Burbank Girl Inspires Who Song "Athena"

(She's a girl - She's a bomb)

 

Theresa Russell (pictured above in 2007) was born Theresa Paup in San Diego, California, the daughter of Carole Platt (née Mall) and Jerry Russell Paup. She attended Burbank High School and appears in the 1973 yearbook, but did not graduate. She married English film director Nicolas Roeg (born 1928), in 1982. The couple had two sons, Statten (born 1983) and Maximillian (born 1985); Roeg and Russell subsequently divorced.

Pete Townshend of The Who says that Russell was the inspiration for his song, "Athena" which was first called "Theresa." From wikipedia: "Pete Townshend wrote this song after an encounter with actress Theresa Russell. He promptly fell in love with her, and his frustration of being rejected is contained in this song. In this context, associated with an issue with a film director, it became a subplot of the much later "The Lifehouse Chronicles." Townshend initially changed the title to "Athena" to disguise who the song was really about."

Russell lives in California. The photo below is from the 1973 Burbank High School yearbook.

Athena

Music and lyrics by Pete Townshend

Athena, I had no idea how much I'd need her
In peaceful times I hold her close and I feed her
My heart starts palpitating when I think my guess was wrong
But I think I'll get along
She's just a girl - she's a bomb
She's just a girl - she's a bomb

Athena, all I ever want to do is please her
My life has been so settled and she's the reason
Just one word from her and my troubles are long gone
But I think I'll get along
She's just a girl - she's a bomb
She's just a girl - she's a bomb

Just a girl just a girl
Just a girl just a girl
Just a girl just a girl
She's just a girl

Athena, my heart felt like a shattered glass in an acid bath
It felt like one of those flattened ants you find on a crazy path
I'd have topped myself to give her time she didn't need to ask
Was I a suicidal psychopath?
She's just a girl - she's a bomb
She's just a girl - she's a bomb

Consumed, there was a beautiful white horse I saw on a dream stage
He had a snake the size of a sewer pipe living in his rib cage
I felt like a pickled priest who was being flambed
You got me requisitioned blondie
She's just a girl - she's a bomb
She's just a girl - she's a bomb

I'm happy, I'm ecstatic
Just a girl just a girl
Just a girl just a girl
Just a girl just a girl
She's just a girl

Look into the face of a child
Measure how long you smiled
Before the memory claimed
How long would children remain
How long could children remain

Athena, you picked me up by my lapels and screamed "leave her"
I felt like waking up in heaven on an empty meter
And now you're stuck with a castrated leader
And I hate the creep, I didn't mean that
She's a bomb
I just said it
She's a bomb
I didn't mean
She's a bomb

Athena, I had no idea how much I need her
My life has been so settled and she's the reason
Just one word from her and my troubles are long gone
Ooh, but I get along
She's just a girl, she's a bomb
She's just a girl, she's a bomb

 

 

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