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Pete Townshend — I Am An Animal
Album: Empty Glass
Avg rating:
6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 254









Released: 1980
Length: 3:42
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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I was always here in the silence
But I was never under your eye
Gather up your love in some wiseness
For every memory shall always survive
And you will see me

I am an animal
My teeth are sharp, and my mouth is full
And the passion is so strong
When I'm alone, loneliness will change me

I am a vegetable
I get my body badly pulled
And I'm rooted to the spot
Nothing will rearrange me

I'm looking back, and I can't see the past
Anymore, so hazy
I'm on a track, and I'm travelling so fast
Oh, for sure I'm crazy

I am a human being
And I don't believe all the things I'm seeing
I've got nowhere to hide anymore
I'm losing my way

I am an angel
I booked in here, I came straight from hell
And I don't know how to lie anymore
I'm boozing to pray

I'm looking back, and I can't see the past
Anymore, so hazy
I'm on a track, and I'm travelling so fast
Oh, for sure I'm crazy

I was always here in the silence
But I was never under your eye
Gather up your love in some wiseness
Every memory shall always survive
And you will see me

I will be immersed
Queen of the fucking Universe
And I don't know what I have anymore
Anymore than you do

I am a nothing king
Been right around on a golden ring
I don't know where you are anymore
I've got no clue

I'm looking back, and I can't see the past
Anymore, so hazy
I'm on a track, and I'm travelling so fast
Oh, for sure I'm crazy

I am an animal
Comments (52)add comment
this entire album is just lovely!! thanks for playing this again. 


for anyone interested, if you can find it, his book A Horse's Neck is great.
Posted 2 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
rated it "acceptable" because it seemed that rating was under-represented in the opinion poll.  What useless giberish.
Posted 10 years ago by dziebell    [ Reply ]
Could not agree more!
 
coloradojohn wrote:
Wow...I used to play Pete's solo stuff as much as or more than The Who...and it was ALL GOOD! Sometimes it seemed like it was the only DEEP anything that was coming out current, raw and real during the strange vacuum of the early 80s...I was grateful and appreciative of it then, and still am now!

 


Posted 10 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Wow...I used to play Pete's solo stuff as much as or more than The Who...and it was ALL GOOD! Sometimes it seemed like it was the only DEEP anything that was coming out current, raw and real during the strange vacuum of the early 80s...I was grateful and appreciative of it then, and still am now!
Posted 11 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
Agree - great song from a great album.

I have listened to this since college.

I like Pete's solo stuff as much as I like the Who.
Posted 11 years ago by grant    [ Reply ]
I used to own the album, but somehow never heard this. Or I don't recall it. Now I miss it. First-rate lyrics. 
Posted 11 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
This whole album was played to death in my car's tape deck. I'm Gonna Get is best played at 11 on the volume knob!
Posted 11 years ago by dirtbagpook    [ Reply ]
Just took this from an EIGHT to a NINE.      The man is a genius.
Posted 11 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Did he say he was a vegetable?
Posted 11 years ago by Egrey    [ Reply ]
Not my cuppa. I'll have to try listening again, although it likely didn't click back in the day and I just forced it from memory. 

Roger and Pete looked and sounded a whole letter better at the Olympics closing ceremony than they did at the Super Bowl halftime. It's still hard to imagine that The Who were the live act in their heyday. 
Posted 11 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
An underrated  record - I loved this back in 1980 (95??)  The way he sings "Queen of the Fucking universe": fucking great

I was always here in the silence
But I was never under your eye
Gather up your love in some wiseness,
For every memory shall always survive
And you will see me.

I am an animal
My teeth are sharp and my mouth is full
And the passion is so strong
When I'm alone, loneliness will change me

I am a vegetable
I get my body badly pulled
I'm rooted to the spot
Nothing will rearrange me

I'm looking back and I can't see the past
Anymore so, hazy
I'm on a track and I'm traveling so fast
Oh for sure I'm crazy

I am a human being
I can't believe all the things I'm seeing
I've nowhere to hide anymore
I'm losing my way

I am an angel
I booked in here I came straight from hell
I don't know how to lie anymore
I'm bozzing to pray

I'm looking back and I can't see the past
Anymore so, hazy
I'm on a track and I'm traveling so fast
Oh for sure I'm crazy

I was always here in the silence
But I was never under your eye
Gather up your love in some wiseness
For every memory shall always survive
And you will see me

