A Quick One While He's Away - The Who

Before Tommy, there was another rock opera, this one a mini-one songer called A Quick One While He's Away. Released on their 2nd album A Quick one in 66, it's split into 6 parts : Her Man's Gone, Crying Town, We Have a Remedy, Ivor the Engine driver, Soon Be Home, and You are Forgiven. This song was the inspiration for other songs of this cut design such as 2112 by Rush and Homecoming and Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day ( who coincidentally has this song as a hidden track on their newest album). There are several things I love about this song, including the harmonizing vocals, the overall setup and feel of the song and the way moon trashes his kit at the rock and roll circus, but two distinct parts stand out : You are Forgiven and the word cello. The ending is a repetition of the sentence you are forgiven and is so powerful, actually credited as Townshed's first lead singing role and has Entwistle singing a very convincing and awesome falsetto. Now, at one part you can hear them singing the word cello over and over ( at the start of You are Forgiven) and the story is that they wanted a string section but their manager refused to pay for it. So the Who, being who they are, decided to just sing cello where they had wanted to put it. Now that's rock.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D32-Fswl-Nc

I. Her Man's Been Gone

Her man's been gone
For nigh a year
He was due home yesterday
But he ain't here

Her man's been gone
For nigh on a year
He was due home yesterday
But he ain't here

II. Crying Town

Down your street your crying is a well-known sound
Your street is very well known, throughout your town
Your town is very famous for the little girl
Whose cries can be heard all around the world

III. We Have A Remedy

Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la

We have a remedy
You'll appreciate
No need to be so sad
He's only late

We'll bring you flowers and things
Help pass your time
We'll give him eagle's wings
Then he can fly to you

Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la
Fa la la la la la
Fa la la la la la

We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la
We have a remedy
Fa la la la la la la

(spoken)
We have a remedy.
We have!

Little girl, why don't you stop your crying?
I'm gonna make you feel alright

IV. Ivor The Engine Driver

My name is Ivor
I'm an engine driver

I know him well
I know why you feel blue
Just 'cause he's late
Don't mean he'll never get through

He told me he loves you
He ain't no liar, I ain't either
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver
So let's have a smile for an old engine driver

Please take a sweet
Come take a walk with me
We'll sort it out
Back at my place, maybe

It'll come right
You ain't no fool, I ain't either
So why not be nice to an old engine driver?
Better be nice to an old engine driver
Better be nice to an old engine driver

V. Soon Be Home

We'll soon be home
We'll soon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon be home
We'll soon be home
We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

Come on, old horse

Soon be home
Soon be home
Soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon
We'll soon, soon, soon be home

We'll soon be home
Soon be home ...

VI. You Are Forgiven

Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang

Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello
Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello


I can't believe it
Do my eyes deceive me?
Am I back in your arms?
Away from all harm?

It's like a dream to be with you again
Can't believe that I'm with you again

I missed you and I must admit
I kissed a few and once did sit
On Ivor the Engine Driver's lap
And later with him, had a nap

You are forgiven, you are forgiven, you are forgiven ... (ad lib)

You are forgiven