Lyrics I Am Afraid - Pete Townshend

I Am Afraid

RUTH:
Um, I’ll see you tomorrow.
I might be a bit late, but I will be there this time.
Uh, so, call me back tonight.
Anyway… okay?
I stand beside you
I face the future
I’ll admit to you
I am afraid
I am afraid
As I stand beside you
I have denied you
I am afraid
I am not drunk now
I am not pilled down
My windows wound down
I am not brainwashed
I am not running
I am not hiding
My bet’s still riding
I am afraid
I swing you high-o
I swing you low-a
I see your eye-o
I see you grow-a
I hear you crying
Your brother’s dying
Be no more lying
I am afraid
RUTH:
Well, who’d have thought it?
Thanks to my exposé, all hell broke loose for Ray
High as the «Porno Pen Pal» story burst upon us this week.
It started
harmlessly enough when pretty American fifteen-year-old Rosalind Nathan wrote
to her pop hero, Ray High
I am afraid
As I stand beside you
I have denied you
I am afraid
I stand beside you
I face the future
I’ll admit to you
I am afraid
By my religion
I stand here naked
I cannot fake it
With God as witness
My little children
Who wait for feeding
I watch you bleeding
I am afraid
I am afraid
As I stand beside you
I have denied you
I am afraid
I stand beside you
I face the future
I’ll admit to you
I am afraid
RUTH:
High, one-time psychedelic flower child, now turned alcoholic vegetable,
frantically encouraged a sordid series of what can only be described as «letters».
This steamy correspondence climaxed in this wide-eyed,
innocent fourteen-year-old's now infamous photo, with its suggestion of
nakedness, underage necrophilia, and incest.
High issued a series of what can
only be described as «instructions» by return-of-post, allegedly inducting this
vulnerable little waif into his so-called secrets of stardom.
She opened her
heart to him, she loved to sing, but he seized upon her gullibility to test out
his weird theories.
Why did he encourage her?
What was he after?
Was she pushed?
I think we should be told.
Now there’s been a dramatic new development.
Although Ray High’s albums have been re-released this week, decent normal
people will be more interested in young Rosalind.
She’s a brilliant songwriter,
a brilliant singer, and with my help, has just released a brilliant new record.
I predict a smash hit for this talented, sexy, nubile young singer so rudely
abused by that slimeball, Ray High
RAY:
What the fuck are you doing here, Ruth?
You’ve come to gloat, have you?
RUTH:
I’m with Rastus
RAY:
Rastus… You… Rastus?
RUTH:
Yeah, I’m staying here as his guest.
He’s worried about the scandal.
Thinks it could be the end of you