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
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