You Better You Bet

"You Better You Bet" was written by Pete Townshend as a love song for his girlfriend at the time. Townshend said of the song, "I developed ['You Better You Bet'] over several weeks of clubbing and partying. I had gone through a lean period in my marriage and was seeing the daughter of a friend of mine. I wanted it to be a good song because the girl I wrote it for is one of the best people on the planet." When commenting on the song's lyrics and music, Pete Townshend said, "'You Better You Bet' was a very spontaneous lyric. A fairly spontaneous, peppy song; it's a pop song, really, it's just a pop song." Roger Daltrey commented on the song's vocal melody, comparing it to Elvis Presley. He said, "A wonderful, wonderful song. The way the vocal bounces, it always reminds me of Elvis." The song is also a favorite of Roger Daltrey, who said, "'You Better You Bet' is still one of my favorite songs of all." "You Better You Bet" was released as the first single from Face Dances in February 1981, backed with the John Enstwistle-penned "The Quiet One." The song peaked at #9 in the Britain, but in America, it only reached #18. This is thought to have been because Warner Bros. Records had decided to boycott independent promoters in America, which resulted in less airplay for the track. The song makes references to both the group T. Rex, and the group's own 1971 album Who's Next, with the line: "I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T. Rex... and Who's Next". This song also sounded very similar to Pete Townshend's solo release "Let My Love Open The Door" which had been released a year prior.

[Intro] You better, you better you bet, ooh You better, you better you bet, ooh You better, you better you bet, ooh You better, you better you bet, ooh [Verse 1] I call you on the telephone My voice too rough with cigarettes I sometimes think I should just go home But I'm dealing with a memory that never forgets I love to hear you say my name Especially when you say yes I got your body right now on my mind But I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T-Rex (Hmmmm) To the sound of old T-Rex (oh) – and Who's Next [Chorus] When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you say you better You better, you better you bet [Post-Chorus] You better bet your life Or love will cut you like a knife [Verse 2] I want those feeble-minded axes overthrown I'm not into your passport picture – I just like your nose You welcome me with open arms and open legs I know only fools have needs, but this one never begs I don't really mind how much you love me Ooh, a little is alright When you say, come over and spend the night Tonight, tonight [Chorus] When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you say you better You better, you better you bet [Post-Chorus] You better bet your life Or love will cut you like a knife [Bridge] I lay on the bed with you We could make some book of records Your dog keeps licking my nose And chewing up all those letters Saying “you better” You better bet your life You better love me, all the time now You better shove me back into line now You better love me, all the time now You better shove me back into line now [Guitar Solo] [Verse 3] I showed up late one night With a neon light for a visa But knowing I am so eager to fight Can't make letting me in any easier (oooh ooh) I know I've been wearing crazy clothes And I look pretty crappy sometime (oooh ooh) But my body feels so good And I still sing a razor line every time And when it comes to all night living I know what I am giving I have got it all down to a tee And it's free [Chorus] When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you scream you better (ooh) You better, you better you bet When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I love you, you say you better You better, you better you bet When I say I need you, you scream you better You better, you better you bet [Outro] You better bet your life or love will cut you Just like a knife