I will be immersed
Queen of the fucking Universe
And I don't know what I have anymore
Anymore than you do

I am a nothing king
Been right around on a golden ring
I don't know where you are anymore
I've got no clue

I was always here in the silence
But I was never under your eye
Gather up your love in some wiseness
For every memory shall always survive
And you will see me

I am an animal.
Posted 11 years ago by Bobert_ParkCity    [ Reply ]
Brilliant song from a brilliant album - one of my all-time favorites!  And supposedly he was strung out on heroin during this time, which is horrible but adds an interesting dimension to his creativity.  This album is still on heavy rotation on my iPod, 30-some years after its release.
Posted 11 years ago by Shaken_Bake    [ Reply ]

Great song.  Great album.

Pete Townshend created another pretty decent body of work apart from The Who.

Posted 12 years ago by hallogallo    [ Reply ]
Great song!! I didn't know this album... 8!
Posted 12 years ago by Orodrigues    [ Reply ]
Outstanding!!!!!  An 8.4999999.

 
Posted 12 years ago by msymmes    [ Reply ]
Release date 1995??

Try 1980
Posted 12 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
There are sections of this tune where Pete is singing with Richard Thompson-like inflection. Never noticed that before...never really heard this song much before, either.
Posted 12 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
This is a great tune from an OUTSTANDING album!  I played it to death! 
Posted 12 years ago by bnlkuhns    [ Reply ]

Pete Townshend, The Who - "Teenage Wasteland" Live (2000)

Posted 13 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
You certainly are, Pete.
Posted 15 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
 keller1 wrote:
I think part of the problem here is that this is one of the weaker songs on the album.  Empty Glass, And I Moved, and Gonna Getcha are much better songs and no doubt would move the conversation away from Pete's legal problems.
 

I think a lot of Pete's solo stuff is better than much of the Who's work.  I say that as a huge Who fan.
Posted 15 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
I'm a Who fan, but this is lame. Sorry.
Posted 15 years ago by HarrO    [ Reply ]
I like Pete, but this isn't really doing it for me.  Eh.  S'okay.
Posted 15 years ago by coffee-eyes    [ Reply ]
 Leslie wrote:
I never did like this guy's music all that much. I'm not a big Who fan either.
 
WHO....cares?!  {#Mrgreen}

Empty Glass was my favorite album for years and years.  Every song moved me emotionally, physically and spiritually. 
Matter of fact, I think it might still be my favorite album. 

Posted 15 years ago by Laptopdog    [ Reply ]
I think part of the problem here is that this is one of the weaker songs on the album.  Empty Glass, And I Moved, and Gonna Getcha are much better songs and no doubt would move the conversation away from Pete's legal problems.


Posted 15 years ago by keller1    [ Reply ]
 lmic wrote:
Great to hear his genius expressed with such clarity. 8

 
Well said, sir. Sounds like could be old Thunderfingers on bass, too. Sublime!

