One of the most exciting songs of The Who. It was off of the Mod concept album Quadrophenia. Roger and Pete are excellent in this song but John and Keith really stand out. The song peaked at #92 in 1974.
I have sat hours with a bass in my hand trying to get the runs right to this. One of John’s best bass parts.
John Entwistle on The Real Me… “The Real Me” was the first take. I was joking when I did that bass part. The band said, “Wow, that’s great, that’s great!” And I was just messing around. They just loved the song. I was sitting on top of my speaker cabinet playing a silly bass part and that’s the one they liked.
From Songfacts.
This is about how a Mod can’t see who he really is. “Mods” were British youth who kept up with the latest music and fashion trends. Pete Townshend was a champion of Mod culture, and the rock opera Quadrophenia told the story of a Mod named Jimmy.
John Entwistle gave what many consider one of his greatest bass performances on this song. In a 1996 interview with Goldmine magazine, Entwistle explained that he recorded it in one take. He was just “joking around” when he played it, but the band thought it was great and used it in the final version.
The Real Me
I went back to the doctor
To get another shrink
I sit and tell him ’bout my weekend
But he never betrays what he thinks
Woo
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Doctor?
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Woah, doctor
I went back to my mother
I said I’m crazy ma, help me
She said I know how it feels son
‘Cause it runs in the family
Can you see the real me, mama?
Mama?
Can you see the real me, mama?
Woah, mama
Can you see
Can you see the real me?
Can you see
Can you see the real me
The real me
The real me
The cracks between the paving stones
Look like rivers of flowing veins
Strange people who know me
Peeping from behind every window pane
The girl I used to love
Lives in this yellow house
Yesterday she passed me by
She doesn’t want to know me now
Can you see the real me?
Can ya?
Can ya?
Can you see the real me?
Can ya?
Woah, yeah
I ended up with a preacher
Full of lies and hate
I seemed to scare him a little
So he showed me to the golden gate
Can you see the real me, preacher?
Preacher?
Can you see the real me, preacher?
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see
Woah
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Can you see the real me, ma?
Can you see the real me (me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me)?
Entwistle certainly is a fine bassist!
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Yes he was… I put him in my top 3 rock bassists…
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Damn straight. Saw him play, once. Mind blowing…
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I saw him once in 89. When I’ve played his songs I get finger cramps. Love his playing .
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I’d never heard this song. How awesome.
John Taylor is pretty fast, too.
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Yes he is also. I remember him the most through Power Station
Moon and Entwistle went well together.
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I agree one of The Who’s greatest- and maybe most underrated. Radio should play it more than they do.
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Yes classic radio doesnt wear this one out that is for sure…but Who’s Next…they will play over and over.
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Those early Who classics should also get some love- as you said- Who’s Next- certainly their greatest album but they play those songs to death on radio.
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Substitute, Im a Boy, and The Kids Are Alright…just great singles.
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Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy!
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Yes!…one of the best compilations
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I wonder where this was recorded, it always sounded quite perfect… Oh and that playing… The timing… The push pull… Great great stuff
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Its a perfect example of what they were about.
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It really is.. You can just hear the 1000s of hours they’d played together in that opening
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