1921 (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"1921"
Song by The Who
from the album Tommy
Released	May 23, 1969
Recorded	September 19, 1968 to March 7, 1969
Genre	Rock
Length	2:49
Label	Polydor
Writer(s)	Pete Townshend
Producer(s)	Kit Lambert
Tommy track listing
"It's a Boy (2)	"1921" (3)	"Amazing Journey" (4)

"1921" is a song composed and sung by Pete Townshend of The Who. It appears as the third track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy (1969). It also appears on the Deluxe Edition of The Who's legendary Live at Leeds CD.

[edit] Role In Plot Of Tommy

In the song, Tommy's father, Captain Walker, returns home after being declared missing in action during World War I. When he returns home he discovers that his wife has found a new lover. Together, Capt. and Mrs. Walker murder the lover before then seven-year-old Tommy's eyes. They persuade him that "You didn't hear it/You didn't see it/You won't say nothing to no-one", and Tommy retreats into deafness, dumbness, and blindness as a consequence.

In the film version of the song, Pete Townshend changed the time that the song takes place from 1921 to 1951 and instead of Capt. and Mrs. Walker killing the lover, Mrs. Walker and the lover kill Capt. Walker.

Lyrics: [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.