Interpretations:We're The Replacements

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Interpretation 1

I think the main page for this song sums it up pretty well, but I've been wondering if "Hey, where's Tommy, someone find Tommy" might also have been a tribute to The Who's legendary album. Or maybe it was just Tommy from the replacements. :-) --Random 23:10, March 25, 2004

I DO think "Tommy" is a reference to the Rock Opera. I think It's about The Who, Actually. --Walrus 20:59, November 20, 2004

But Tommy (Stinson) was the younger brother of Bob, who were the two founders of The Replacements. Just to prolong the theory that TMBG is wrong; it is about the band The Replacements. --Shiner 14:42, February 7, 2006

Interpretation 2

I know that the Johns have denied this song being about the Replacements themselves, but I can't let this go. The Replacements, as we all may or may not know, were well known for getting incredebly drunk and playing while intoxicated. "We're having a good time", "Where's Tommy, someone find Tommy!", and "Moving equipment, where's the equipment?...Then we'll have a party!" These are all things that a drunken musician might say....losing all of his belongings, a band member wandering off or passing out in the bathroom, etc. This song could be about almost any rock 'n' roll band, but I think choosing the Replacements to parody works pretty well, don't you? --aol proxy user 13:35, July 27, 2004

Not only that, John sounds like he's trying to do a Paul Westerberg impression, particularly the unintelligible scream near the end. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.10.80.125 (talk • contribs) 03:39, February 28, 2005

Diss

The supposedly profound Replacements were critical darlings at the time this song was written. I always felt there was a real attitude to this song -- basically dissing the 'Mats for being not much more than a 'party' band. The song seemed to play the role of the boy in the story of the Emperor's new clothes. (Naturally, the Johns were never so feted by rock's tastemeisters.) I had a friend who doted on Paul Westerberg's melancholia; he was offended by this song. --Nehushtan 00:13, 7 Mar 2006 (CST)

Interpretation 4

Tommy Stinson was the youngest member of The Replacements, and there are a few anecdotes of The Replacement's antics in which Tommy disappeared for a few days while on tour (mentioned in Michael Azerrad's book 'Our Band Could Be Your Life') which accounts for the "someone find Tommy" line.

Also the screamed line seems to be a direct reference to Favourite Thing from the 'Mats' (excellent) album Let It Be. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.176.56.160 (talk • contribs) 19:24, June 30, 2010