Whats going on in this song? THE WHO Pictures of Lilly REACTION - First time hearing

[@mikecaetano]

Lillie Langtry was a 19th century British actress, model, and socialite. She died in 1929 but pictures of her were so widespread during her life that it lent some plausibility to the story in the song nearly forty years later. She became the poster-girl for a brand of hand soap in the 1880s and her fame grew to eventually reach the United States where the legendary Judge Roy Bean from Pecos, Texas named the saloon there after her. The finale of the classic 1940 film The Westerner, starring Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan, spins a great fictional tale around one of her tours of the United States.

[@chatham43]

...thanks for the background info..wasn't she involved with one of Queen Victoria's sons?

[@Reba-123]

Yes with Prince Edward who would become King Edward V11

[@markthomas2577]

As someone who was around at the time I can report that the 60s Who singles were brilliant ...... they were easily up there with the Beatles and Stones. One of my favourites which doesn't get much of an airing now is 'I'm A Boy' ....... also 'Happy Jack'

[@SailorBarsoom]

I've always liked "Happy Jack." In the 80s VH-1 would sometimes play it, presumably because it already had a video (the Who were safecrackers, which had nothing to do with the song).

[@jimbrentar]

It's a naughty song about naughty pictures

[@purplenewbalance]

Loved this song forever.

[@beachbumsailordude]

This is what some of us refer to as the Pop Who. Other songs like "Tattoo" and "Mary Ann with the Shaky Hands" would also be in this category. And yeah your interpretation about what the boy was thinking are SPOT ON!

[@rayalevesque]

The WHO sell out was a great album. Saw them touring behind that.

[@petervandervlies6427]

I sneaked some pictures in the house,when I was about 16 years old. No trouble sleeping😅. This is a funny song, and yes,Pete's guitar sounds awesom. Long time favorit of mine. Thanks man,loved this one. 👍😁💪

[@iandowney4630]

You can’t go wrong with The Who. Thanks, Lance, for this request, a song that often gets overlooked. Many thanks, Harri, for your reaction. I think you know what this story means ;)

[@marybaillie8907]

From the 1967 album, "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy" a ditty about masturbation and young men, primarily written by Pete Townshend. A catchy tune, with lovely harmonies, John Entwistle adding a French horn, delivering a melancholic atmosphere, funny lyrics, guided by accoustic guitars. Reminds me of Happy Jack, same era. It's all about the centerfold days of girlie magazines and ensuring a good sleep. 😉😉🤣🤣 Made it to Number 4 in the UK and Number 51 in the US. Great reaction Handsome Harri ❤❤ Great oldie Lance👏👏 Cheers from Canada ❤❤🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@SnowmanN49]

You confused me Mary by saying this was from Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, I have it on Magic Bus. Did some googling and it turns out it was on both of these compilation albums. First on Magic Bus in Sept 1968 and later on Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy in Oct 1971. I bought the Meaty...album mainly for one song, "Boris The Spider". The single "Pictures of Lily" was released in1967.

[@marybaillie8907]

@SnowmanN49 At 72, I confuse myself at times.🤣🤣 Yes, it can get very confusing, with Live, Duets, Best Hits etc. I usually confirm with Wiki to hopefully give correct information. Cheers from Canada 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♀️🇨🇦🇨🇦

[@kenford4798]

Yes you've got it!

[@markthomas2577]

Quit while you're ahead Harri .......lol !

[@mariaportengen2959]

A great rock band. I like the heavy guitar music and the fantastic drums from Keith Moon. 🥁🎶🎸🎶👍

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Good oldie Here love you

[@jeanphilippebaye1713]

Pete a écrit plusieurs chansons qui parlent de l'adolescence dont celle-ci. Très jolie chanson de 1967.

[@DaveReynolds-y3v]

Good call on the Small Faces. Stave Marriot was such an influence on the 60s blues rock seen in the UK. As far as the subject of the song, imagine growing up as an urban kid in post war England.

[@waltw4537]

Thanks Lance. These early Who songs let us know there was really something going on with this band. Thanks Harri.

[@jonathanwilkinson1461]

Great nod to this by Noel on I Can See a Liar..

[@papagarth]

My impression is it was Lily Langtry

[@John_Chu]

Yes, Langtry, Edward VII's mistress, died in 1929, as it's mentioned in the song. Roger Daltrey had problems remembering the lyrics in concert and in one instance the band had to segue midway into a cover of Free's "Alright Now."

[@davidbaron8330]

Dad helps his son find nature's Sominex. This was pretty deep, heady stuff for a pop song in it's time. Nothing like this coming from the Beatles, Stones, or Kinks. Pure Townshend brilliance. As are the explosive SONICS of The Who in full flight, in a pop song less than 3 minutes long. Genius on all levels.

I had a pin-up of Cheryl Ladd on my bedroom wall for years. You should do the song "Mary Anne With The Shaky Hand" by The Who.

[@tombeyerlein3813]

Yeah, what you think is going on is going on! 😁

[@rayalevesque]

1960s, Big Apple hat. Haven't seen one in years.

[@johnlong9534]

The sound of the early Who. Gotta hear Happy Jack too

[@seanfetterly3059]

I appreciate your grace when confronted by a song like this; yep, let the commenters take over 🙄

[@alastairhenderson6709]

It's simply a song about a Dad who gives his frustrated/repressed adolescent son a smutty picture to look at to help him get to sleep at night via the Widow Palm and her five daughters method.

[@jeffmazzoli9910]

Try the live version of Long Live Rock

[@The5thGen]

Lol

[@flamencoprof]

Um, it's "Pictures of Lily", two "L"s, not three. It may be a mistake on The Who's part, or their management machine, but that was the song's released title. However, it may well refer to famous woman Lillie Langtry, who did indeed die in 1929, as mentioned in the lyrics. I was too young to have heard of her when this was released, but not too young to miss the innuendo in the lyrics.

[@leftcoaster67]

I still don't think it's Lillie Langtry, I think it was a nude postcard, and on the back it was written "Have you got this picture of Lily?" Probably just a random 19th or 20th Century nude model.

[@rpoberhausen]

The song was a bit of a joke about masturbation

[@moorlock2003]

Not their best single by a long stretch.

[@shuroom57]

Still light years above moST OF THE CR@P YOU HEAR TODAY !!!!