Blue, Red, And Grey

Album: The Who By Numbers (1975)
Play Video
  • Some people seem so obsessed with the morning
    Get up early just to see the sun rise
    Some people like it more when there's fire in the sky
    Worship the sun when it's high
    Some people go for those sultry evenings
    Sipping cocktails in the blue, red and grey

    But I like every minute of the day

    I like every second, so long as you are on my mind
    Every moment has its special charm
    It's alright when you're around, rain or shine

    I know a crowd who only live after midnight
    Their faces always seem so pale
    And then there's friends of mine who must have sunlight
    They say a suntan never fails
    I know a man who works the night shift
    He's lucky to get a job and some pay

    And I like every minute of the day

    I dig every second
    I can laugh in the snow and rain
    I get a buzz from being cold and wet
    The pleasure seems to balance out the pain

    And so you see that I'm completely crazy
    I even shun the south of France
    The people on the hill, they say I'm lazy
    But when they sleep, I sing and dance
    Some people have to have the sutlry evenings
    Cocktails in the blue, red and grey

    But I like every minute of the day

    I like every minute of the day Writer/s: PETE TOWNSHEND
    Publisher: Spirit Music Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

  • Scott from Bensalem, PaFrom a Rolling Stone article Pete himself said: " “Blue, Red and Grey” was a moment of optimism amid the darkness, a simple, oddly beautiful ode to enjoying life that was written on the ukulele and recorded on a home demo. Townshend was stunned when producer Glyn Johns insisted it appear on The Who by Numbers. “I said, ‘What? That f--king thing?’” Townshend said. “‘Here’s me wanting to commit suicide, and you’re going to put that thing on the record?’”
  • Random Internet Name from South CarolinaPete Townshend supposedly wrote Blue Red and Grey as a suicide note in-form of a song despite sounding like a faint light betwen By Number's darkness. He exclaimed “Here’s me wanting to commit suicide, and you’re going to put that thing on the record?” when Glyn Johns insisted it got used on the album.
  • Rick from MichiganYou have "cocktails in the blue red and grey" when you are sitting and watching the sunset over water - blue sky above, red on the horizon, and grey on the water. Not sure where I read that. Makes sense to me. Love this album, love this song.
  • Mike from San Diego, CaSo...what is the Blue Red & Grey?
    I manner of dress. I fancy club, restaurant?
    How does one have "cocktails in the Blue Red & Grey"?
  • None from None , WyI hear he was seriously considering suicide while writing this song, and the whole Who By Numbers album, and that he didn't really like this song because it was him "wanting to commit suicide" and that he couldn't believe that they wanted to put it on the album. That doesn't detract from my love for it, though. And, though I'm not sure I think its an optimistic song, I would say that it's his attempt at trying to be more hopeful. It does have a sad element to it, a sort of hopeless element to it. I think many of the songs and much of the albums succeeding Who's Next are primarily very sad/bitter. Much of The Who By Numbers(Imagine a Man, They're All In Love, However Much I Booze, etc.) has very sad undertones. And much or Who Are You has that same element of bitter sadness. Townshend was going through some hard times.
  • Ryan from Apple Valley, CaSorry to burst people's bubble, but this song is completely sarcastic, which kinda follows the themes with the rest of The Who By Numbers, but to each his or her own. It does make me happy to hear it though, and there are elements of empathy and sincerity as when Pete says he knows a guy who works the night shift who's lucky to get a job and some pay.
  • Joe from Bellingham, WaGreat song. Who By Numbers is one of my favorite albums.
  • Shannan from Wilmington, DeI love this song it really does make me keep my chin up when I'm down. I love to listen to it. Pete Townshend has a great voice in this song. One of Pete's best song.
  • Miles from Vancouver, CanadaThis song is actually a barebones performances. It's just Townshend on ukulele & vocals, with some multi-tracked trumpets by John Entwistle. A hard rock version with Roger on lead vocals was recorded, but it was either erased or destroyed and has never resurfaced.
  • Josie from Funkytown, NcThis is a cute song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Adele

AdeleFact or Fiction

Despite her reticent personality, Adele's life and music are filled with intrigue. See if you can spot the true tales.

Peter Lord

Peter LordSongwriter Interviews

You may not recognize his name, but you will certainly recognize Peter Lord's songs. He wrote the bevy of hits from Paula Abdul's second album, Spellbound.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And Hell

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, Heaven And HellSongwriter Interviews

Guitarist Tony Iommi on the "Iron Man" riff, the definitive Black Sabbath song, and how Ozzy and Dio compared as songwriters.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.