I've downloaded “Eminence Front” by The Who, and I can’t understand the lyrics- all I hear is mumbling...

Question

I've looked at the lyrics but it sounds nothing like it. Why is that? Is it just me?

Answer 1

The chorus to this song is rather difficult to understand, partially because of the singing style and partially because "eminence front" is a strange phrase one wouldn't expect to be the chorus of a song. I've heard all kinds of humorous guesses as to what people thought the chorus was, like "Evelyn's Front" or "Lemon-scent Foot".

I find the verses to this song fairly clear, but you may be thrown off by the fact that (guitarist) Pete Townshend is singing rather than The Who's usual vocalist, Roger Daltrey. In this particular song, Townshend also empasizes certain words in an unusual way.

Alternately, you may have downloaded a crummy MP3 or found a site with incorrect lyrics.

The proper lyrics are linked below, although I'd make one correction. I'm pretty sure the first line is "the sun shines" not "the 1 shines", because otherwise it makes no sense.

Answer 2

Maybe it's meant to be that way. I can't understand most of to-days songs.Apparently diction is not a prerequisite .I've gone back to listen to the hundreds of great songs of the 60s,70s,and 80s where you can hear every word.