The Who: "Substitute"

The Who: "Substitute" (UK: March 4/US: April 5, 1966)

With the Rolling Stones’ "19th Nervous Breakdown" already blaring near the top of the charts, another London group dropped their first single of the new year. The Who, that strange anarchic force that had exploded with "My Generation" back in December seemed to serve notice that 1966 was going to be a very heavy year indeed. Though the record still created no waves in America, it was banging smash in Britain, reaching the No. 5 spot for what would be quite a fine year for Who singles in general.

If the Stones were going to come out swinging aggressively, this strange bunch of arty street scruffs was not going to let them have at it alone. The equipment-smashing, in-your-face Who performances were growing legendary, and these cocky, menacing absurdists knew they had to have the right original songs to give all of their ear-splattering energy its full effect. Luckily, of course, the guitarist was a crazy bloke who wrote insane, violent, twisted tunes. While "My Generation" had been a youthful assault on society for certain, its stuttering subtext of insecurity would rise to the forefront here. "Substitute" is probably the first in a long line of great Pete Townshend compositions about an outsider looking in at a world from which he is excluded. And there’s no question he’s definitely pissed about it.

Actually, there’s a good argument to be made that "Substitute" was the angriest, most aggressive rock song ever released to this point. Well, it’s pretty hard to top "My Generation," but "Substitute" was more of a song than just an anthem. And it grabbed ahold of some real frustration and fury that was hiding just under the surface of the now-coalescing "counter-culture" and gave it a voice and a story. It also gave it some of the loudest, most explosive guitars, bass and drums ever heard.

But also, in what was part of the wonderful complexity that would continue to be the Who, there is a softness and a sadness at the heart of this tale that betrays a lonely soul and begs for tenderness in a harsh world. It’s heard immediately at the beginning of the song, with its bare acoustic guitar chords strumming a melancholy feel. Then, BAM! - the anger kicks in, even if it’s just the adolescent posturing of anger because tough guys don’t show their pain. The Who would always appeal most to the disaffected, the removed, the left out of the flowering world of wonder all around them. And that’s one reason the band was so essential.

　

 

 Lip-syncing isn't their style - the record sounds great though. 

 

 

The real Who - blowing away the flower power at Monterrey.

 

 

It always stayed in the repertoire. Usually the second song.

 

 "Substitute"

You think we look pretty good together
You think my shoes are made of leather

But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah

Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack

I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by

Substitute me for him
Substitute my coke for gin
Substitute you for my mum
At least I'll get my washing done

But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just backdated, yeah

I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by

Substitute me for him
Substitute my coke for gin
Substitute you for my mum
At least I'll get my washing done

Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack