The Who – Summertime Blues

The Who – Summertime Blues – Live at the Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 1970.

Back when concerts had no giant screens, laser light shows, backup dancers, lip-syncing, or even colored lights. Just a handful of incredibly talented musicians blowing everyone’s minds with their skill!

Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 is a live album by The Who, recorded at the Isle of Wight Festival on 29 August 1970, and released by Sony in 1996 along with a corresponding VHS video, which was re-released on DVD in 1998 and remastered in 2004. The DVD is very different from the CD. Differences include very significant cuts in the Tommy part of the show and in “My Generation”, and, in addition, the video at many parts of the concert is not in sync with the audio. 600,000 people attended the festivel and the Who gave one of the most memerable live performances ever.

Lyrics:
Well, I’m gonna raise a fuss
I’m gonna raise a holler
‘Bout workin’ all summer
Just to try to earn a dollar
Well, I went to the bossman
Tried to get a break
But the boss said ‘No dice, son,
You gotta work late’

Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues

Well, my Mom and Poppa told me
Son, you gotta earn some money
If you want to use the care
To go riding next Sunday
Well, I wouldn’t go to work
I told the boss I was sick
He said ‘You can’t use the car
‘Cause you didn’t work a lick’

Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues

Gonna take two weeks
Gonna have a fine vacation
Gonna take my problem
To the United Nations
Well’ I went to my congressman
He said ‘quote’
‘I’d like to help you son,
But you’re too young to vote’

Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
‘Cause there ain’t no cure for the Summertime Blues

Songwriters: Eddie Cochran / Jerry Neal Capehart

Summertime Blues lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Featured Photo by Charles Everest/Cameron Life Photo.