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Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane — Misunderstood
Album: Rough Mix
Avg rating:
6.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 424









Released: 1977
Length: 2:54
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Just wanna be misunderstood
Wanna be feared in my neighborhood
Just wanna be a moody man
Say things that nobody can understand

I want to be obscure and oblique
Inscrutable and vague
so hard to pin down
I wanna leave open mouths when I speak
Want people to cry when I put them down

I wanna be either old and young
Don't like where I ended up or where I begun
I always feel I must get things in the can
I just can't handle it the way I am

Why am I so straight and simple?
People see through me like I'm made of glass
Why can't I deepen with graying temples?
Am I growing out of my class?

I always feel I should be somewhere else
I feel impatient like a girl on the shelf
They say that I should live "sera, sera"
But I am such an ordinary star

Coolwalking smoothtalking straightsmoking firestoking
Coolwalking smoothtalking straightsmoking firestoking
Yeah

Just wanna be misunderstood
I wanna be feared in my neighborhood
Just wanna be a moody man
Say things that nobody can understand

Coolwalking smoothtalking straightsmoking firestoking

Yeah
Comments (75)add comment
Who here hasn't felt, at one time or another, feeling obscure and oblique, inscrutable and vague, so hard to pin down/
Posted 6 years ago by Hey_Porter    [ Reply ]
                 
Posted 6 years ago by sfyi2001    [ Reply ]
 NelsonBlack wrote:
Nothing against "Misunderstood," but "Keep Me Turning" and "Heart to Hang On To" are my two favorites on this one!

 
nothing against Keep Me Turning and Heart to Hang On To, but Annie and April Fool are my 2 favorites on this one !!
Posted 7 years ago by Emwolb    [ Reply ]
This is small gem of an album. 
Posted 7 years ago by cambuddyf    [ Reply ]
Nothing against "Misunderstood," but "Keep Me Turning" and "Heart to Hang On To" are my two favorites on this one!
Posted 8 years ago by NelsonBlack    [ Reply ]
second the comments on Street in the City and Keep Me Turning. Love this album
Posted 9 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
Kind of reminds me of Proclaimers but I'm not gonna be more than 5.
Posted 9 years ago by eveliko    [ Reply ]
I like Pete Townshend, but this one hurts my ears.
Posted 9 years ago by BobbyCat    [ Reply ]
 Bobert_ParkCity wrote:
Unfortunately I took this song a little bit too seriously - turns out being misunderstood is a pain, not cool.

Bill, play Street in the City!
 
Also play Heart to Hold On To
Posted 9 years ago by pinto    [ Reply ]
I haven't heard this in so long. I had it on cassette -lost it long ago.
Posted 10 years ago by sunybuny    [ Reply ]
Love this old album, first time hearing a tune on RP, thanks Bill!  Love most of Pete's outside projects and this is one of the best.  Just saw Pete and Roger and the touring 'Who" band with Zak, Simon and Pino play their Quadrophenia + Hits show at the Oakland Arena - brilliant, vibrant and relevant.
Posted 11 years ago by domreo    [ Reply ]
Was 19 when this came out!! The best year of my life. Brings back good memories!{#Clap}
Posted 11 years ago by blueice7    [ Reply ]
Unfortunately I took this song a little bit too seriously - turns out being misunderstood is a pain, not cool.

Bill, play Street in the City!

Posted 12 years ago by Bobert_ParkCity    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
I can't believe I haven't commented on this album.  I bought it when it first came out, having NO idea who Ronnie Lane even was.  I love every song on it - "Keep Me Turning" is one of my favorites, because it's so simple and sweet.  In fact, this whole album is a gem.  Thanks, nuggler, for the upload! {#Cheers}
 
100% wit cha!
Posted 12 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
Great set this morning Bill. This is a wonderful cut from a great album.
Posted 13 years ago by BigIslandBlues    [ Reply ]
Yeah!  Love this-been years since I heard it.  Need to set up my turntable(remember those things?)
Posted 13 years ago by Al_Koholic    [ Reply ]
 misterbearbaby wrote:
Vastly underrated album! 

If you like this, try 'Secret Ploicemans' Other Ball' from the same vintage.

It's pretty amazing that Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood paid for Ronnie Lane's medical care because he somehow got screwed out of royalties fro The Small Faces.
 
Man, I have never heard this song and I was glued to FM radio when this came out! Quite fun. I do remember Secret Policeman's Other Ball...

