Seriously upfront acoustic guitars feature strongly throughout '
Love Ain't For Keeping', one of the slighter (and shorter) songs on the album, but the bouncy tempo, which is relatively simple compared with the other songs, and understated synth holds this together well
The song was used to open The Who's live shows throughout this period
"Layin' on my back
In the newly mown grass
Rain is coming down
But I know the clouds will pass
You bring me tea
Say "the babe's a-sleepin'"
Lay down beside me
Love ain't for keeping
Black ash from the foundry
Hangs like a hood
But the air is perfumed
By the burning firewood
The seeds are bursting
The spring is seeping
Lay down beside me
Love ain't for keeping
Lay down beside me
Love ain't for keeping
Lay down beside me
Love ain't for keeping
Lay down my darling
Love ain't for keeping"
'
My Wife' is John's contribution to the album. Arguably it's the best thing he ever wrote for the band, it this song provided them with a terrific stage rocker, complete with the kind of block chords that Pete loved to play, while windmilling!
John wrote the song after a fight with his wife. Apparently he took his dogs for a walk in the woods afterwards, and wrote the song in his head. He said his wife took it good-naturedly and tried to talk him into letting her make a guest appearance on stage wielding a rolling pin, but this never happened!
Although this version is no slouch, John wasn't satisfied with the sound, so he
re-recorded it for his third solo album 'Rigor Mortis Sets In' in 1973
This was John's vocal performance the first time I saw the band live
"My life's in jeopardy
Murdered in cold blood is what I'm gonna be
I ain't been home since Friday night
And now my wife is coming after me
Give me police protection
Gonna buy a gun so
I can look after number one
Give me a bodyguard
A back belt Judo expert with a machine gun
Gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane
When she catches up with me
Won't be no time to explain
She thinks I've been with another woman
And that's enough to send her half insane
Gonna buy a fast car
Put on my lead boots
And take a long, long drive
I may end up spending all my money
But I'll still be alive
All I did was have a bit too much to drink
And I picked the wrong precinct
Got picked up by the law
And now I ain't got time to think
Gonna buy a tank and an aeroplane
When she catches up with me
Won't be no time to explain
She thinks I've been with another woman
And that's enough to send her half insane
Gonna buy a fast car
Put on my lead boots
And take a long, long drive
I may end up spending all my money
But I'll still be alive
And I'm oh so tired of running
Gonna lay down on the floor
I gotta rest some time so
I can get to run some more
She's comin'!
She's comin'!"