A Quick One While He's Away

The Who

I. Her Man's Been Gone

Her man's been gone
For nearly a year
He was due home yesterday
But he ain't here

Her man's been gone
For nigh on a year
He was due home yesterday
But he ain't here

II. Crying Town

Down your street your crying is a well-known sound
Your street is very well known, right here in town
Your town is very famous for the little girl
Whose cries can be heard all around the world

III. We Have A Remedy

Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la

We have a remedy
You'll appreciate
No need to be so sad
He's only late

We'll bring you flowers and things
Help pass your time
We'll give him eagle's wings
Then he can fly to you

Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la la

We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la

(spoken)
We have a remedy.
We have!

Little girl, why don't you stop your crying?
I'm gonna make you feel all right

IV. Ivor The Engine Driver

My name is Ivor
I'm an engine driver

I know him well
I know why you feel blue
Just 'cause he's late
Don't mean he'll never get through

He told me he loves you
He ain't no liar, I ain't either
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver

Please take a sweet
Come take a walk with me
We'll sort it out
Back at my place, maybe

It'll come right
You ain't no fool, I ain't either
So why not be nice to an old engine driver?
Better be nice to an old engine driver
Better be nice to an old engine driver

V. Soon Be Home

We'll soon be home
We'll soon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon be home
We'll soon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

Come on, old horse

Soon be home
Soon be home
Soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon be home
Soon be home ...

VI. You Are Forgiven

Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang

Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello

I can't believe it
Do my eyes deceive me?
Am I back in your arms?
Away from all harm?

It's like a dream to be with you again
Can't believe that I'm with you again

I missed you and I must admit
I kissed a few and once did sit
On Ivor the Engine Driver's lap
And later with him, had a nap

You are forgiven, you are forgiven, you are forgiven ... (ad lib)

You are forgiven


Lyrics submitted by oofus

A Quick One While He's Away song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    I know exactly what this song means. It tells the story of a young girl whose boyfriend or husband has been gone for "nigh on a year". She is very sad about this and her friends come up with a remedy to fix her problem. They hire Ivor the Engine Driver to have sex with her. The husband comes back and catches the two having sex. The little girl confesses and is forgiven. There, I said it. Woman: "Pete, I've heard alot about you and the group taking drugs. Does this mean you're blocked up on stage?" Pete: "No, it means I'm blocked up all the time."
    spikehullon February 02, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    the live at leeds version is the best most definately. the story about the song can be heard at the end of "i'm a boy" on live at leeds. pretty thorough and funny explanation. i love john's bass playin/singing in the live at leeds. must hear for who fans.
    cosmicjiveon March 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    its a great rock opera song... keith moon has a great rhythm..
    pinball_wizardon May 08, 2008   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning
    This song is basically about a lady having an affair while her husband is away. He's been gone for a long time and she's sad & lonely and since he's late, why not just rendezvous with Ivor the Engine Driver? That will cheer her up... Then her husband returns. Dang it. She fesses up. But he's a very forgiving guy, and they live happily ever after. The end.
    UKnowWhereUAreon September 17, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Opinion
    I think this song is kind of about Tommy's mom. I mean, Tommy's dad never returned but still it sounds a lot like Mrs. Walker to me. Also, it was recorded about 3 years before Tommy came out, so I feel like it was an experiment before the big concept album that Tommy is.
    ValEstOroon September 10, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    No comments? This is one of the most influential rocks songs of all time and got the ball rolling on what would become Tommy. The version in The Kids are Alright is amazing.
    Flinchy17on October 13, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this song, the version in The Kids Are Alright is great, excellent footage from the Rolling Stones' Rock n Roll Circus!
    whofreak777on November 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I'm a big fan of the version used in the film Rushmore, and the album version (from A Quick One) is pretty solid as well. Fantastic song. I love the story it tells, and the fact that The Who sang "cello, cello" instead of actually using cellos (I think a depleting budget had something to do with it) adds another quirky touch to the song.
    rushmore_8on November 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    If you love The Who you HAVE to buy the Kids Are Alright DVD and see this song perfomed. WOW! They were supposed to air the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus performance on T.V, but they didn't cause The Who showed up the Rolling Stones and made them look bad. Its on the commentary on the DVD. Unbelievable song one of The Who's best. And the Rushmore soundtrack version is the Rock and Roll Circus version. I bought the Rushmore soundtrack just for this song.
    timmybighandson February 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I love this...one of Pete's first rock operas and influenced recent music...there are two tracks on the American Idiot album by Green Day that are kinda like this, a bunch of different melodies smashed in one track. Awesome song/story. Love it!
    guitaresson February 19, 2005   Link

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