Athena

The Who

About Athena

"Athena" (the working title being "Theresa") is a song written by Pete Townshend and recorded by The Who. It appears as the first track on the group's tenth album It's Hard, released in 1982. Written for actress Theresa Russell, the song was the first single from It's Hard. The single was a moderate success reaching the Top 40 in both Britain and America.


Year:
2012
3:47
95 
#1

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I had no idea how much I need her
In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her
My heart starts palpitating
When I think my guess was wrong
But I think I'll get alone
She's just a girl
She's a bomb

Athena
All I ever want to do is please her
My life has been so settled
And she's the reason
Just one word from her
And my troubles are long gone
But I think I'll get along
She's just a girl
She's a bomb
She's a bomb
Just a girl, just a girl
Just a girl, just a girl
Just a girl, just a girl
She's just a girl

Athena
My heart felt like a shattered glass in an acid bath
I felt like one of those flattened ants
You find on a crazy path
I'd have stopped myself to give her time
She didn't need to ask
Was I a suicidal psychopath
She's just a girl
She's a bomb
She's just a girl
She's a bomb
Consumed
There was a beautiful white horse
I saw on a dream stage
He had a snake the size of a sewer pipe
Livin' in his rib cage

I felt like a pickled priest
Who was being flambed
You've got me requisitioned blondie
She's just a girl
She's a bomb
I'm happy
She's a bomb
I'm ecstatic
Just a girl, just a girl
Just a girl, just a girl
Just a girl, just a girl
Just a girl

Look into the face of a child
Measure how long you smiled
Before the mem'ry claimed
How long would children remain
How long could children remain

Athena
You picked me up by my lapels
And screamed "leave her"
I felt like waking up in heaven
On an empty meter
And now you're stuck
With a castrated leader
And I hate the creep
I didn't mean that
She's a bomb
I just said it
She's a bomb
Please She's a bomb

Athena
I had no idea how much I need her
My life has been so settled
And she's the reason
Just one word from her
And my troubles are long gone
Ooh but I get along
She's just a girl
She's a bomb
She's just a girl
She's a bomb

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The Who

The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Pete Townshend (vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Entwistle (vocals, bass) and Keith Moon, (drums, vocals). They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction. The Who have sold about 100 million records, and have charted 27 top forty singles in the United Kingdom and United States, as well as 17 top ten albums, with 18 Gold, 12 Platinum and 5 Multi-Platinum album awards in the United States alone. more »

9 fans

Written by: Peter Dennis Blandfor Townshend

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album Background
"Athena" is a song by the British rock band The Who, appearing on their 1982 studio album "It's Hard".
Chart Performance
When released as a single, it reached number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number 40 on the UK Singles Chart.
Song’s meaning
The song, originally titled "Theresa", was inspired by Pete Townshend's brief infatuation with the American actress Theresa Russell.
Lyrics Composition
The lyrics express Townshend's feelings for Russell, which were intense, but quickly faded, as expressed in the line "She's a bomb".
Song's reception
Band members Roger Daltrey and John Entwistle have both expressed disappointment over the song, with Daltrey considering its lyrics to be weak and Entwistle believing the album was released prematurely.
Love and inspiration
Reportedly, Townshend met Russell and was inspired to write "Athena" after seeing Stanley Kubrick’s film “Crimes of Passion.”
Song's impact
Despite mixed reviews from the band members, "Athena" is an enduring favorite among fans and remains a staple of The Who's live shows.
Side B Single
The single's side B was "A Man Is a Man," another track from the "It's Hard" album.
Townshend‘s perspective
Pete Townshend admitted he was disappointed because the song was considered a flop. He had thought it was one of the best songs on the "It's Hard" album.
Music Video
A music video was shot for the song. It was directed by Julien Temple, who also directed videos for several other prominent bands of the era such as The Rolling Stones and David Bowie.

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    Athena

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1982

    Billboard #28


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