Long live the Ox

[gridlore]

I mentioned in my previous post that I had a brief flirtation with the bass guitar. John Entwistle is the reason why. When I first saw The Who in 1982, it wasn't Townshend leaping around or Daltrey spinning his microphone that caught my eye.. no, it was the tall guy off to one side. Not moving much, not being theatrical in the least; just slapping four strings and making the most amazing noise that shook you down to your DNA.

To this day my favorite Who songs are his. 905, My Wife, Success Story... all great tunes that feature thundering bass lines. But his best work with The Who has to be the semi-autobiographical The Quiet One


Everybody calls me the quiet one
You can see but you can't hear me
Everybody calls me the quiet one
You can try but you can't get near me
I ain't never had the gift of gab
But I can't talk with my eyes
When words fail me you won't nail me
My eyes can tell you lies

Still waters run deep so be careful I don't drown you
You've got nothing to hear I've got nothing to say
Sticks and stones may break your bones
But names can never down you
It only takes two words to blow you away

Everybody calls me the quiet one
But you just don't understand
You can't listen you won't hear me
With your head stuck in the sand
I ain't never had time for words that don't rhyme
My head is in a cloud
I ain't quiet - everybody else is too loud

Still waters run deep so be careful I don't drown you
You've got nothing to hear I've got nothing to say
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But names can never down you
It only takes two words to blow you away.

Want to see what I mean? Here's John and the boys blowing up an audience with The Quiet One.