Pete Townshend - of The Who and also a very successful solo artist in his own right - said that he only wrote one song about one city, and that city was Cleveland. It’s one of my favorite tunes from Townshend’s solo career, titled "Sheraton Gibson,"appearing on his “Who Came First” album that was released in 1972.Here are a few versions of the song performed by Townshend. The first is a live version (from a concert with the Who in Cleveland in September of 2000) where he explains that he wrote the song after an afternoon at a barbecue with the members of the James Gang (also Cleveland favorites).
So here are a few versions for your listening pleasure. The lyrics are listed below so you can sing along if the urge strikes you.
Live Version performed by Pete Townshend in Cleveland
Original recorded version performed by Pete Townshend
Live Version, performed by Eddie Vedder and Pete Townshend
Lyrics
Sheraton Gibson
From “Who Came First” by Pete Townshend
I'm sitting' in the Sheraton Gibson playing' my Gibson
And boy do I wanna go home.
I'm sitting' in the Sheraton Gibson playing' my Gibson
And boy do I feel all alone.
Cleveland, you blow my mind.
Cleveland, I wish I were home this time.
Don't want to be unkind .
But I'm sitting' in the Sheraton Gibson playing' my Gibson
Thinking' 'bout a sunny barbeque
I'm sitting in the Sheraton Gibson playing' my Gibson
And my mind is a Cleveland afternoon.
Cleveland, you blow my mind.
Cleveland, I wish I were home this time
Don't wanna be unkind.
Cleveland, you blow my mind.
Cleveland, I wish I were home this time.
Don't wanna be unkind.
Oh Cleveland, you blow my mind.
Oh Cleveland, I wish I were home this time
Don't wanna be unkind.
But I'm sitting in the Sheraton Gibson playing' my Gibson
And boy do I wanna go home.
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3 comments:
I knew Townshend was a rock god, but paying homage to our hometown confirms it!!
Just saw this. The truth is..look at the last verse.
"boy do I wanna go home"
He didnt want to be unkind. This is no tribute. It was probably a dismal gray day and he was stuck in his room..doing nothing, just playing his Gibson, just like he said. Not a complement for Cleveland nightlife or downtown activities.
Perhaps that will change with the advent of the Casino and the resurgence of the Flats business investment...whenever that happens.
~JmB
No, you fool! Pete wrote this song in his hotel room in Pittsburgh, and he was lamenting that he had to leave Cleveland where The Who had just had a great time at a picnic with the James Gang at promoter Mike Belkin's country house! Cleveland ho!
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