When I first heard Pete Townshend sing those lyrics decades ago, I'm not sure I even processed what he was talking about. In fact, I know I didn't even think he was talking about 1921 - I thought maybe he was thinking of 2021 (read the liner notes, dummy). Eventually I realized that didn't make sense. Then I forgot about it.
Years later, when I was living in Chicago, one of my best friends was a big Who fan. Even though I saw them play in the 80's, he sort of made me rediscover them, and even finally come to fully appreciate, "Tommy," (though I'm still partial to, "Quadrophenia").
Throughout all that time, that one lyric always stuck with me. Then, as I aged, and got married, the rest of the verse gained meaning.
Got a feeling '21
Is going to be a good year
Especially if you and me
See it in together
In stereotypical Gen X fashion, I even imagined putting the song on a mix tape and giving it to my wife for New Year's 2021. I mean, we've been married almost 15 years, and I'd been plotting that for just about the whole time, so it's been living in my head for a while. We've nothing to complain about, but we're also normal people, so we've had some tough times like everyone will, and the next part of the verse became more meaningful. Got a feeling '21 Is going to be a good year Especially if you and me See it in together
I had no reason to be over-optimistic
But somehow, when you smiled
I could brave bad weather
As we lived our lives and planned for our futures together, we began to think it would just be us, and that was fine. And then the best thing happened: we had a son. And the final lyric of the song: What about the boy?
Now all our plans include him. His future as well as ours. His education, his health, his needs, as well as our wants & our retirement. My wife will think I'm awfully corny for making this New Year's note about The Who, but who of us could have imagined a 2020 like we've all gone through? Everyone I know, and I know folks who have experienced extreme success as well as tragedy this past year, has had a stressful time. 2020 was the type of year that can knock everything off kilter. In fact, the Boy Scout in me who still always strives to, "Be Prepared," found himself in uncharted territory at times. What did help was having plans, and a support system, in place. Welcome, 2021 - even after all of that, I do feel like it's going to be a good year. Happy New Year!