Had no idea about Ronnie Lane and how he got a little help from his friends...Wow he died young.  
Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
Vastly underrated album! 

If you like this, try 'Secret Ploicemans' Other Ball' from the same vintage.

It's pretty amazing that Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood paid for Ronnie Lane's medical care because he somehow got screwed out of royalties fro The Small Faces.
Posted 13 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
I can't believe I haven't commented on this album.  I bought it when it first came out, having NO idea who Ronnie Lane even was.  I love every song on it - "Keep Me Turning" is one of my favorites, because it's so simple and sweet.  In fact, this whole album is a gem.  Thanks, nuggler, for the upload! {#Cheers}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
 jmsmy wrote:

The best album of any outside project of the Who members.


 
'White City' and 'All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes' are pretty darn good!

Posted 13 years ago by misterbearbaby    [ Reply ]
I agree!
 Stingray wrote:
Pete singing...?
Cannot identify!

Nice song!
 

Posted 13 years ago by Loco    [ Reply ]
Pete singing...?
Cannot identify!

Nice song!
Posted 13 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]

awesome. . .

Posted 13 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
I agree.  I adored this album when it first came out and still do.  And I must confess I spent a lot of time examining the album cover in a self medicated state {#Cowboy} while listening to it.  It was the first album I played when I got my new turntable and JBL speakers some thirty plus years ago.  Wow, I'm old.

 jmsmy wrote:

The best album of any outside project of the Who members.

 


Posted 13 years ago by Dahnyul    [ Reply ]

The best album of any outside project of the Who members.


Posted 13 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
 tonypf wrote:
Neat to see how the whole album was loved by so many folks.  The magic that Pete and Ronnie developed together still seems mysterious to me.  I still have the vinyl!
 
A favorite at our house! {#Wave}

Posted 13 years ago by fingerpin    [ Reply ]
 DaveInVA wrote:
I think this is the weakest song on a fantastic album. By weak I mean a 7 instead of a 9 or 10 like most the other songs on it :)
 
Dave is right!  So is Bill for playing it!  So is the person who uploaded it!  4 x 2 =8!

Posted 14 years ago by cohifi    [ Reply ]
fantastic record
RIP Plonk
Posted 14 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
Love this album!
Posted 14 years ago by frecko    [ Reply ]
Neat to see how the whole album was loved by so many folks.  The magic that Pete and Ronnie developed together still seems mysterious to me.  I still have the vinyl!
Posted 14 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
I love it when Pete turns it down from 11.
Posted 14 years ago by WonderLizard    [ Reply ]
{#Music}
Posted 15 years ago by wildrudi    [ Reply ]
I think this is the weakest song on a fantastic album. By weak I mean a 7 instead of a 9 or 10 like most the other songs on it :)
Posted 15 years ago by DaveInSaoMiguel    [ Reply ]
Lord, I love this album. I have pieces of it on Greatest Hits thingies but not the same. I must purchase it forthwith.
Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
Yep!  great memories!  I actually had to buy this on CD last year after getting reacquainted with this lovely album on RP.  A solid 8.
Posted 15 years ago by iscoot4peace    [ Reply ]
I also played this death when I was young. Thanks to playing this tune
Posted 15 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
My favorite on this album is My Baby Gives It Away.  Loved, loved, loved this album as a kid...
Posted 15 years ago by GretchenOhio    [ Reply ]
Pete is almost always better when he's not taking himself so seriously.
Posted 15 years ago by copymonkey    [ Reply ]
As I mentioned in my pevious post, I love this record. Now that I think of it, I'm dumbfounded that the song I uploaded, "April Fool" with its touching dobro solo by Eric Clapton was given the thumbs down?  {#Stupid} What a great song!


Posted 15 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
Thanks for reminding me to pull out this CD and air it out. Loved it since it came out.
 


Posted 15 years ago by sharkartist    [ Reply ]
 lee_sf wrote:
{#Cheesygrin}

Had no idea anyone else knew about this album. You know, Heart to Hang Onto and My Baby Gives It Away are just sitting out there, waiting to be played...

 
{#Bounce}

Posted 15 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
What a wonderful album. Speaking of waiting to be played—Street in the City.
Posted 15 years ago by FrankMc    [ Reply ]
Hey, that really sucked! But that's OK!
Posted 15 years ago by Manbird    [ Reply ]
 lee_sf wrote:
{#Cheesygrin}

Had no idea anyone else knew about this album. You know, Heart to Hang Onto and My Baby Gives It Away are just sitting out there, waiting to be played...

