I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I look forward to reading all of your blogs into the new decade. Thank you for reading mine. This is the last Christmas related song I’m posted until…next November!
This song is on the album Tommy about the deaf, dumb, and blind kid. This is NOT a Christmas song you will hear on the radio at this time of year…it’s just part of the story of Tommy. It’s one of my favorite non-hits on the album along with Sally Simpson.
From Songfacts
Written by Pete Townshend, this song was used in The Who rock opera Tommy when Tommy’s father expresses concerns about his son on Christmas morning. Tommy is deaf, dumb and blind, and doesn’t appear to have much of a future, but that Christmas, he gets a game of pinball and his life changes when he becomes the Pinball Wizard
Christmas
Did you ever see the faces of children
They get so excited.
Waking up on Christmas morning
Hours before the winter sun’s ignited.
They believe in dreams and all they mean
Including heavens generosity.
Peeping round the door
to see what parcels are for free
In curiosity.
And Tommy doesn’t know what day it is.
Doesn’t know who Jesus was or what praying is.
How can he be saved?
From the eternal grave.
Surrounded by his friends he sits so silently,
And unaware of everything.
Playing poxy pin ball
picks his nose and smiles and
Pokes his tongue at everything.
I believe in love
but how can men who’ve never seen
Light be enlightened.
Only if he’s cured
will his spirits future level ever heighten.
And Tommy doesn’t know what day it is.
Doesn’t know who Jesus was or what praying is.
How can he be saved?
>From the eternal grave.
Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
How can he be saved?
[Tommy:]
See me, feel me
Touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me
Touch me, heal me!
Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
Tommy can you hear me?
How can he be saved?
Nice post. Great track to see out the Christmas set list
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Enjoyed your Christmas song posts- all winners!
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How many songs have you written Max?
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Probably around 40 or so…It’s one creative thing outlet I have. I record them…I need to have our singer put a real voice to them.
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Does your group have a name and have you recorded anything?
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No we stopped playing seriously around 2008 or so… we just play for the fun of it.
When I record I play everything myself and recruit someone for lead guitar and vocals… I sound like Dylan + Petty with a cold
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I haven’t listened to this album in years…
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Great choice! I was going to blog about this one myself. Pretty sure I heard it around Xmas on KSHE-95 in St. Louis.
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I couldn’t find much info on this song but I’ve always liked it alot. The background vocals are great. When they play it live it kicks up a gear also.
Wow…I have never heard it on the radio before.
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This and Sally Simpson are great album tracks. Always amazed at how minimalist Tommy is. A big grandiose rock opera, and often there’s just an acoustic guitar, drums, and bass.
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I think that is one of the reasons for it’s success…that led to it working so well live.
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The drumming really stands out in this song. Poor Tommy 😦
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