The beach is a place where a man can feel
He's the only soul in the world that's real
But I see a face coming through the haze
I remember him from those crazy days
Crazy days, crazy days
Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces
Riding up in front of a hundred faces
I don't suppose you would remember me
But I used to follow you back in sixty-three
I've got a good job, and I'm newly born
You should see me dressed up in my uniform
I work in hotel, all gilt and flash
Remember the gaff where the doors we smashed?
Bell Boy, I got to get running now
Bell Boy, keep my lip buttoned down
Bell Boy, carry this baggage out
Bell Boy, always running at someone's bleedin' heel
You know how I feel
Always running at someone's heel
Some nights I still sleep on the beach
Remember when stars were in reach
I wander in early to work
Spend my day licking boots for my perks
A beach is a place where a man can feel
He's the only soul in the world that's real
But I see a face coming through the haze
I remember him from those crazy days (crazy days, crazy days, crazy days, crazy days)
Ain't you the guy who used to set the paces
Riding up in front of a hundred faces
I don't suppose you would remember me
But I used to follow you back in sixty-three
People often change
But when I look in your eyes
You could learn a lot from
A life like mine
The secret to me
It ain't flown like a flag
I carry it behind
This bleedin' little badge
What says?
Bell Boy I got to get running now
Bell Boy, keep the lip buttoned down
Bell Boy, carry the bloody baggage out
Bell Boy, always running at someone's heel
You know how I feel
Always running at someone's heel
He's the only soul in the world that's real
But I see a face coming through the haze
I remember him from those crazy days
Crazy days, crazy days
Riding up in front of a hundred faces
I don't suppose you would remember me
But I used to follow you back in sixty-three
You should see me dressed up in my uniform
I work in hotel, all gilt and flash
Remember the gaff where the doors we smashed?
Bell Boy, keep my lip buttoned down
Bell Boy, carry this baggage out
Bell Boy, always running at someone's bleedin' heel
You know how I feel
Always running at someone's heel
Remember when stars were in reach
I wander in early to work
Spend my day licking boots for my perks
He's the only soul in the world that's real
I remember him from those crazy days (crazy days, crazy days, crazy days, crazy days)
Riding up in front of a hundred faces
I don't suppose you would remember me
But I used to follow you back in sixty-three
But when I look in your eyes
You could learn a lot from
A life like mine
The secret to me
It ain't flown like a flag
I carry it behind
This bleedin' little badge
What says?
Bell Boy, keep the lip buttoned down
Bell Boy, carry the bloody baggage out
Bell Boy, always running at someone's heel
You know how I feel
Always running at someone's heel
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Gtreat song, I love when Keith sings, especially the 'Some nights I still sleep on the beach' part! This song's about how Jimmy's life is fallign apart, how the people he looked up to let him down, like the ace face who became a bell boy.
This is another tune from Quadrophenia. Jimmy sees The Ace Face, the leader of the Mods in his area, now is a boot-licking bell boy instead of the rebel he claims to be. JImmy's herois just a facade.
@feedmetotheforest Jimmy THINKS his hero has sold out, but if you look at the last verse: People often change But when I look in your eyes You could learn a lot from A job like mine The secret to me Isn't flown like a flag I carry it behind This little badge What says...
@feedmetotheforest Jimmy THINKS his hero has sold out, but if you look at the last verse: People often change But when I look in your eyes You could learn a lot from A job like mine The secret to me Isn't flown like a flag I carry it behind This little badge What says...
You see that The Ace Face is still the same person, he holds those feelings, dreams etc in what lies behind his badge... his heart.
You see that The Ace Face is still the same person, he holds those feelings, dreams etc in what lies behind his badge... his heart.
Jimmy meets his former hero the Ace Face working as a bell boy and it destroys his faith in the last thing he really believes in- the Mod spirit. He has previously criticised people for not fighting against their social position (The Dirty Jobs), but now he feels that he has nothing to believe in, and he returns to the one place that means anything at all to him- the beach.
4 songs on Quadrophenia were supposed to represent the different members of The Who, and thusly the different sides of Jimmy's personality. This was supposed to represent Keith Moon. The description of this side of Jimmy's personality in the linear notes is "A bloody lunatic, I'll even carry your bags."
Y'know...I never really understood how this song was supposed to represent Keith - or a part of Jimmy's personality. In fact I'm pretty sure that this is the only song on the album that isn't 100% Jimmy's inner-dialogue. Most of it is sung by Ace Face. Not Jimmy. And Ace Face isn't too much of a lunatic either - just a faux-rebel who may or may not miss the old days. So while I can't argue over what the liner notes say...it doesn't really make much sense to me. I always thought of Doctor Jimmy as a better Moon theme...
Y'know...I never really understood how this song was supposed to represent Keith - or a part of Jimmy's personality. In fact I'm pretty sure that this is the only song on the album that isn't 100% Jimmy's inner-dialogue. Most of it is sung by Ace Face. Not Jimmy. And Ace Face isn't too much of a lunatic either - just a faux-rebel who may or may not miss the old days. So while I can't argue over what the liner notes say...it doesn't really make much sense to me. I always thought of Doctor Jimmy as a better Moon theme - at least the half of it that isn't taken by Entwistle. I can't help but wonder if this isn't Keith's theme just because it's one of the rare songs where we get to hear him take lead vocals.
Jimmy is disappointed his hero has grown and matured and has a steady job, and not the rebel he once was...
There is a great play on words in the title and lyrics; a bell buoy is a floating marker used to warn ships of dangerous conditions. The buoy has a bell at the top that rings when it is rocked by the waves. I always pictured the rocking motion of the bell buoy to be like the movement of a bell boy handling luggage all day. A bell boy was traditionally called by a bell to the hotel's front desk to pick-up luggage. This meeting between Jimmy and Ace Face serves as a warning to Jimmy that he could "run aground" in some menial job. Considering all the sea imagery in Quadrophenia, I don't think I'm reading too much into this one.
A great song, Whofreak hit the meaning on the head. Also, it is a treat to hear Keith Moon doing something other than destroying drum kits! :)
the only reason i knew it was keith singing is because of the uncle ernie scenes from Tommy.
There is the obvious reaction that Jimmy is talking to Ace Face. (I used to follow you...) This doesn't mean that Ace is the Bellboy. Jimmy may simply have applied for a job as a Bellboy and start jumping back and forth between personalities as he speaks with his hero. The bellboy reminds me of Keith Moon. Awesome drumming at the beginning.
I just want to say that my last theory was whack. Smoke some weed and it will make sense.