tommy5454, here is what happens in the last half of Tommy, to the best of my understanding.
Tommy is treated by the specialist, and he returns home and is forced by either his mother or stepfather to stare into the mirror. He has stared blankly into the mirror his whole life, and they are hoping that the radical new treatment that was tried out on him is going to enable him to see. They ask if Tommy can hear them, and finally, Tommy smashes the mirror as he sees his own face for the first time in his entire life.
He instantly becomes a "Sensation", as people are mesmerized by the formerly deaf, dumb, and blind pinball wizard who has so much to give to the world. People swarm to him, as he is truly a remarkable young man, and people begin to view him as a messiah-type figure. The news reports about a "Miracle Cure", and Tommy's popularity rises. "Sally Simpson" is a sad story of a girl who fell in love with Tommy and wanted to follow him, but it didn't work out in the end. Tommy proclaims that he is free to the whole world. In the song "I'm Free", I think it is just Tommy running around and rocking out in total jubilation.
In "Welcome", Tommy decides to invite his followers to his house so he can teach them about how to live life to the fullest. He understands he is an important person and that people will listen to what he has to say. "Tommy's Holiday Camp" is a little twisted, as Uncle Ernie appears to have some sort of intererst in Tommy's camp. The followers flock to the camp, but for whatever reason decide that a new religion lead by Tommy is not for them, and they revolt. Tommy is all alone, and the album ends with "See Me Feel Me/Listening to You", which, to be a honest with you, I'm a little confused about myself. Tommy and his family have just been beaten and raped by his followers, but the recurring lines of "listening to you, i get the music, gazing at you, i get the heat, following you, i climb the mountain, i get excitement at your feet - right behind you, i see the millions, on you, i see the glory, from you, i get opinions, from you, i get the story." These words are reflective of Tommy's followers, but they have just forsaken him, and don't want to take it from him anymore. I think the ending song just kind of sums up the whole vibe of the album, that Tommy was a magical person who truly had a lot to give to the world, even if it didn't all work out in the end.
tommy5454, here is what happens in the last half of Tommy, to the best of my understanding.
Tommy is treated by the specialist, and he returns home and is forced by either his mother or stepfather to stare into the mirror. He has stared blankly into the mirror his whole life, and they are hoping that the radical new treatment that was tried out on him is going to enable him to see. They ask if Tommy can hear them, and finally, Tommy smashes the mirror as he sees his own face for the first time in his entire life.
He instantly becomes a "Sensation", as people are mesmerized by the formerly deaf, dumb, and blind pinball wizard who has so much to give to the world. People swarm to him, as he is truly a remarkable young man, and people begin to view him as a messiah-type figure. The news reports about a "Miracle Cure", and Tommy's popularity rises. "Sally Simpson" is a sad story of a girl who fell in love with Tommy and wanted to follow him, but it didn't work out in the end. Tommy proclaims that he is free to the whole world. In the song "I'm Free", I think it is just Tommy running around and rocking out in total jubilation.
In "Welcome", Tommy decides to invite his followers to his house so he can teach them about how to live life to the fullest. He understands he is an important person and that people will listen to what he has to say. "Tommy's Holiday Camp" is a little twisted, as Uncle Ernie appears to have some sort of intererst in Tommy's camp. The followers flock to the camp, but for whatever reason decide that a new religion lead by Tommy is not for them, and they revolt. Tommy is all alone, and the album ends with "See Me Feel Me/Listening to You", which, to be a honest with you, I'm a little confused about myself. Tommy and his family have just been beaten and raped by his followers, but the recurring lines of "listening to you, i get the music, gazing at you, i get the heat, following you, i climb the mountain, i get excitement at your feet - right behind you, i see the millions, on you, i see the glory, from you, i get opinions, from you, i get the story." These words are reflective of Tommy's followers, but they have just forsaken him, and don't want to take it from him anymore. I think the ending song just kind of sums up the whole vibe of the album, that Tommy was a magical person who truly had a lot to give to the world, even if it didn't all work out in the end.
Hope that helps!