"A Quick One, while He's Away"

Songwriters:	Pete Townshend (TRO-Essex Music, Inc. [ASCAP])
Performers:	The Who: Pete Townshend (guitar & vocals), Roger Daltry (lead vocals), John Entwhistle (bass guitar, backing vocals, & horn), & Keith Moon (drums).
Production:	Kit Lambert with Glyn Johns (balance engineer)
Recorded:	IBC, Pye, & Regent Sound (164-166 Tottenham Court Road), October and November 1966.
Details:
UK release:	A Quick One [LP] B4: Reaction 593 002, 9 December 1966. RR LP #3. [9:11]
US release:	Happy Jack [LP]: Decca DL 4892, May 1967

Notes and Quotes

	Section	Time	Meas.	Description	Text
1	Her Man's Been Gone	0:00		a cappella vocals	a
2	Crying Town	0:22		Instrumental transition. Sung imitation of crying.
				AABA melody	b
				Instrumental transition with sung cry; builds in intensity.
3	We Have a Remedy	2:02		Instrumental introduction	—
				Vocal refrain.	c
				AB melody	d
				Vocal refrain.	c
				AB melody with refrain.	e
4	Ivor the Engine Driver	3:21		Spoken introduction over harmonic transition.	f
		3:37		Simple melody and melodic accompaniment over full-kit sustained drum roll.	g
		4:29		Same melody and melodic accompaniment over a simplified but faster drum pattern.	h
5	Soon Be Home	5:16		Take off on Roy and Dale Rogers' signature tune, "Happy Trails" with some of Ferde Groffe's Grand Canyon Suite.	i
				Repeat with harmony
				Repeat and close.
		6:41		Transition: end part 5. Vocal and guitar sequence of dissonances resulting in a resolution.	j
		7:00		Transition: begin part 6. Use of the word "cello" because they wanted to use strings, but could not afford them.	j
6	You Are Forgiven	7:10		AB melody (voice of returning lover)	k
		7:43		AB melody (voice of "girl")	l
		8:07		Coda (voice of returning lover)	m

Text
Her man's been gone for nearly 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.	a
Down your street your crying is a well-known sound. Your street is very well known, right here in town. Your town is very famous for the little girl. Whose cries can be heard all around the world.	b
Fa la la la la la, Fa la la la la, Fa la la la la la, Fa la la la la.	c
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.	d
We have a remedy Fa la la la la la la... (spoken: We have a remedy. We have!)	e
Little girl, why don't you stop your crying? I'm gonna make you feel all right.	f
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.	g
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.	h
We'll soon be home. We'll soon be home. We'll soon..., We'll soon, soon, soon be home.	i
Dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang, dang. Cello, cello, cello, cello, cello, cello...	j
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.	k
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.	l
You are forgiven, you are forgiven, you are forgiven...	m

Psychedelia	Schedule	The Who
	21-may-18