Townshend derived the song from a Lowrey Berkshire home organ experimental recording, which the band reconstructed. Drummer Keith Moon had the idea of inserting a violin solo at the coda of the song, during which the style of the song shifts from crashing rock to an Irish folk-style beat. Dave Arbus, of East of Eden, plays the violin in the solo heard during this section.
"Baba O'Riley" was going to be used in the Lifehouse project as a song sung by Ray, the Scottish farmer at the beginning of the album as he gathers his wife Sally and his two children to begin their exodus to London. Although the Lifehouse project was later scrapped, many of the songs were released on The Who's 1971 album Who's Next. The song was released as a single in several European countries, but in the US and the UK was only released as part of the album. It has been a concert staple after its release. A remixed version is used in the title credits of the popular drama CSI:New York.
Baba O'Riley
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland
Sally, take my hand
We'll travel south 'cross land
Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together before we get much older
Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland, oh, yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted
The lyrics to The Who's song Baba O'Riley depict a young person's struggle to find their place in the world. The first verse speaks to the idea of working hard to survive and make a living, but without needing to resort to violence or proving oneself to others. The line "I get my back into my living" suggests that the singer is physically exerting themselves to survive. The song then shifts to a chorus of "It's only teenage wasteland," which may be interpreted as a commentary on the societal perception of youth as being directionless and unproductive.
In the second verse, the singer calls out to Sally, presumably a friend or love interest, to join them on a journey to the south. The line "Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder" suggests a desire to leave behind old troubles and start anew. The use of the word "exodus" invokes images of a mass migration, which could represent a desire for change on a larger societal level. The idea of getting together before one is "much older" implies a sense of urgency to experience life before it's too late.
Overall, Baba O'Riley may be interpreted as a commentary on the struggles and desires of young people to find purpose and meaning in their lives, and to make an impact on the world despite the feeling of being dismissed as "teenage wasteland."
Line by Line Meaning
Out here in the fields
In this open space, where anything can happen
I fight for my meals
I work hard for food to survive
I get my back into my living
I put my all into what I do
I don't need to fight
I don't need to enter battles
To prove I'm right
To show everyone else that I am correct
I don't need to be forgiven
I don't need to beg for someone's mercy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of excitement and acknowledgement
Don't cry
Do not weep
Don't raise your eye
Don't look up or pay attention
It's only teenage wasteland
This is only juvenile chaos
Sally, take my hand
Partner, let us unite
We'll travel south 'cross land
We'll journey through landscapes towards our destination
Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder
Extinguish the flames and move forward
The exodus is here
A mass departure is taking place
The happy ones are near
The ones filled with joy are coming closer
Let's get together before we get much older
Let's congregate and make the best of our youth
Teenage wasteland
A place filled with childish behavior
It's only teenage wasteland
This is only a place for young and reckless ones
Teenage wasteland, oh, yeah
A definitive statement that this is truly a teenage domain
Teenage wasteland
An area where everyone is foolish and unproductive
They're all wasted
They are all wasted on youth and frivolity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@periklaskyriakidis6064
I'm 17 and I know the Who since 2016/2017, but after watching Girl Next Door I always think of this movie whenever I hear this masterpiece of a song. Without any doubt, one of the Top 10 songs in music history.
"It's like a gift you know.
It's like I can't control it."
The juice was really worth the squeeze boys 😉
@Richlyan
Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland
Sally, take my hand
We'll travel south 'cross land
Put out the fire and don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together before we get much older
Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland, oh, yeah
Teenage wasteland
They're all wasted
@mhayes33120
So very creative.
A drum set, a synthesiser, some guitars with overdrive, sustain and feedback,
and then finally, a violin solo to finish it off. Never knew who it was.
His name is { Dave Arbus } and he is 82 years old now, going on 83.
I have eclectic taste in music, but deep down, I really have a thing for piano, and violin.
I'm not quite sure where this comes from.
I may be a reincarnated person.
Most likely, it's because they are wondrous instruments for classic musical expression.
The piano and the violin that is.
I'm thankful that we have this song forever.
Aren't you ?
The outro violin solo always made me see Gypsies dancing around a fire at night-time.
Close your eyes and listen to it closely.
Can you see them ?
They are dancing very passionately, and they have been drinking.
They are not half-hearted people these Gypsies.
They're liquored up, they're down for it, and they're All In.
@justjeepn425
Peter, did you throw up in the sink!?
(Baba O'Riley plays)
Peter!
(Baba O'Riley continues to play)
Out here in the fields- Yeah, that was me, I'm the one that threw up in the sink. I farm for my meals. ((<-- those are the actual lyrics in the episode))
@swapnilghosh7123
These visuals are out of the world. The music already is from another.
@atharvaugale6379
So rightly said😁
@markgoodwin7258
🐿🐿🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🐿🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹🦇🍤🍤🍤🍤🍤🍤🍤Swapnil Ghosh Z. 🤐Z🍋🍋😌😞😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎🥦🥦🥦🥦🍋🥕🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦🍋📐📐📐🦇😊😊😌
@milogorey8341
they aren't even that good...
@pigga9878
@@milogorey8341 do you not know who they are?
@pigga9878
@@milogorey8341 must be gen z
@julieenslow5915
As a Boomer on her way out - I am so glad to see new fans for this music. It really should not be forgotten. Torch passed.
@dohanddonuts5716
When Townshend said 'wasted' he was talking about how his generation had so much promise but it was just wasted in the end. My dad who fought in Vietnam thinks about all his brothers who never came back when he hears this song. Each generation at times seems to repeat the same mistakes. This whole album is great but Baba O'Reilly and Won't Get Fooled Again are basically songs young people need to hear.
@ltrpwd
@@dohanddonuts5716 same still going on. Afghanistan… now Ukraine is seeing civilians here in America die because of the economic tole causing starvation and freezing as we enter winter and people can’t afford heat. Everything seems fine in liberal areas but get to a rural town where we don’t have the same social safety nets and people are dying out here in their own homes.
@joekris.2998
Hello 👋🏻 Julie Enslow 😊 how are you?