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Old 15th September 2020, 12:46 PM
Susan Foreman's Avatar
Susan Foreman Susan Foreman is online now
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Childhood home of Billy Idol - Orpington
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5/13: A string of lovely arpeggios by Pete opens 'Tattoo'. One of the finest 'rite of passage' songs is based around the idea of a tattoo being 'what makes a man a man'! This is another standout song from the album, and one which the band retained an affection for long after most of the other songs fro the era had become passe. It was still being performed live over a decade later

The song contains a particularly attractive and mature melody, and couplets with unusually complex rhymes about two brothers [actually Pete and Roger] who decide to get themselves tattooed, only to regret their decision after parental objection and personal contemplation

To my knowledge, neither Pete or Roger actually have tattoos!


"Me and my brother were talking to each other
'Bout what makes a man a man
Was it brain or brawn, or the month you were born
We just couldn't understand

Our old man didn't like our appearance
He said that only women wear long hair

So me and my brother borrowed money from Mother
We knew what we had to do
We went downstairs, past the barber and gymnasium
And got our arms tattooed

Welcome to my life, tattoo
I'm a man now, thanks to you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'l be there when I die
Tattoo

My dad beat me 'cause mine said "Mother"
But my mother naturally liked it and beat my brother
'Cause his tattoo was of a lady in the nude
And my mother thought that was extremely rude

Welcome to my life, tattoo
We've a long time together, me and you
I expect I'll regret you
But the skin graft man won't get you
You'll be there when I die
Tattoo

Now I'm older, I'm tattooed all over
My wife is tattooed too
A rooty-toot-toot, rooty-tooty-toot-toot
Rooty-toot-toot tattoo too
To you"


6/13: 'Our Love Was' is pure pop, with the kind of ethereal melodies at which The Who were becoming adept, space-age guitar work and an unusual chorus that works towards a final upward chord change. This is another song that could easily have been released as a single

In the US, the title was changed to 'Our Love Is'


"Our love was ...

Our love was famine, frustration
We only acted out an imitation
Of what real love should have been
Then suddenly ...

Our love was flying
Our love was soaring
Our love was shining
Like a summer morning

Flying, soaring
Shining morning
Never leaving
Lying, dying

Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long

Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long

Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long
Love love love long

Our love was flying
Our love was soaring
Our love was shining
Like a summer morning

Our love was famine, frustration
We only acted out an imitation
Of what real love should have been
And then suddenly ...

Our love was flying
Our love was soaring
Our love was shining
Like a summer morning"
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