Fiddle About


"Fiddle About" is a song by the English rock band the Who. It was featured on their 1969 rock opera album, Tommy. It is one of the two songs on Tommy written by bass guitarist John Entwistle, the other being "Cousin Kevin".

Composition

The song is in the key of D major, is just one second over a minute and a half long and is given exposition from the previous mini-song "Do You Think It's Alright?". It features a hard rock styled guitar and bass riff with the inclusion of a French horn, played by Entwistle. The song mainly consists of short verses sung by Entwistle with the chorus of "Fiddle About... Fiddle About... Fiddle About", sung by both Entwistle and Roger Daltrey coming after. As the song fades out, the chorus switches to Daltrey and Entwistle repeatedly singing "Fiddle... Fiddle... Fiddle" before ending.
This, alongside Entwistle's first written piece on the rock opera, "Cousin Kevin" are considered to be the most disturbing songs by the Who, for their themes of abuse, especially with "Fiddle About" relating to child sexual abuse. "Fiddle About" is also semi-autobiographical to guitarist and lead writer Pete Townshend's past with sexual abuse as a child. Ultimately, Townshend who was very sensitive to the topic asked Entwistle to write it for him.

Plot

In this rock opera, the title character and protagonist Tommy Walker is a young deaf, dumb and blind boy who is often neglected and abused by his family. At this point in the story, Tommy's parents leave him to be looked after by his uncle Ernie while they go out. Ernie, knowing well of Tommy's condition, with lyrics such as "you won't shout as I fiddle about" being said, molests the boy and is never caught for this crime.

Live versions

In most live renditions of "Fiddle About", Entwistle sings lead with Daltrey accompanying as on the studio release. During the Who's 1989 tour, Phil Collins sang "Fiddle About" along with singing "Tommy's Holiday Camp" as Uncle Ernie.

Personnel