Eminence Front

some people become so preoccupied with building up their image that they lose sight of the fact that they are just a fake bitch. some people try way too hard to impress others. its a put on.

one of the greatest rock n roll songs ever created.

It's about how people can put on airs as if their material wealth and ciruumstances have truly solved all their problems and answered all their fears.

As if they're really above everyone and everything ("Eminence"), but it's really just a Front. And thus a put-on. Because they really just want to "Forget they're hiding" - from fears, insecurities, weaknesses, and maybe even their mortality.

And the way that they maintain this front, is to treat their lives like it's a care-free party, and abuse any who are not part of their lifestyle OR who threaten to reveal the shallowness and emptiness of their party ("Come and join the party - Dress to kill").

But everyone eventually grows older, and/or hit a rough patch in life. "The big wheel spins" (luck changes), the hair thins (people become older and no longer so able to coast on their youth), fame dwindles ("news slows") and with it money ("shares crash, hopes are dashed") - but even then the desperate attempt to put on an Eminence Front continues, and they'll still aggressively go after anyone who brings them to reality so they can maintain their own, desperately needed front of superiority and splendidness.

"Eminence" is one of the proper ways to address the King of England. "Front" is an outward, often feigned, appearance or manner. Ever wonder why The Beatles were knighted? Why Mick Jagger (with a drug bust and to quote the newspapers at the time, "no known record of charitable work or public services." was knighted? And The Who weren't?-----Eminence Front "It's a put on."---------- I always admired Pete for this one.

Pete had much opportunity to observe the wealthy and powerful up close, and clearly could see that although on the outside these people seem superior and more blessed than the rest of us, underneath it is often the opposite case. Often their success has been achieved in an effort to get away from low self-esteem, self-hatred, loneliness, etc., and underneath the veneer of superiority lives a scared little child.

This song's meaning is way deeper than most people think...

"The spray flies as the speedboat glides And people forget" (It's referencing the "boat and wake" analogy, about the past (Just search"Allan Watts boat and wake" he explains it very well.))

Forget they're hiding (It's referencing the fact that people forget they're hiding from their true self, behind the ego, wich is the universal consciousness, or god, if you may call it that)

The girls smile And people forget (Distractions, and pepople forget that fact)

The snow packs as the skier tracks People forget Forget they're hiding (Same thing as the boat/wake, the skier leaves a track, but the track doesn't influence the skier. Same way the past doesn't create the future)

Behind an eminence front Eminence front, it's a put on (Behind the ego (eminence front) it's a put on (life is a play)

Come and join the party Dress to kill Won't you come and join the party Dress to kill, dress to kill (The human party, the human game. Dress (create and develop the ego) to kill it later.

Drinks flow People forget (Again, distractions from reality)

Honestly, if you couldn't understand what i pointed out, try to read something about buddhism/hinduism or just listen to some of the good old Alan Watss talks, and come back later to read this again)

I think this is about rich snobs that think they are better than everyone else and hiding behind their wealth.

Acting like your a big deal. To me its not only thinking you are, but the image around you. This song is a party song. It's kind of like it's a good time but there isn't anyone to keep you moving. People hide despite sharing the same genuine feeling... it's a put on... some people will assume because your quiet that you aren't observant and it's a mistake... so many will assume there your unaware of what's going on. People are stupid and they assume just the same of others. It's also important to note that if you don't know someone and assume they're silence is oblivious.... dangerous move for people who are actually weak and hide behind their insecurities in the light of other people who are not like them. Good song. One of my favorite who songs.

It's about people escaping their problems by perpetually partying. Dress up pretty on the outside to hide the beast on the inside.

an awesome tune to carry in your head that doesn't get old. also one of those "thinking" kind of songs that makes ya think about life.

Long live The Who

I like this song a lot, but it's sad that it's one of The Who's last hits. It reminds me of the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, The Great Gatsby.