Substitute - Single Version

Pete Townshend made the demo for this song after hearing "19th Nervous Breakdown" by The Rolling Stones. Even Townshend admits that he ripped off Keith Richards' riff. The Stones were a major influence on Townshend, who even got his trademark windmill arm movement from watching Keith Richards warm up before a concert - Richards was stretching his arm by moving it around like a windmill.

As far as the lyrics go, Townshend's favorite song at the time was "The Tracks Of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. Townshend loved the way Smokey sang the word "substitute" so perfectly ("although she may be cute she's just a substitute 'cause you're the permanent one") that he decided to celebrate the word with a song all its own.

The lyric is clever, self-deprecating and sardonic, with Pete Townshend singing about all the ways he's just a substitute for something better. He deploys contrast to make his point: The simple things you see are all complicated I look all white, but my dad was black My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack