With the E.P still in the charts, The Who released another single, '
Happy Jack' on December 3, 1966. US fans had to wait until March 18, 1967, before it was released in America
When Pete's father played saxophone in an RAF dance band called The Squadronaires, The Isle Of Man was a regular gig, and young Pete would be dragged along, hence the reference to the island in the song
The star of this one is Keith (again), whose remarkable drum patterns carry not only the beat, but also, in a highly original fashion, the melody as well. All the trademarks of the 1960's Who are here: high harmonies, a quirky subject matter, a fat bass and drums that defy description
Pete:
"We had to stop Keith from singing on the song. [Producer] Kit [Lambert] had to make him promise to lay on the floor in the control room behind the glass so nobody could see him. So he lay there on the ground all the way through the number. And just at the very last few bars, his little head comes up and goes down again. And I shouted out, 'I saw ya!'"
The spoken 'I saw ya' remains at the end of the record!
"Happy Jack wasn't old, but he was a man
He lived in the sand at the Isle of Man
The kids would all sing, he would take the wrong key
So they rode on his head on their furry donkey
The kids couldn't hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried
They dropped things on his back
And lied and lied and lied and lied and lied
But they couldn't stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy
But they couldn't stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy
The kids couldn't hurt Jack
They tried and tried and tried
They dropped things on his back
And lied and lied and lied and lied and lied
But they couldn't stop Jack, or the waters lapping
And they couldn't prevent Jack from feeling happy
(I saw ya!)"
The 'B'-side of the UK single was '
I've Been Away'. Written by John, this un-Who like country-and-western influenced song is as lightweight as they got in the 60's.
It was quickly recorded by John and Keith while Pete and Roger had stepped out to the pub!
"I've been away so long
Wonder where I went wrong
Spent my last years in a cell
Never ever go away again
I've been so sad and lonely
Never ever ever gonna go away again
It's a waste of time doing time
When you dind't commit a crime
It wasn't me it was my brother Bill
And I'd have to tell never gonna speak to Bill again
He's made me sad and lonely
Never ever gonna speak to brother Bill again
It was no use, they put my brother on the jury
He bribed the others 'cause he owns the local brewery
They let me out today
Brother Bill's gonna pay
No one's ever gonna speak to Bill again
Never ever gonna speak to Bill again
He'll be too cold and bony
Never ever gonna go away again
Never ever gonna go away again
Never ever gonna go away again"