I've read that it was loosely based on the idea that The Who were in those days just a "Substitute" for The Rolling Stones, and that this song was just a way to voice that while coming up with a Can't Get No kinda song for them. For me, it goes a little deeper than that. I've had the experience of being with several wonderful women recently who were still very hung up on their exes. Deny it as they might, I know that I was just a "Substitute" for that other guy. So, I could definitely see it as a metaphor for being in that sort of situation, where someone is all over you, yet completely distracted by another at the same time. Then toward the end I suppose he gets frustrated and finally leaves?
I've read that it was loosely based on the idea that The Who were in those days just a "Substitute" for The Rolling Stones, and that this song was just a way to voice that while coming up with a Can't Get No kinda song for them. For me, it goes a little deeper than that. I've had the experience of being with several wonderful women recently who were still very hung up on their exes. Deny it as they might, I know that I was just a "Substitute" for that other guy. So, I could definitely see it as a metaphor for being in that sort of situation, where someone is all over you, yet completely distracted by another at the same time. Then toward the end I suppose he gets frustrated and finally leaves?