 Tommy (1969) [ larger cover art ] |
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I'm free
I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality
I'm free
I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me
If I told you what it takes
To reach the highest high
You'd laugh and say nothing's that simple
But you've been told many times before
Messiah's pointed to the door
No one had the guts to leave the temple
I'm free
I'm free
And freedom tastes of reality
I'm free
I'm free
And I'm waiting for you to follow me
How can we follow?
How can we follow?
Ooh...
| unclehud (now 50 feet above the planet in Boston) | Posted: May 03, 2013 - 12:24 Love the funky meter coupled with the cosmic message. "I'm free from the chains of reality." |
| Lazarus (Bethany) | Posted: Mar 01, 2013 - 22:14 Everybody in my church loves this song... |
| DaMoGan (Beer on the east coast, Beer on the west coast.) | Posted: Jan 29, 2013 - 14:30 No, you're 3, because that's the rating I gave you. (Sorry, just never been a fan of The Who for some reason....) |
| Johray63 (The Lowlands) | Posted: Nov 25, 2012 - 04:23 There are songs that grown on me, or that I learned to appreciate, but this is the kind of song that will never hit me as much again as it did in the beginning. |
| PFM (wherever I am) | Posted: Oct 27, 2012 - 12:50 MaryM wrote: My favorite version of the entire album is the London Symphony Orchestra, Ritchie Havens, Ringo Starr, etc. I wore the grooves off the vinyl in high school! Free download today - http://www.amazon.com/Performed-Orchestra-featuring-Townshend-Entwhistle/dp/B0026EEYDW?t=slicinc-20&tag=slicinc-20 |
| Papasmeg (Lille France) | Posted: Aug 25, 2012 - 12:57 LMAO.............................so so true!!!! fredriley wrote: The song's always reminded me of the old UK sitcom Are you being served? as "I'm free!" was the catchphrase of the camp tailor in it, played by John Inman:  Irreverent, I know, but wtf - The Who have always sucked donkey to my ears. Sad but true. |
| TerryS (Another SW) | Posted: May 22, 2012 - 20:40 fredriley wrote: TFFT! A nice solid 1, so I can turn off my machine and go home. I was concerned that, with the fantastic run over the last hour, I'd just keep hearing great number after great number and never be able to mute the speakers. Luckily The Who come up trumps with the overblown sucko-barfo every time, so thanks Pete "just curious, me" Townsend and mates. Oh, and parkas were bloody awful to wear in the rain as they soaked it all up and tripled in weight, so that you felt like you were walking along with a sack of cement on your back. The passing of the Mod is not mourned by me. Being a rocker, leather only doubled in weight. The mighty Cagoule was the answer. |
| maxmox (Broome, Western Australia) | Posted: Apr 21, 2012 - 03:08 ofanansky wrote: really too much Who lately Listen to to drummer you muffin. Makes Ginger Baker look slack. |
| ofanansky | Posted: Jan 16, 2012 - 22:27 really too much Who lately |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Dec 16, 2011 - 05:40 The song's always reminded me of the old UK sitcom Are you being served? as "I'm free!" was the catchphrase of the camp tailor in it, played by John Inman: Irreverent, I know, but wtf - The Who have always sucked donkey to my ears. Sad but true. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: Dec 16, 2011 - 05:38 kilroyjoe3 wrote: Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play???  It's the prevalent theme on this album. I guess you haven't heard much of their other material. |
| MaryM (WeHo CA) | Posted: Nov 14, 2011 - 13:04 Balthazar wrote: Completely agree. Remember when movie came out and I heard movie version, it was much much better for my ears. I like Tommy movie and soundtrack, but this original version gets 5 from me, never liked it. My favorite version of the entire album is the London Symphony Orchestra, Ritchie Havens, Ringo Starr, etc. I wore the grooves off the vinyl in high school! |
| Uberse (Italia - 24100) | Posted: Aug 12, 2011 - 02:10 Ooohh.. Bill's dog sing!  Aloha |
| Dave_Mack (Saratoga,CA) | Posted: May 09, 2011 - 10:59 andrewimft wrote: Try Bargain, Love Reign O'er Me, You Better You Bet to name just a few. Maybe he's referring to self-love songs.... |
