TOMMY
The Who - 1969


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 (2x).
CHORUS :
A son ! (3x).

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 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.
Mother :
What about the boy ? (3x)
He saw it all !
Mother & 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 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 upon 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 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

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 loving
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 time we start shaking,
the dumb begin to talk.

She's got the power to heal you, never fear (2x).
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 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.
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 pin ball,
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 ? (3x)
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 ? (3x)
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 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.
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

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 !
Do 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, (2x)
Your mother left me here to mind you.
Now I'm doing what I want to.
Fiddling about, (2x)
fiddle about !
Down with the bedclothes,
up with the nightshirt !
Fiddle about, (3x)
You won't shout as I fiddle about.
Fiddle about, (3x)
Fiddle, fiddle, fiddle.

Pin Ball 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 anything 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 pin ball wizard,
there has to be a twist.
A pin ball 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 flashing,
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 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 kid
sure plays a mean pinball !!!!!

There's A Doctor
Father :
There's a doctor I've found,
could bring us all joy !
There's a doctor I've found, could cure the boy ! (2x)
There's a man I've found, could remove his sorrow.
He lives in this town, let's see him tomorrow (2x).

Go To The Mirror
Doctor :
He seems to be completely unreceptive.
The tests I gave him showed 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 (2x).
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 (2x).
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 ! (2x)
Father :
I often wonder what he's feeling ?
Has he ever heard a word I've said ?
Look at him now 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 the opinions,
from you I get the story.
Father :
What is happening in his head ?
Ooh 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 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 !

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

Miracle Cure
Newsboy :
Extra !  Extra !
Read all about it,
Pin Ball 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.
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
as 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 spotlight figure
and touched 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 ear.
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 you".
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
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 "nothings that simple".
But you've been told may times before
Messiah's 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 ? (2x)

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,
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 !
Welcome to this house,
be one of us.
Come into this house,
be one of us.
Come to our house,
come to this house !

Tommy's Holiday Camp
Uncle Ernie :
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 !
Welcome !!!


We're Not Gonna Take It !
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 ear plugs,
put on your shades
and you know where to put the cork !
He you getting drunk,
so sorry, I've got you susses.
He you smoking mother nature,
you missed the bus.
He hung up old mister normal.
Don't try to gain my trust,
Cause you ain't gonna follow me
any of those ways,
although you think you must !
Chorus :
We're not gonna take it (3x).
Never did and never will.
We don't have to 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 (3x).
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 (2x).
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.