Substitute
The Who
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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
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10 facts about this song
Origin"Substitute" is a song by the English rock band 'The Who', written by Pete Townshend, the band's primary songwriter.
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Release InfoThe song was released in March 1966 initially in the UK.
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Unique Release"Substitute" is one of the songs which was released with different B-sides on its initial release. In the UK, the B-side was "In The City," a track written by Keith Moon and John Entwistle. In the US, the B-side track was "Waltz for a Pig," recorded by The Who's managers.
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Lyrics DisputesA lyric in "Substitute" - "I look all white, but my dad was black" - was altered to "I try going forward but my feet walk back" due to its sensitive racial context during the '60s.
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Chart SuccessThe song reached number 5 in the UK charts and is regularly placed in lists of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time.
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InfluenceThe opening line "you think we look pretty good together" was a not-so-veiled jab at the Rolling Stones, who had a hit with "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction."
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Tour Highlight"Substitute" has remained a staple of The Who's live performances, being played at almost every concert since its release.
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Contribution to the British Rock Canon"Substitute" is often cited as one of the songs that helped establish the aggressive, power-chord driven rock sound that became a defining characteristic of the British Rock Invasion.
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Other VersionsThe song has been covered by several artists over the years, including The Ramones and Sex Pistols. One of the most famous interpretations is a reggae cover by Jamaican artist Gregory Isaacs.
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Legal ControversyThere was a legal dispute over the song's rights. The producer of The Who's early records, Shel Talmy, claimed ownership but after a lengthy legal battle, Pete Townshend was identified as the rightful owner.
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Citation
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"Substitute Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29262807/The+Who/Substitute>.
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