The Who – A Man in a Purple Dress

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How dare you wear robes and reside
How dare you cover your head to hide
Your face from God

How dare you smile from behind your beard
To hide the fact that your hearts are feared
And wave your rod

How dare you be the one to assess
Me in this godforsaken mess
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress

When you place your frown
Between my God and prayer
However grand your crown
Or dignified your hair
Men above men all prats
In your high hats

You priest, you mullah so high
You pope, you wise rabbi
You're invisible to me
Like vapor from the sea

I lovingly mock you noble lords
We all dress up to grand awards
I do that as well

I dare condemn your fashion sense
At least you're not astride the fence
That wouldn't sell

But I will deliver this address
Your souls conditioned don't impress
You, a man in a purple dress
A man in a purple dress

Send "A Man in a Purple Dress" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Thrust of Pain

Track duration: 04:15

"A Man in a Purple Dress" as written by Pete Townshend

Lyrics © SPIRIT ONE MUSIC OBO TOWSER TUNES

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A Man in a Purple Dress song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song definitely isn't calling out one person or even one religion for that matter. Pete references the Pope, rabbis, priests and mullahs. Its more calling BS on the people that say you need to go through them to talk to God.

    In fact Pete is right. The clergy are people just like us, and like us are flawed. Just because they wear the robes, hats, etc, it doesn't mean they are any less flawed than the rest of us. Long story short he's saying, Why do I need to go to somebody who is just as flawed as I am to talk to God?
    Flag whobeuon March 01, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The Pope traditionally wears white vestments. Bishops traditionally wear purple cassocks in both the Roman Catholic and Anglican traditions.
    Flag JonTomon October 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one irish rover is on the ball. its not about condemning the pope, its about the clergy. pete sees the relationship between god and people as a personal thing, not needing a middle man. the comments about the purple dress and caps, and sticks, its all mocking the clergy and they're attire.
    Flag theox009on July 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Saw The Who live two weeks ago. The lyrics of the live version were a little different from the one on the CD. (and IMO better ;-) )
    Flag Evilgasmon June 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of several songs that Pete wrote after seeing the Passion of the Christ. I'm fairly sure it's not about the pope, but I'm not positive. It says in the liner notes for their latest album, The Endless Wire...
    Flag one_irish_roveron June 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Went to see The Who last night and got a bit confused by this one. I've never heard this song before and the only words I could make out properly were 'man in a purple dress' so I decided to track the lyrics down.
    It makes sense now :) Definitely condemning the pope.
    Flag sakura-kon May 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A song condeming the pope
    Flag wingateson February 04, 2007   Link

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