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Success Story Lyrics
Friday night, I'm on my way home
They oughta make work a crime
I'm home for the weekend
I'm gonna make the most of my time
There's a rock and roll singer on the television
Giving up his music, gonna take up religion
Deserted rock and roll
To try to save his soul
Saturday night, gotta gig with the band
Playing the electric guitar
Someday I'm gonna make it
Gonna be a super-duper-star
Get a flashy car
And a house for my Ma
The big break better happen soon
'Cause I'm pushing twenty-one
Just like Cinderella
When she couldn't go to the ball
A voice said, "I'm your fairy manager
You shall play the Carnegie Hall"
I gotta give up my day job
To become a heartthrob
I may go far if I smash my guitar
Away for the weekend
I've gotta play some one-night stands
Six for the tax man, and one for the band
Back in the studio to make our latest number one
Take two-hundred-and-seventy-six
You know, this used to be fun
Monday morning, I just got home
Six and the birds are singing
I need a drink and my clothes are wet
Ooh, and my ears are still ringing
There's a rock and roll singer boppin' on the TV
He used to be a preacher, but now he sings in a major key
Amended his decision to the new religion
They oughta make work a crime
I'm home for the weekend
I'm gonna make the most of my time
There's a rock and roll singer on the television
Giving up his music, gonna take up religion
Deserted rock and roll
To try to save his soul
Playing the electric guitar
Someday I'm gonna make it
Gonna be a super-duper-star
Get a flashy car
And a house for my Ma
The big break better happen soon
'Cause I'm pushing twenty-one
When she couldn't go to the ball
A voice said, "I'm your fairy manager
You shall play the Carnegie Hall"
I gotta give up my day job
To become a heartthrob
I may go far if I smash my guitar
I've gotta play some one-night stands
Six for the tax man, and one for the band
Back in the studio to make our latest number one
Take two-hundred-and-seventy-six
You know, this used to be fun
Six and the birds are singing
I need a drink and my clothes are wet
Ooh, and my ears are still ringing
There's a rock and roll singer boppin' on the TV
He used to be a preacher, but now he sings in a major key
Amended his decision to the new religion
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A good song...I like the touch of humor. It's pretty obvious what it's about...becoming a rock star.
My favorite track from The Who By Numbers, great song. I love all the song John wrote for the band!
A bio-song, but written by John. he has a good jab at pete in there too.
"There's a rock and roll singer on the television Giving up his music, gonna take up religion"
then.
"There's a rock and roll singer boppin' on the TV He used to be a preacher, but now he sings in a major key."
Brilliant, and if you've seen the video, Notice John machine gunning the gold records...those were Roger Daltrey solo albums! haha!
I think these lines are actually just a direct reference to Little Richard who abruptly left Rock and Roll at the height of his fame in the late 1950s to become a evangelical preacher. In the mid 1960s he left the church and had a comeback as a rock and roll celebrity. I think John was enjoying the irony that even the light of religion was no match for the light of the stage when you're a rock star.
I think these lines are actually just a direct reference to Little Richard who abruptly left Rock and Roll at the height of his fame in the late 1950s to become a evangelical preacher. In the mid 1960s he left the church and had a comeback as a rock and roll celebrity. I think John was enjoying the irony that even the light of religion was no match for the light of the stage when you're a rock star.
I had never seen that video before, but checked it out because of your comment. Great stuff! He makes walking down a set of stairs look so cool. :) Broke my heart to hear that most of those guitars were sold to pay estate taxes. "Six for the tax man, and one for the band." sigh
I had never seen that video before, but checked it out because of your comment. Great stuff! He makes walking down a set of stairs look so cool. :) Broke my heart to hear that most of those guitars were sold to pay estate taxes. "Six for the tax man, and one for the band." sigh
Great song! Lyrics are pretty straight forward.
'I may go far if I smash my guitar' another lyric you could associate with Pete :p
"Fairy maanger" is a dig at The Who's homosexual manager, Kit Lambert. This Entwistle tune rocks harder than the others on The Who By Numbers but the sarcastic take on success fits in well with the other themes.
@airforbes1 I\'m pretty sure it\'s actually a joking reference to the fairy godmother who helps Cinderella attend the ball. \r\n\r\nJust like Cinderella\r\nWhen she couldn\'t go to the ball\r\nA voice said, "I\'m your fairy manager\r\nYou shall play at Carnegie Hall"\r\n
@airforbes1 I\'m pretty sure it\'s actually a joking reference to the fairy godmother who helps Cinderella attend the ball. \r\n\r\nJust like Cinderella\r\nWhen she couldn\'t go to the ball\r\nA voice said, "I\'m your fairy manager\r\nYou shall play at Carnegie Hall"\r\n
I thought that line was "I'm your fairy manager, you shall play a comic role" - referring to Entwhistles comic songs.
@Mickyfinn Me too! But I just cranked it up with headphones, and he says, "... You shall play at Carnegie \'all." with a dropped aitch.
@Mickyfinn Me too! But I just cranked it up with headphones, and he says, "... You shall play at Carnegie \'all." with a dropped aitch.
John wrote this one referring mostly to Pete in certain circumstances of the song: 'I may go far if I smash my guitar'
But also for himself: "And a house for my Ma" (his Mother Queenie Maude raised him by herself and he was very devoted to her...)
I usually listen to this every Friday when coming come from work...it helps me unwind...;)