Pete Townsend loves Theresa Russell but Nic Roeg got to have her
"Athena" was originally written by Pete Townsend after an encounter with the American actress Theresa Russell. After seeing a Pink Floyd performance on their Wall Tour, with Russell and his friend, Bill Minkin, Townsend was rejected by the actress when he attempted to romance her. Townsend said of the incident:
The song was written after I had been to see The Wall with my friend Bill Minkin and the actress Theresa Russell who was about to marry the film director Nic Roeg with whom I hoped to work on a new version of Lifehouse. I got drunk as usual, but I had taken my first line of cocaine that very evening before meeting her and decided I was in love. When I came to do the vocal on the following day [Feb. 15, 1980] I was really out of my mind with frustration and grief because she didn't reciprocate.[1]
Under the working title "Teresa," the song's name was changed to "Athena."[1] Despite this alteration, Townshend still felt the song was too personal, claiming, "It was just too revealing."[2] Roger Daltrey, however, disliked the song for this change.
No, I never liked that song ["Athena"]. It's a great record. I think what happened with that song, it was originally called "Teresa" and then Pete was talking to me about Nick Roeg's girlfriend and how he fancied her, and that song was written about her - but then it changed into 'She's a bomb' and I think I've got a psychological problem with it. I listened to it on the record the other day, and it's a great record; there's so much energy on that thing but I still don't think there's a center to that song. The fact that he changed the title in that and didn't stick to what it was supposed to be lost its center to me.
— Roger Daltrey, The News of the World, 2010[3]
A demo for the original "Teresa" was first recorded and presented to The Who by Pete Townshend during the Face Dances sessions.[4] However, the song was not used until It's Hard.
On "Athena" Roger Daltrey and Townshend share lead vocals.[5] John Entwistle also adds horns to the track.[2]
Released: 4 September 1982
Teresa Lyrics: Teresa, I had no idea how much I'd need her / Take me home and teach me how to feed her / My heart is palpitating and I guess wrong / But I guess ... She's just a girl. I don't know if I love her. Passion Teresa, just a girl just a girl. Teresa, she's just a girl just a girl. Teresa, just a girl just a girl. Teresa, just a girl