| Art_Carnage (DeepintheheartofTexas) | Posted: Apr 07, 2011 - 20:02 Much better live. And the version from the "Tommy" soundtrack is even better. It should be noted that the soundtrack album is not the actual soundtrack of the movie. There were two separate recordings. This is most apparent in Jack Nicholson's solo. And, of course, the story is fleshed out, and altered somewhat for the film. Major difference (beyond the time period) is that Tommy's stepfather kills his real father, instead of the other way around. Townshend not only approved of the change, he said he wished he had originally done it that way. It allows Tommy's father to become a sort of "spirit guide", leading his son to to the light. But Tommy falters, led astray by his parents, and by believing that his way to enlightenment will work for everyone. After everyone turns on him, destroys all he has built, and his mother and step-father are killed, he finally achieves true enlightenment. |
| spice_te | Posted: Apr 07, 2011 - 19:52 ahhh...tommy! |
| Balthazar (Ljubljana, SI) | Posted: Mar 07, 2011 - 08:25 Listen to soundtrack version and then rate this one  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGa70tVYVKo |
| Egrey (WASH, DC) | Posted: Mar 07, 2011 - 08:17 More Gracie please! |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: May 04, 2010 - 19:26  Keith Moon. exam by ~Bitterkawaii Jo ©2006-2010 ~Bitterkawaii best thing I've done for the exam so far, done in something like 2 1/2 hours. Keith Moon. Yay. |
| calypsus_1 | Posted: Nov 29, 2009 - 03:03 John Entwistle, The Who - "5:15" Live at Royal Albert Hall (2000) |
| sirdroseph (Outer Mongolia) | Posted: Oct 17, 2009 - 11:40 This song is very beautiful; lyrically and musically. |
| rez | Posted: Jul 14, 2009 - 18:59 interesting how the same song played by the same band can sound really lame in one version (this) and really rockin' in another (off the soundtrack album). |
| BlueHeronDruid (Em Oh You Ess Ee!) | Posted: Jun 12, 2009 - 23:13 Get your pitchforks and torches. I've always thought this sounded weak and cheesy. I frickin' HATE Tommy. All of it. |
| Proclivities (Carrboro, NC) | Posted: May 12, 2009 - 05:33 fretman wrote: Rock Anthems 'R' Us! With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song... Perhaps Pete Townshend had never been made aware that he was required to write love songs. He did compose quite a few, however. There are several on The Who Sell Out. |
| fredriley (Nottingham, UK) | Posted: Feb 06, 2009 - 13:10 TFFT! A nice solid 1, so I can turn off my machine and go home. I was concerned that, with the fantastic run over the last hour, I'd just keep hearing great number after great number and never be able to mute the speakers. Luckily The Who come up trumps with the overblown sucko-barfo every time, so thanks Pete "just curious, me" Townsend and mates. Oh, and parkas were bloody awful to wear in the rain as they soaked it all up and tripled in weight, so that you felt like you were walking along with a sack of cement on your back. The passing of the Mod is not mourned by me. |
| Otomi (La orilla de la civilización) | Posted: Dec 05, 2008 - 16:04 fretman wrote: Rock Anthems 'R' Us! With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song... Squeezebox? |
| jagdriver (Tunin' in from the aptly-named Grass Valley, CA) | Posted: Dec 05, 2008 - 08:35 Played this over and over and over and over and over... |
| algrif (Slightly west of Zero) | Posted: Dec 05, 2008 - 07:27 So what? I'm 4  |
| (former member) (hotel in Las Vegas) | Posted: Nov 03, 2008 - 18:56 This is one of those great songs... |
| Saliby_Br (Outer space) | Posted: Sep 01, 2008 - 15:34 It is nice when they play pure rock and roll, and not that opera  rock |
| Balthazar (SI) | Posted: Jun 30, 2008 - 10:54 Art_Carnage wrote: The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
Completely agree. Remember when movie came out and I heard movie version, it was much much better for my ears. I like Tommy movie and soundtrack, but this original version gets 5 from me, never liked it. |
| robco1 (Chicago, IL) | Posted: Apr 28, 2008 - 11:48 Angloray wrote: More recently, does this song bring back fond memories of "Freaks and Geeks" for anyone else? Brings back fond (and not-so fond) memories of living "Freaks and Geeks . . . " |
| andrewimft | Posted: Mar 27, 2008 - 23:48 fretman wrote: With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song... Try Bargain, Love Reign O'er Me, You Better You Bet to name just a few. |
| Angloray (NOT in a cubicle) | Posted: Feb 25, 2008 - 11:40 More recently, does this song bring back fond memories of "Freaks and Geeks" for anyone else? |
| HazzeSwede (Vinyl Land) | Posted: Nov 23, 2007 - 04:56 kilroyjoe3 wrote: Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??? And you can play 2001 better ones?  |
| ladybinnath (Buffalo, NY) | Posted: Jul 20, 2007 - 12:55 Art_Carnage wrote: The version of this song from the "Tommy" film soundtrack is much better. This version seems lifeless after hearing that one.
