear or do I smash the mirror
Do you hear or fear or do I smash the mirror

I overwhelm as I approach you
Make your lungs hold breathe 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
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
I'm a sensation

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

I leave a trail of rooted people
Mesmerized by just the sight
The few I've touched now are disciples
Love as One, I am the Light

Extra, extra - read all about it
The Pinball Wizard in a miracle cure
Extra, extra - read all about it
Extra

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 a-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 and 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
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

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 
Oooh

Sixteen stitches put her right and her dad said
"Don't say I didn't warn ya."
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."

I'm free, I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality
I'm free, I'm free
And 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 point you 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
And I'm waiting for you to follow me

I'm free, I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me

How can we follow, how can we follow

Come to my house - be one of the comfortable people
Lovely bright home, we're drinking all night, never sleeping
Milkman come in and you baker
Little old lady welcome and you shoemaker
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 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 and bring the nurses and patients
Everyone go home and fetch their relations
Come to this house - be one of the comfortable people
Lovely bright home, drinking all night, never sleeping

Excuse me sir, there's more at the door
There's more at the door, there's more at the door
There's more at the door, there's more at the door
There's more at the door, there's more at the door
There's more at the door, there's more

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 this house, into this house

Welcome

Good morning campers
I'm your Uncle Ernie and I welcome you to Tommy's Holiday Camp
The camp with a difference, never mind the weather
When you come to Tommy's the holiday's forever

Camp with a difference, never mind the weather
When you come to Tommy's the holiday's forever, ha, ha

Welcome

Welcome to the camp, I guess you all know why we're here
My name is Tommy and I became aware this year
If you want to follow me you've got to play pinball
And put in your ear plugs, put on your eye shades
You know where to put the cork

Hey you gettin' drunk, so sorry I've got you sussed
Hey you smokin' mother nature this is a bust
Hey hung up old Mr. Normal, don't try to gain my trust
Cos you ain't gonna follow me any of those ways
Although you think you must

We're not gonna take it, we're not gonna take it
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

Now you can't hear me, your ears are truly sealed
You can't speak either cos 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

We're not gonna take it, we're not gonna take it
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're not gonna take you
We forsake you, gonna rape you, let's forget you better still
We forsake you, gonna rape you, let's forget you better still

See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me
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

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

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

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