Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Who Are You
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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?
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 throwing punches around
And preaching from my chair
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really want to 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?
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 want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Ah, tell me who are you? (Who are you? Who?)
I really want to know, I really want to know,
The song "Who Are You" by Stereophonics is a cover of The Who's original hit from the 1970s. The lyrics of the song tell the story of a person who wakes up in a Soho doorway after a long night of partying and excess. A police officer recognizes them and allows them to go home, as long as they can walk away. The singer then reflects on their day, which was busy and exhausting, stretching eleven hours in the Tin Pan. The recurring refrain of "Who are you?" asks a profound and existential question about the singer's identity, and their reflection on their day and night seem to suggest a search for meaning and purpose in their life.
Overall, the song seems to be about a person undergoing a personal crisis and questioning their identity and direction in life. The lyrics are relatable for anyone who's ever felt lost or disconnected, and the themes of self-discovery and introspection make it a powerful and thought-provoking song.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you?
Asking about the true identity or nature of the person being addressed
I woke up in a Soho doorway
Recalling a vague memory of waking up in a public place
A policeman knew my name
Being recognized by a law enforcement officer due to past interactions
He said "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"
Being given a chance to avoid arrest if able to leave without causing further trouble
I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
Walking unsteadily towards the subway while feeling the wind on one's face
I remember throwing punches around
And preaching from my chair
Recalling a time when one was prone to argumentative behavior and bad decisions
I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
Returning home to a familiar bar or other establishment
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin
Feeling absurd and pathetic, but still holding onto some sense of pride or strength
I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Reflecting on the events of the day and feeling exhausted
Eleven hours in the Tin Pan
God, there's got to be another way
Expressing frustration and dissatisfaction with one's current situation, possibly related to work or personal life
Come on and tell me, who are you?
Urging the person being addressed to reveal their true nature or intentions
Oh, who the fuck are you?
Using vulgar language to express frustration with the lack of clarity about who the person is
Ah, tell me who are you?
Continuing to ask for an explanation or revelation of identity
I really want to know, I really want to know
Emphasizing the importance and urgency of understanding who the person is
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Phil_D_Waller
excellent! brilliant cover!
@TacoVeldstraGrutte
Again a great cover by the Stereophonics!
@cymrujoy
Excellent cover!
@ognibandyrrah
excellent cover, totally unexpected...cant imagine anyone finding this to be anything less than a faithfull and worthy tribute to the greatest R'n'B band in the world...
@LaserGadgets
Hands down, best cover out there!
@foreheadkisser
I think both bands are good. Because one made an awesome song and another an awesome interpretation
@merman153
Two of my favourite bands ,well done Stereo's great cover !
@merman153
Long live Kieth Moon !i love this cover ,well done boys !
@TheHeavyJetsBand
Absolutely smashed it!!
@DrGolfJam
Stereophonics do some amazing covers. This, Gimme shelter, Best of You, Handbags and the Gladrags. Just need to right somthing as epic. Dakota was pretty good but theres so much talent you got think something more might come. Kelly Jones is amazing!