Who Are You
- The Who Lyrics
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Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said, "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"
I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin' punches around
And preachin' from my chair
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin
I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there's got to be another way
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on and tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you?
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I know there's a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees
I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still receive your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on, come on, who? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Ah, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Ooh)
I really wanna know
Oh, I really wanna know
Come on, tell me, who are you, you, you, ah, you? (Yeah)
"The Who" is one of the prominent rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s. One of their most popular songs, "Who Are You," starts out with a simple, repeated question--who are you? The song is about self-reflection, where the lead singer reflects on his life and what it means to be him. The opening lines describe him waking up in a Soho doorway, with a policeman knowing his name. He had a rough night--he remembers throwing punches around and preaching from a chair. He is reflecting on himself and trying to understand who he is.
The chorus repeats the question of who he is, and he reveals that he spent eleven hours in a "tin pan." He's tired, and he's feeling like he needs to find a new life. The next verse is more introspective, with him considering his love life and how it has impacted him. He wonders how he can measure up to anyone now, after experiencing such a great love.
Overall, "Who Are You" is about questioning identity and exploring oneself. It presents a deep concern for self-awareness and not knowing who one truly is. The questions in the song remain unanswered, leaving it open for interpretation and individual discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you?
The singer is asking a question repeatedly in search of an answer.
I woke up in a Soho doorway
The singer woke up in a Soho doorway, which is not a usual place of rest.
A policeman knew my name
The singer was known to the police.
He said, "You can go sleep at home tonight
The police officer advised the artist to go to their home.
If you can get up and walk away"
The police officer laid down conditions for the artist to walk away.
I staggered back to the underground
The singer struggled to walk back to the underground.
And the breeze blew back my hair
The singer felt the breeze blowing back their hair.
I remember throwin' punches around
The artist remembers throwing punches while under the influence.
And preachin' from my chair
The artist was preaching while being intoxicated.
Well, who are you?
The artist is asking the same question as before.
I took the tube back out of town
The singer took the train back out of town.
Back to the Rollin' Pin
The artist went back to the Rollin' Pin.
I felt a little like a dying clown
The singer felt like a dying clown.
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin
The singer had a streak of Rin Tin Tin, a famous dog character.
I stretched back and I hiccupped
The singer stretched back and hiccupped.
And looked back on my busy day
The artist looked back on their eventful day.
Eleven hours in the tin pan
The artist spent eleven hours working in a tin pan.
God, there's got to be another way
The singer is expressing a desire for a better way of living.
Oh, who the fuck are you?
The singer is frustrated in their search for an answer to the question.
I know there's a place you walked
The artist knows that the person they are addressing has walked somewhere.
Where love falls from the trees
The artist describes the place where love is said to emanate from.
My heart is like a broken cup
The artist uses a metaphor to describe their heart as broken.
I only feel right on my knees
The singer can only find comfort on their knees.
I spit out like a sewer hole
The artist is feeling angry and nihilistic.
Yet still receive your kiss
Despite feeling angry and nihilistic, the singer still accepts a kiss from the person they are addressing.
How can I measure up to anyone now
The singer sees themselves as inadequate compared to others.
After such a love as this?
The singer wonders how they can measure up to others after experiencing love.
Oh, I really wanna know
The artist reiterates their desire to know the identity of the person they are addressing.
Come on, tell me, who are you, you, you, ah, you? (Yeah)
The artist repeats the same question over and over again in a desperate plea for an answer.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BrianCarnevaleB26
Who are you really? This a question that remains unanswered as I know you are more than just a person who pumps out SPAM!
Let's unlock the box, and see what is really inside deep down.
#Pain
#regret
#bitterness
#loathing
#jelousy
#longingforlove
#trapped
#stuck
#catinthehat
@leokimvideo
So many good things going on here, but Pete's guitar playing is on point.
@bigvimfuego
Love how his mannerisms when he's playing the guitar are there on the piano too.
@mojorisin8368
He's also a paedophile.
@hammurds
Keith steals the show. Truly one of the greatest drummers to ever live. He does more than keep the tempo, he matches guitar riffs and vocals and it shows with how aggressively he plays. He makes the drums more of an accompaniment than just a time keeper. Beautiful
@cbennett196631
@@hammurds top 10….maybe?!?
@hammurds
@@cbennett196631 Keith is definitely in my top ten. No doubt. He is in a league of his own when it comes to how he approaches drumming. He is certainly unique
@jackcohen7923
Moon's facial expressions say it all... the excitement, dedication, and brotherhood with this band is phenomenal on top of the pure musical talent
@damamae950
The drunkenness, the wanton lifestyle, and death within a couple of months...
@KnoppersBomber
What is it about drumming that makes drummers make funny faces?
@jxntxn1462
@@KnoppersBomber Its not just drummers, a lot of musicians do that while playing if you watch. Drummers do seem to be the most noticeable though which is interesting