Posted 15 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Isn't this the album where he sings about falling for the reporter who is constantly dissing him? Tell me it is so! I want to hear some more from it!!
Posted 15 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
Great to hear his genius expressed with such clarity. 8
Posted 15 years ago by lmic    [ Reply ]
I never did like this guy's music all that much. I'm not a big Who fan either.
Posted 15 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
horstman wrote:
I don't care about Pete's personal life. I know he doesn't care about mine. ... I don't know if any of you care about my personal life and I'd be really pissed if my clients judged me professionally by my personal habits (although, I assure you, I am a legal and morally responsible citizen-IMHO).
So the sexual exploitation of minors, often very young children, is just a "personal habit"? As you yourself said, for shame!
Posted 16 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
I'm not sure if this best reflects my feelings for this song or this
Posted 16 years ago by OldFrenchie    [ Reply ]
Are we sure those girls on the album cover are legal?
Posted 16 years ago by mojoman    [ Reply ]
One of my favorite albums, but that was in vinyl days... I'm running errands today, maybe I'll stop by Cheppo and see if it's in the bargain bins.
Posted 16 years ago by typecast    [ Reply ]
horstman wrote:
It would be interesting to see what the rating for this song and feelings for Mr. Townsend would be if were not for his recent incident with the authorities. There are plenty of artists who have similar disturbing incidents in their closets. It's just that worldwide media, the internet, and an ever shrinking world make anyone's actions come to the forefront of our TVs, monitors, blackberry's. For shame! I give this song a 7. I don't care about Pete's personal life. I know he doesn't care about mine. I don't know if any of you care about my personal life and I'd be really pissed if my clients judged me professionally by my personal habits (although, I assure you, I am a legal and morally responsible citizen-IMHO). That said, I think a lot of us judge other people, especially celebrities on their personal merits or demerits regardless of their professional talents or accomplishments. Comments?
Excellent comment. Indeed, who here has actual knowledge of this man. We know his awesome art. We know of what has been written and said by others. But truly, how would you hate a person; any person; for lacking of knowledge of the truth. A lie can contain many truths, but the truth can contain no lies. In the end we wear a custom made measuring cup and ignorance is the margin of error.
Posted 16 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
It would be interesting to see what the rating for this song and feelings for Mr. Townsend would be if were not for his recent incident with the authorities. There are plenty of artists who have similar disturbing incidents in their closets. It's just that worldwide media, the internet, and an ever shrinking world make anyone's actions come to the forefront of our TVs, monitors, blackberry's. For shame! I give this song a 7. I don't care about Pete's personal life. I know he doesn't care about mine. I don't know if any of you care about my personal life and I'd be really pissed if my clients judged me professionally by my personal habits (although, I assure you, I am a legal and morally responsible citizen-IMHO). That said, I think a lot of us judge other people, especially celebrities on their personal merits or demerits regardless of their professional talents or accomplishments. Comments?
Posted 16 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
I don't hate. I don't rate. I don't hesitate to educate.
Posted 16 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
orpheus wrote:
Paul in Aus hates Pete T. w/ a vengeance, hence the low rating
Hate is such a toxic emotion. I hope I don't hate anyone. The artist-who-is-still-a-registered-sex-offender evokes two emotions in me; contempt for his behaviour, and dislike for his music. There are numerous arguments whether or not he is a paedophile; I think on balance he probably isn't. But his behaviour over the incident speaks for itself... Of course I am responsible for all the low scores for this track. I have found a way to emit special electrons from my posts which emerge from your monitor and cause the cerebral cortex to activate the part of the brain responsible for judgement. Or maybe I just made that up... As I write this, one in four listeners rated this track 3 or less. That means three out of four rated it higher! So the majority who voted liked the track more than me. Its no big deal; there are more important things in the World than me and my prejudices. But it could be that I am not the only one who finds this artist's work as distasteful as his behaviour....
Posted 16 years ago by Paul_in_Australia    [ Reply ]
veegez wrote:
I don't get it. It's depressing that anyone would rate this lower than a 5. There has got to be another planet I can live on....
Paul in Aus hates Pete T. w/ a vengeance, hence the low rating
Posted 16 years ago by orpheus    [ Reply ]
Paul_in_Australia wrote:
No need for Freudian psychoanalysis to interpret this. Only gets a one as there is nothing lower to give it.
I don't get it. It's depressing that anyone would rate this lower than a 5. There has got to be another planet I can live on....
Posted 16 years ago by veegez    [ Reply ]
my first solo townshend purchase. i love the whole album. love it.
Posted 16 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
More solo Townsend
Posted 16 years ago by Shesdifferent    [ Reply ]
No need for Freudian psychoanalysis to interpret this. Only gets a one as there is nothing lower to give it.
Posted 16 years ago by Paul_in_Australia    [ Reply ]
Pffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffftttt.... just awful
Posted 16 years ago by OldFrenchie    [ Reply ]
I can't think of any other artist that conveys such a sense of longing in their music. I rank Pete as one of the great rock guitarists, singers and songwriters of the 'Boomer' generation.
Posted 16 years ago by healyf52    [ Reply ]
Great song! Been a long time. Thanks.
Posted 16 years ago by Al_Koholic    [ Reply ]
Another treasure deep in storage. Sigh. I miss my album collection
Posted 17 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
didn't ever think I would hear this in public.
Posted 17 years ago by h2o    [ Reply ]
A good song from a brilliant album, which makes it better than most songs.
Posted 17 years ago by timandjuliet    [ Reply ]
I think is Pete's best solo CD.
Posted 17 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
First comment? Love PT! Q edit: d'oh! too slow!
Posted 17 years ago by Queue    [ Reply ]
ok, this sounds like it's from a musical
Posted 17 years ago by dogpound    [ Reply ]
very nice choice.
Posted 17 years ago by siloco    [ Reply ]