I don't know the soundtrack version, but the Who did an outstanding take on this on their 20th anniversary Tommy tour. The roar that Daltrey perfected later in his career really gave this an intensity that's missing on this studio version. |
| Rockabobbie (monitor-side in the foothills of NC) | Posted: Apr 17, 2007 - 06:48 Townsend's acoustic work has always struck a chord with me (pun intended!). The BIG RAWK of Who's Next is probably their signature sound, but the subtleties in Pete's accoustic playing showcase his mastery of the instrument, IMHO. I'm Free is a great case in point. |
| buckskin (eclectopia) | Posted: Apr 17, 2007 - 06:44 I'M FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! OH YEAH!!!!!!!! Too bad 10 is the highest rating |
| CyberCoyote (Sierra Foothills) | Posted: Mar 17, 2007 - 00:40 interesting seque from "For a few dollars more" .... nice.. why RP is so cool! |
| fretman | Posted: Feb 13, 2007 - 17:29 Rock Anthems 'R' Us! With the exception of "Pictures of Lilly" I don't believe they did a love song... |
| celadonstone (Charleston, SC (2858.50 mi East of Paradise)) | Posted: Jan 15, 2007 - 10:08 optimusprime10 wrote: is this the theme song for the next version of CSI? "CSI:SI/SE - on the set of the sports illustrated swimsuit edition"
Um yeah, I know, right? I really dont want to associate a 60s cool band's music with momentarily hip crime shows on CBS. |
| Shesdifferent (Just visiting this planet) | Posted: Dec 31, 2006 - 20:23 Eastcoast is clueless! |
| slowhand (South!!!!!!!!!!) | Posted: Dec 02, 2006 - 18:29 In 1969, they released the rock opera Tommy. Eastcoast would have been 4yrs old...Mr Rodgers might have said somthing negative about The Who and he picked up on it. But in support of Eastcoast his ratings prove he KNOWS classic rock. |
| kazuma (Austin, TX) | Posted: Nov 03, 2006 - 17:42 eastcoast wrote: I would have to say that the early Who is plain and simply BORING!!! Give me Sister Disco any day.
This is early Who? |
| Happygirl (Edmonton, AB) | Posted: Nov 03, 2006 - 12:30 kilroyjoe3 wrote: Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play???
Merely a recurring motif, it's an operatic thing. ;) |
| cattgirl813 (All over the place and staying put) | Posted: Nov 03, 2006 - 12:29 federico wrote: kitsch
Any song by Abba is kitsch. Most disco is kitsch. This song? Not so much. |
| optimusprime10 (the 'bu) | Posted: Nov 03, 2006 - 12:29 is this the theme song for the next version of CSI? "CSI:SI/SE - on the set of the sports illustrated swimsuit edition" |
| eastcoast | Posted: Nov 03, 2006 - 12:28 I would have to say that the early Who is plain and simply BORING!!! Give me Sister Disco any day. |
| kilroyjoe3 (Charlottesville VA is for lovers) | Posted: Sep 20, 2006 - 13:55 Is the rif from the Pinball Wizard the only one these guys can play??? |
| Stefen (West Hollywood, CA) | Posted: Sep 05, 2006 - 22:52 I saw the Who do this and much of Tommy at the Hollywood Paladium in 1969. As you may know, that venue is quite small, and one wall was virtually all Marshall amps and speakers. The music was phenomenal and the stage antics, including a guitar destruction, were memorable to say the least, but my hearing was impaired for three days. |