I decided ’twas time for a new CD tonight. I picked “Whistle Rhymes” by John Entwistle.

I’m not yet done listening to all of it yet, and I feel that I must note that I believe in the whole “play twice before listening” mentality for all albums. For this one, the first time half way through, nothing really struck me as I song I really liked. Usually there’s at least one song, but for this one, well…

There was “Thinkin’ It Over”. I wasn’t really paying attention to the song, but he’s singing about someone — and I wasn’t sure if it was him talking about himself or another guy, though I would assume it was the former — cheating on their wife. So yeah, okay. Typical John song, I guess. Though, like I said, I wasn’t paying attention, and I thought that he was singing about his wife cheating on him.

He then sings “I decided to take my own life”. I thought, “aww, he’s taking his life back, that’s good, be strong, Johnny!”. But then I thought, “wait, wait, ‘take my own life‘… no, he doesn’t mean… no…?”.

And then he starts talking about a ledge. A ledge. All right, cue “Free Bird”. Cue that doped-up slut Jenny. And by that I mean of course not me, but Jenny from “Forrest Gump”, duh.

If you too are slow like myself, let me spell it out for you: he’s considering killing himself.

I stop awwing about how big of him it was to be all “take charge!” and all that. I continue to listen to the song and wait for the upswing, which obviously must come in the end, when he switches the line around to something lame like “I decided not to take my own life”. Well, turned out it was actually “I decided to save my own life”, which, well, I think, was slightly lamer than my line, but at least it fits the beat, you know? But really, now that I think about it, a John Entwistle song needs no upswing! Like “Do The Dangle” — which took me quite a long time to actually listen to and realize why exactly people think John is all morbid and everything.

Well, there’s a brand new dance with a brand new angle
It’s the very last waltz and it’s called the dangle
You tie a rope round your neck and stand on a chair
And you kick it away and you’re dancing on air
John Entwistle, “Do The Dangle”

So, eh… nothing exciting happening here… I begin to contemplate listening to my Aerosmith album instead…

But then. Then came “I Was Just Being Friendly”.

I’m a family man and my family mustn’t know
Where I go in the evenings
John Entwistle, “I Was Just Being Friendly”

Now, you can insinuate whatever you wish. I however, believed I knew what this meant, you know, knowing John. Not personally, I mean, not… whoops, that’s Keith, innit? Anyway. So I have an inkling that I know what he’s talking about. Let’s continue on…

Now, I was just being friendly
No need to act this way
All I did was ask you
How much I’d have to pay
John Entwistle, “I Was Just Being Friendly”

Now… now I didn’t know what to do. I laughed, of course. Now that I think about it, it’s not often that I laugh at songs. I mean, unless I’m laughing at their awfulness, and that’s certainly not why I was laughing at this one. It’s because, well, it’s funny! And it’s so John.

But then, it was kind of sad, too. I don’t know if it’s a true story or not, like I don’t know the whole story of “Trick of the Light” (“was I alright?”), but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was. Considering, well… everything.

Oh… Johnny.

I also realized while listening to this album that John does not attempt to be mainstream at all. Which, you know, is nice. But part of me likes things to be a little mainstream, you know?

Anyway, I’m done listening to it now. I decided to skip the bonus tracks and listen to them another time. Just listen to the “real” album this time.

That’s what bugs me about “Endless Wire”. They release the real album for the first time, but then they tack on different versions of the same songs at the end. Which, I mean, it’s nice. We’re paying for the album, let’s get our money’s worth, right? But I don’t dig the whole “this is what it could’ve sounded like”, unless it’s on a rerelease many years later, you know?

Another album I’ve finally gotten around to ripping onto my computer is “All Things Must Pass”. I listened to it awhile ago on my CD player and you know, I never realized how many of the songs I already knew. Of the ones I don’t, “Behind That Locked Door” I just fell in love with. But “Awaiting on You All”, I found, I don’t know… patronizing?

I mean, I love George. But I don’t think I realized until I listened to this album just how… well, “into” the whole spiritual thing he was. I mean, I knew, but I never understood. Because I never understood anything before. I was young and naive. Pfft.

I think though, that I’ve held a secret grudge against him after reading that remark in his biography about how he “never was into those people smashing up their guitars anyway” and how “that was just rubbish”. Whatever.