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SUBSTITUTE
(The Who)
|--5-2-5-3-2-|--5-2-5-3-2-|
|--7-3-5-3-3-|--7-3-5-3-3-|
|--7-2-6-4-2-|--7-2-6-4-2-|
|------------|------------|
|------------|------------|
|------------|------------|
D G D D/G D D D/G D D
You think we look pretty good together
D G D D/G D D D/G D D
You think my shoes are made of leather
Em G D Em G D
But I'm a substitute for another guy
[opt. d|----2-------0------2-----------0--|
bass a|--------0/2----------------0/2----|
lick] e|-0-----3---------0------3---------|
Em G D Em G D
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
Em G D/A Em G D
The simple things you see are all complicated
Em G D Em G D A D/A A
I look pretty young but I'm just back-dated yeah
DII D A/D G/D G/D D
Substitute lies for fact
DII D A/D G/D G/D D
I can see right through your plastic mac
DII D A/D G/D G/D D
I look all white, but my dad was black
DII D A/D G/D G/D D
My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
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Tab Discussion, Comments, and Critiques
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No Picture
Dustin Wanna Be |
#1 by Dustin Cogburn at Sep 10, 2005 at 5:44 PM EST |
| Actually, Deathsdoor99, I think you couldn't be more wrong. This song was about CLASS differences and relationships. A working class guy who feels awkward yet proud of his background in a relationship with a "posh" girl and her world (well..a bit middle-class). Decent lyric writing took a bit of a holiday during the 70's but then the Pistols covered this song and you can see why. It wasn't until Pulp wrote "Common People" that you had a true "Brit-pop" (Urgh I hate that term) sequel though... | |
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No Picture
Charlie Average |
#2 by Charlie Fletcher at Oct 24, 2005 at 12:28 AM EST |
| Pardon my ignorance. After some research, I can see it was written with a meaning. Like you said, class plays a big part of it. ...I still stand by my original post though, these lyrics aren't very good. Townshend was just on his way to perfecting his song writing skills. | |
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No Picture
Jamie Wanna Be |
#3 by Jamie Smith at Jan 22, 2006 at 2:53 AM EST |
| She said it | |
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No Picture
Hudson Lead Player |
#4 by Hudson Ryan at Feb 3, 2006 at 7:16 AM EST |
| This song is about how a guy is simply a substitute for a guy that a girl used to have. She's changing everythign about him, his whole image, but he's still the same guy inside. | |
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No Picture
Ultra Violet Average |
#5 by Ultra Violet at Aug 3, 2006 at 5:17 AM EST |
| the girl thinks he is a rich man but in reality he is froom the working class. he is substituting his working class image for a rich image lines that really reveal this inlcude I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth - if you were rich you were said to have a silver spoon in your mouth, so the play on the saying is obvious my fine looking suit is really made out of sack - fairly obviuos Those crocodile tears are what you cry - cocadile tears are false tears so he is sayin that although you are really sad that i was really poor not rich and you are crying for yourslelf | |
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No Picture
Katie Wanna Be |
#6 by Katie St. Michel at Nov 14, 2006 at 7:03 AM EST |
| "You think we look pretty good together You think my shoes are made of leather" One of the worst lines I have heard in a song! Makes me cringe everytime. I believe that this song was written with no aparrent meaning in mind, just some sentences that hang very loosely together. | |
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No Picture
Badass |
#7 by Nirvana at Nov 18, 2006 at 12:34 AM EST |
| I think this song is about a girl who thinks she is in love with this one guy. Whereas the guy thinks they are not soulmates, and she should keep looking. | |
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No Picture
Aaron Average |
#8 by Aaron Smith at Dec 8, 2006 at 10:47 PM EST |
| i love the \"born with a plastic spoon in my mouth\" lyric. Pete Townshend is one of my favorite songwriters. | |
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No Picture
Meaty Average |
#9 by Meaty at Feb 14, 2007 at 6:13 AM EST |
| coulnt have said it better truthspeaker, that annoys me too when people associate every rock song with getting stoned | |
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No Picture
FrEAk!!! Wanna Be |
#10 by FrEAk!!! Matis at Oct 8, 2007 at 11:53 AM EST |
| You guys are all wrong. Townshend has said the song is about The Who being a substitute for The Rolling Stones. Of course it could be about things not really being as they seem but I'm not gonna argue with the songwriter. | |
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