The Who – 1921

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Send "1921" Ringtone to Cell

I've got a feeling '21
Is going to be a good year.
Especially if you and me
See it in together.

So you think '21
Is going to be a good year.
It could be good for me and her,
But you and her - no, never!
I had no reason to be over optimistic,
But somehow when you smiled
I could brave bad weather.

What about the boy?
What about the boy?
What about the boy?
He saw it all!

You didn't hear it.
You didn't see it.
You won't say nothing to no-one
Ever in your life.
You never heard it.
Oh, how absurd it
All seems without any proof.
You didn't hear it.
You didn't see it.
You won't say nothing to no-one.
Never tell a soul
What you know is the Truth.

Send "1921" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Track duration: 02:49

"1921" as written by Pete Townshend

Lyrics © SPIRIT ONE MUSIC OBO TOWSER TUNES

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1921 song meanings
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30 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This has got to be my favorite album of all time. But besides that, I must point out that in the song, the lyrics are echoed (presumably by Tommy) for the "You didn't hear it" part. Directly after the lead vocals starts each line, he echoes it in a first person tone, so it ends up as "You didn't hear it/I heard it". This is very important to the storyline, because the murder is the last thing he hears/sees.
    Flag washburn647on October 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:actually acid didn't even exist until 1938, and bicycle day wasn't until 1943
    so it REALLY wouldn't be possible for this to take place in 1921

    love the song though
    Flag this_is_revolutionon May 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Also acid wasn't popular until the 60's (for the Acid Queen)."

    Which is why the parents ad to go to a gypsy at night in order to find some.
    Flag 3fingeredpeteon July 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:gabba the song is about 1921, there talking about the death of the father and how he comes back to kill the lover
    Flag switch755on June 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I believe the Baked Beans scene from the movie alludes to the album art from "The Who Sell Out."
    Flag third_to_the_lefton May 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, some serious continuity issues going on in this album. 1951 would make much more sense. Also acid wasn't popular until the 60's (for the Acid Queen).
    Flag Imperfect_Strangeron May 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yeah, the 1951 switch in the movie Tomym makes more sense. On the album it states Sally Simpson married a rock star from California, but assuming she is 14ish in 1930, then by the time there were any rock stars to marry she'd be like 45-50ish... it is possible, but highly improbable.
    Flag EveryMnon March 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Capital letters dont actually capture any sense of tone or meaning in Your VOIce yOu FoO!l
    Flag tolchockon February 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:IF TOMMY WAS 7 IN 1921 HOW WAS HE A PINBALL WIZARD IN HIS TEENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS MAKES NO SENSE.
    Flag jpawloskion January 11, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:oh, another point on this song, very important: The husband walks in, Kills boyfirend, they realize Tommy had seen it and say "you didn't hear it, you didn't see it..." etc. if you notice on the album, the lyrics are echoed, this is Tommy seeing the murder through the mirror, and because of the trauma, the mirror is his gateway into being the deaf, dumb and blind boy as the shattering of the mirror will be his awakening out of that state later.
    Flag regbon October 06, 2006   Link

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