This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
You think we look pretty good together
You think my shoes are made of leather
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
(Substitute) your lies for fact
(Substitute) I can see right through your plastic mac
(Substitute) I look all white, but my dad was black
(Substitute) my fine linen suit is really made out of sack
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
(Substitute) me for him
(Substitute) my coke for gin
(Substitute) you for my mum
(Substitute) at least I'll get my washing done
I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
(Substitute) me for him
(Substitute) my coke for gin
(Substitute) you for my mum
(Substitute) at least I'll get my washing done
(Substitute) your lies for fact
(Substitute) I can see right through your plastic mac
(Substitute) I look all white, but my dad was black
(Substitute) My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
You think my shoes are made of leather
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
(Substitute) your lies for fact
(Substitute) I can see right through your plastic mac
(Substitute) I look all white, but my dad was black
(Substitute) my fine linen suit is really made out of sack
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
(Substitute) me for him
(Substitute) my coke for gin
(Substitute) you for my mum
(Substitute) at least I'll get my washing done
I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
(Substitute) me for him
(Substitute) my coke for gin
(Substitute) you for my mum
(Substitute) at least I'll get my washing done
(Substitute) your lies for fact
(Substitute) I can see right through your plastic mac
(Substitute) I look all white, but my dad was black
(Substitute) My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I've read that it was loosely based on the idea that The Who were in those days just a "Substitute" for The Rolling Stones, and that this song was just a way to voice that while coming up with a Can't Get No kinda song for them. For me, it goes a little deeper than that. I've had the experience of being with several wonderful women recently who were still very hung up on their exes. Deny it as they might, I know that I was just a "Substitute" for that other guy. So, I could definitely see it as a metaphor for being in that sort of situation, where someone is all over you, yet completely distracted by another at the same time. Then toward the end I suppose he gets frustrated and finally leaves?
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
love the song especially the bass solo
coulnt have said it better truthspeaker, that annoys me too when people associate every rock song with getting stoned
There's one line that mentions a drug and who guys have to freak out and tell the nobody who said anything that it isnt about drugs? You guys have to settle down. This site is to share what you think the song is about, not to tell people what it ISNT about.
She said it
i love this song. pretty self explanitory i think. the pistols do a pretty good cover of it
Love this song, especially the line when he says that, with his mom at least he'd get his washing done. Its about a guy dating a rich girl and she thins he's rich too but in reality he is not and he's sick of pretending.
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.