Re: Athena-another defense (groan...)Sun Dec 7 14:56:39 PST 1997

["Anthony B. Wilson" <anthonyw@netzone.com>]

Wow!  I've always liked Athena, but now I can appreciate it on a higher,
and cooler level!  This explanation for the lyrics never occurred to me. 
It makes sense though.  How about some further history explaining the
stories behind this and other songs on It's Hard.  I've heard
historical-type stuff about most of the other Who records, but very little
about this album. 	

anthonyw@netzone.com
----------
> From: Henry Gambill <hgambill@pepperdine.edu>
> To: who <thewho@mpath.com>
> Subject: Athena-another defense (groan...)
> Date: Monday, June 03, 1996 8:25 PM
> 
> Actually, if you just look at this song lyrically, it's one of the 
> funniest satires that the Who ever did.  Remember it was written
> during the last hurrah of the Cold War when Reagan was increasing
> the military budget and talking about that "evil" empire.
> The scenario of the song, where warped nuclear scientists are 
> feeling an increasing sexual attraction to a bomb that they've 
> personified with the name "Athena" is wickedly funny.  
> 
> And then we get the bridge with Townshend singing "Look into the face of

> a child...how long will children remain?"  Pete, in effect, is the
> voice of conscience -- his higher pitched, arguably "maternal" voice 
> contrasting with Daltrey's masculine, testosterone-charged growl.
> Does the scientist listen? You decide.
> 
> -- Henry
> 
>