The
beautiful and
sensitive last track on
Pete Townshend's 1972 album,
Who Came First.
Who Came First was Pete's first commercial
venture outside
the Who as an homage to
Meher Baba, who Pete claimed as his
Avatar and mentor (look on the back of
Tommy).
It was
recorded sometimes in late
1970 or early
1971 (specifics are not known) during the
Lifehouse sessions.
Ine the Who's heyday, Pete was consumed by his faith, often appearing onstage with a Baba pin or patch. Who Came First was composed and played (except "Evolution", which was written by Ronnie Lane) by Pete. It only reached #69 in the charts, but it was directed more toward Meher Baba followers than anyone else.
Many Who fans (at least ones I come across) now consider this album and song to be a little embarrasing because of the rawness and sensitivity of the song. Townshend doesn't talk much about Baba anymore, but in a recent interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, he says he still prays and meditates every day, and feels Baba's presence at times, which he characterizes as both "pink" and "incredibly humourous."
Unlike most of Townshend's songs, this is pretty straightforward, and doesn't require explaining...not meaning you don't have to think about it. The music within itself is a beautiful entity, making the lyric soar.
"Parvardigar" was adapted from the Universal Prayer by Meher Baba.
O Parvardigar, the Preserver and Protector of all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
Non-dual, beyond compare, and none can measure You
Without color, expression, or form, nor attributes to lend
You are unlimited and unfathomable
Imperishable beyond conception by our minds
None can divide you, oh God you are eternal
None can see you but with eyes divine
You always were,You always are, and always will be
You are everywhere, in everything and beyond
In the firmament above and in the deep
On all the seven planes and farther on
And in all that's hidden to our eyes and always see
Beyond the trinity of words and in the vow
You can not be perceived or no one shall repent
O Parvardigar preserve protect us all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
You always were, You always are, and always will be
You are the Creator, the Lord of Lords
The knower of all minds and hearts
Omnipotent, omnipresent, from you we cower
You are Knowledge, Infinite Bliss, Infinite Power
You are the ocean of knowledge knowing all
Infinitely knowing, but cannot tell
The knower of the past, the present and future
crowning even this, your knowledge itself
Oh merciful, benevolent, eternal
You're the trinity of Knowledge, Truth and Bliss
You are the source of Truth, The One with infinite attributes
You are the ocean of love we sorely miss
You always were, You always are, and always will be
You are the Ancient One, the Highest of the High
You are Prabhu and Parameshwar
You are the Beyond God, Beyond-Beyond God also
Parabrahma; Paramatma and Allah
Yezdan; Ahuramazda and God the Beloved
O Parvardigar, the Preserver and Protector of all
Without beginning are you Lord without end
You are named Ezad, the only one worthy of worship
We sing the universal prayer to you
Amen