Lyrics Evolution - Pete Townshend

Well, once I was a stone, many years ago
Into a pool was thrown, many years ago
Time went by and the pool ran dry
Excavated was I, and tempered and beat in the fiery heat
By the hand of a man, whose name was Dan, Dan the blacksmith

Well once I was a daisy, many years ago
In pastures green and lazy, many years ago
But I was et by a goat who fell in a moat
And forgetting to float he sunk like a lead and stayed until dead
And was relieved to find just how kind it all was

Well, once I was a bullfrog, had to struggle for survival
And once I was a carp and lived in waters on the meadow
And once I was a mynah bird, quoting verses from the Bible
I said pretty boy, pretty boy, Saint Luke

(Guitar solo)

Then I was born a human baby, many years ago
I remember I was born unto a lady, many years ago
All our hopes were piled on the back of a child
Who turned out to be wild, sent the devil a prayer
Caused the parson to swear so I took my leave
To lie and thieve, on my way to jail

Well, I′ve been a tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor
Known good times and disaster
But now I have a teacher and my teacher has a master
And the master is perfection, so he'll help us get there faster
Don′t need no proof, 'cause that's the truth, and I′ll drink to that!