Lyrics for the album "Tommy" by The Who

Overture

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

{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!

You Didn't Hear It (1921)

{Lover}

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 21 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 and Father}

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
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

Amazing Journey

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 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 delerium
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

Sparks

[Instrumental]

Eyesight To The Blind (The Hawker)

{The 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
Everytime 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

Christmas

{Father}

Did you ever see the faces of children
They get so excited
Waking up on christmas morning
Hours before the winter 1's ignited
They believe in dreams and all they mean
Including heavens generosity
Peeping round the door
to see what parcels are for free
In curiosity

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

Surrounded by his friends he sits so silently
And unaware of everything
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 spirits 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?

Cousin Kevin

{Cousin Kevin}

Were 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..

The Acid Queen

{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

Underture

[Instrumental]

Do You Think It's Alright

{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!
D'you think it's alright?

{Father}

I think it's alright, yes I think it's alright

Fiddle About

{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

Pinball Wizard

{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 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 Doctor I've Found

{Father}

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 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
Let's see him tomorrow!

Go to the Mirror Boy

{{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 is 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

Tommy Can You Hear Me

Tommy can you hear me?
Can you feel me near you?

{Mother}

Tommy can you feel me?
Can I help to cheer you

Smash the Mirror

{Mother}

You don't answer my call
With even a nod or a wink
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
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?

Sensation

{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
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

[chorus]

Soon you'll see me
Can't you feel me
I'm coming
Send your troubles dancing
I know the answer
I'm coming
I'm coming
I'm a sensation

I leave a trail of rooted people
Mesmerised by just the sight
The few I touched are now disciples
Love as One
I Am the Light

Miracle Cure

{Newsboy}

Extra! Extra!
Read all about it
The Pinball Wizard in a miracle cure!
Extra! Extra!
Read all about it
EXTRA!

Sally Simpson

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 the 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

[chorus]

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 across stage to the spotlit figure
and brushed him on the face
Tommy whirled around as a uniformed man
threw her off the stage

[chorus]

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 he 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 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

[chorus]

I'm Free

{Tommy}

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
Messiahs pointed to the door
And 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

[chorus]

How can we follow?
How can we follow?

Welcome

{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
Lets 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 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 this house
Into this house

Welcome

Tommy's Holiday Camp

{Uncle Ernie}

Good morning Campers!

I'm your Uncle Ernie
and I welcome you to Tommy's Holiday Camp
The camp with the difference
Never mind the weather
When you come to Tommy's
The holiday's forever

WELCOME

We're Not Gonna Take It

{Tommy}

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 earplugs
Put on your eyeshades
You know where to put the cork

Hey you getting drunk, so sorry
I've got you sussed
Hey you smoking Mother Nature
This is a bust
Hey hung up old Mr. Normal
Don't try to gain my trust
'Cause 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
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

{Guests}

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

{Tommy}

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