RE: Has Pete lost it?

[thewho rocks <leb905@yahoo.com>]

>Several people have worked around to something similar to this, and it
is the right answer.  There's more to the lyrics in these songs than
meets immediate analysis. 

So if Pete doesn't really have much talent as a lyricist, then how is
it that he writes such great songs?  How is it that he puts together
what looks like nonsense and throws in some music and gives the fans
cold chills?

Because Pete's big talent is that channeling thing that he does.  I'll
agree that Pete may have spent a lot of time on the MUSIC for those old
hits--there was a lot of experimentation involved--but I really don't
think the lyrics were hard for him, or that he spent much time on them
at all.  When Pete's channeling, he's in touch with the cultural
consciousness.  He opens his mouth and songs fall out, pretty much
complete.

Here's a different analysis of "Baba O'Riley":  The song pretty much
consists of two major cultural archetypes, presented as strong images;
a couple of comments, and a shift in meaning at the end.

Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living

Here's the first archetype.  It's not completely nailed down, but it
has to do with the virtue of labor and the satisfaction of physical
self-sufficiency.  For anyone with agrarian tendencies, it runs a
little deeper.  


I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven

A comment, but it strikes pretty deep again.  This is about the
struggle for recognition.  

Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland
Sally, take my hand
Travel south cross land
Put out the fire
Don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together
Before we get much older

Here's the other major archetype.  It's every man's vision of leaving
adolescence with a woman to stand beside him as he goes out in pursuit
of his dreams.  


Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland
Oh, oh
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted!

The two of them are leaving the wasteland of adolescence behind, but
then he makes another comment about how teens are wasted.  Double
meaning there--it IS wasted time in so many ways, but also he's
referring to how teens during out time are often strung out on drugs.

Is this better?  Is Pete redeemed?

:)
LB


=====
Don't meddle in the affairs of dragons, because you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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