 
I was just thinking the same thing! This album was a local favorite with me and my bunch in high school. Good times! {#Drunk}{#Cowboy}{#Devil_pimp}
Posted 15 years ago by toterola    [ Reply ]
{#Cheesygrin}

Had no idea anyone else knew about this album. You know, Heart to Hang Onto and My Baby Gives It Away are just sitting out there, waiting to be played...

Posted 15 years ago by lee_sf    [ Reply ]
Welcome back, Pete.
Posted 15 years ago by rationibus    [ Reply ]
 celticgods wrote:
This album is a classic, a masterpiece!
Projects with contribution by this many 'stars'  usually well, are terrible. This is like friends hanging around over each others' houses and playing from the heart.
 

Yup.  And Ronnie's stuff is wonderful.
Posted 15 years ago by tonypf    [ Reply ]
Ronnie - they misunderstand, the pictures were for research - honest!  {#Embarassed}
Posted 16 years ago by mgkiwi    [ Reply ]
Absolutely a classic.   This hasnt left my current play stack since I first heard it o so many years ago.
Posted 16 years ago by oufason    [ Reply ]
This album is a classic, a masterpiece!
Projects with contribution by this many 'stars'  usually well, are terrible. This is like friends hanging around over each others' houses and playing from the heart.
Posted 16 years ago by celticgods    [ Reply ]
Nice song! Just one thing....needs more cowbell!
Posted 16 years ago by ajlept    [ Reply ]
Coolwalkingsmoothtalkingstraightsmokingfirestoking Yeah!
Posted 16 years ago by drjimmy    [ Reply ]
Very vanilla.
Posted 16 years ago by Excelsior    [ Reply ]
This album of songs just doesn't grow old. Possibly a masterpiece!
Posted 16 years ago by pavlov1    [ Reply ]
Not one negative comment, and with good reason. A classic. I have it on vinyl and CD, but don't listen to it often enough! Good to hear it here. (Thanks, Nuggler!)
Posted 16 years ago by Pyro    [ Reply ]
nuggler wrote:
My upload !
Bought this record the day it was released. RIP Ronnie Good call, Nuggs!
Posted 16 years ago by oldviolin    [ Reply ]
ROFL the lyrics of this song kill me.
Posted 16 years ago by MsJudi    [ Reply ]
My upload !
Posted 16 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
RIP Ronnie. Thanks Pete for doing the album and bringing Ronnie(and his illness) to the forefront.
Posted 16 years ago by boober    [ Reply ]
Great song, from a great album!
Posted 16 years ago by Al_Koholic    [ Reply ]
one of my favorites from yesterday day as well
Posted 16 years ago by bdwelch    [ Reply ]
Been listening to this whole disk on my drive to/from work. Never get tired of it.
Posted 16 years ago by teknomike    [ Reply ]
1 of my all-time faves!
Posted 16 years ago by figi    [ Reply ]
Love this album - glad to hear any and all from it!
Posted 16 years ago by maryte    [ Reply ]
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good Oh, Lord, please let me be misunderstood.
Posted 16 years ago by ThePoose    [ Reply ]
Agreed. What an underrated disc. Brings back old memories. YA_MAN wrote:
I Like this tune but the energy on "My baby gives it away" is the best track on this cd
Posted 17 years ago by indypaul    [ Reply ]
I thought I was one of the only ones who recognized this amazingly ageless and unpretensiouly great album. Please air more of it.
Posted 17 years ago by pavlov1    [ Reply ]
This album is so good from start to finish. Not a stinker on the whole thing.
Posted 17 years ago by MickMan    [ Reply ]
I Like this tune but the energy on "My baby gives it away" is the best track on this cd
Posted 17 years ago by YA_MAN    [ Reply ]
oufason wrote:
This LP is soooo good.
Yes!Yes!Yes!
Posted 17 years ago by karen    [ Reply ]
This LP is soooo good.
Posted 17 years ago by oufason    [ Reply ]
Good tune , "My baby give it away " is the best song on the disc.
Posted 17 years ago by YA_MAN    [ Reply ]
One of my faves as well
Posted 17 years ago by rvhall    [ Reply ]
Great! Was waiting for you to play this, been years. Now play the other 2 songs from this album. You have them, why not?
Posted 17 years ago by Al_Koholic    [ Reply ]
First song I'd be willing to give an 11. The whole album, actually ...
Posted 17 years ago by teknomike    [ Reply ]