The Who developed from an earlier group, the Detours, and established themselves as part of the pop art and mod movements, featuring auto-destructive art by destroying guitars and drums on stage. Their first single as the Who, "I Can't Explain", reached the UK top ten, followed by a string of singles including "My Generation", "Substitute" and "Happy Jack". In 1967, they performed at the Monterey Pop Festival and released the US top ten single "I Can See for Miles", while touring extensively. The group's fourth album, 1969's rock opera Tommy, included the single "Pinball Wizard" and was a critical and commercial success. Live appearances at Woodstock and the Isle of Wight Festival, along with the live album Live at Leeds, cemented their reputation as a respected rock act. With their success came increased pressure on lead songwriter Townshend, and the follow-up to Tommy, Lifehouse, was abandoned. Songs from the project made up 1971's Who's Next, which included the hit "Won't Get Fooled Again". The group released the album Quadrophenia in 1973 as a celebration of their mod roots, and oversaw the film adaptation of Tommy in 1975. They continued to tour to large audiences before semi-retiring from live performances at the end of 1976. The release of Who Are You in 1978 was overshadowed by the death of Moon shortly after.
Kenney Jones replaced Moon and the group resumed activity, releasing a film adaptation of Quadrophenia and the retrospective documentary The Kids Are Alright. After Townshend became weary of touring, the group split in 1982. The Who occasionally re-formed for live appearances such as Live Aid in 1985, a 25th anniversary tour in 1989 and a tour of Quadrophenia in 1996–1997. They resumed regular touring in 1999, with drummer Zak Starkey. After Entwistle's death in 2002, plans for a new album were delayed. Townshend and Daltrey continued as the Who, releasing Endless Wire in 2006, and continued to play live regularly.
The Who's major contributions to rock music include the development of the Marshall stack, large PA systems, use of the synthesizer, Entwistle and Moon's lead playing styles, Townshend's feedback and power chord guitar technique, and the development of the rock opera. They are cited as an influence by hard rock, punk rock and mod bands, and their songs still receive regular exposure.
The Who is one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century. Their appearances at Monterey and Woodstock helped give them a reputation as one of the greatest live rock acts and they have been credited with originating the "rock opera". The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide.
The group's contributions to rock include the power chord, windmill strum and the use of non-musical instrument noise such as feedback. The band influenced fashion from their earliest days with their embrace of pop art and the use of the Union Jack for clothing. The guitar-smashing incident at the Railway Hotel in 1964 is one of Rolling Stone magazine's "50 Moments That Changed the History of Rock 'n' Roll".
Pink Floyd began to use feedback from their early shows in 1966, inspired by the Who, whom they considered a formative influence. Shortly after arriving in London in 1966, Jimi Hendrix visited Marshall's music shop demanding an amp setup like Townshend's and manipulated electronic noises in ways that Townshend had pioneered. The Beatles were fans and socialised with Moon in particular during the mid-1960s. In 1965, Paul McCartney said the Who "are the most exciting thing around" and was inspired to write "Helter Skelter" in the group's "heavy" style; John Lennon borrowed the acoustic guitar style in "Pinball Wizard" for "Polythene Pam".
The loud volume of the band's live show influenced the approach of hard rock and heavy metal. Proto punk and punk rock bands such as the MC5, the Stooges, the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Clash and Green Day cite the Who as an influence. The Who inspired mod revival bands, particularly the Jam, which helped other groups influenced by the Who become popular. The Who influenced hard rock bands such as Guns N' Roses. In the mid-1990s, Britpop bands such as Blur and Oasis were influenced by the Who. The Who have also influenced pop punk band Panic! at the Disco.
The Who has inspired many tribute bands; Daltrey has endorsed the Whodlums, who raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Many bands have covered Who songs; Elton John's version of "Pinball Wizard" reached No. 7 in the UK.
Bargain
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd gladly give up all I had
To find you I'd suffer anything and be glad
I'd pay any price just to get you
I'd work all my life and I will
To win you I'd stand naked, stoned, and stabbed
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I sit looking 'round
I look at my face in the mirror
I know I'm worth nothing without you
In life one and one don't make two
One and one make one
And I'm looking for that free ride to me
I'm looking for you
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever ha
The lyrics to The Who's song Bargain are about the lengths to which someone would go to find and win the love of another person. The singer declares that he would gladly give up everything he has and suffer anything if it meant finding the person he is looking for. He says that he would pay any price and work all his life to win their heart, and even stand naked, stoned, and stabbed for them. In the end, he realizes that he is nothing without this person, and he is willing to give up his good life for bad just to find them.
The lyrics suggest that love is a bargain, and that the sacrifices and risks involved are worth it in order to find true love. The emotions expressed in the song are intense and passionate, and the singer's willingness to sacrifice everything for love reflects the powerful nature of this emotion.
This song is often interpreted as a reflection of the turbulent time in which it was written - the 1970s. Fans of the song have suggested that it is a testament to the era's idealism and the search for something deeper than material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I am willing to lose my ego and self-centeredness in order to find you and put your well-being above mine.
I'd gladly give up all I had
I am willing to give up all my worldly possessions and material wealth to obtain and cherish you.
To find you I'd suffer anything and be glad
I am willing to go through any hardship and pain that comes my way if it means finding you and being happy with you.
I'd pay any price just to get you
I am willing to pay any cost, no matter how high, to obtain you and make you mine.
I'd work all my life and I will
I am willing to work tirelessly throughout my life to win and keep you in my life.
To win you I'd stand naked, stoned, and stabbed
I am willing to endure any kind of humiliation and physical harm to win your love and affection.
I'd call that a bargain
Despite the extreme efforts and sacrifices I would make for you, I still consider it a fair exchange for the happiness and fulfillment you bring into my life.
The best I ever had
You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I am grateful for your presence in my life.
I sit looking 'round
I am introspective and reflective of my life and am trying to make sense of my purpose.
I look at my face in the mirror
I am self-aware and know that I am incomplete without you.
I know I'm worth nothing without you
I recognize that my worth and purpose in life is only fulfilled when I have you by my side.
In life one and one don't make two
Two people together are worth more than the sum of their individual selves.
One and one make one
When two people come together and unite, they become one and form a bond that is greater than their individual selves.
And I'm looking for that free ride to me
I am searching for someone to fill the void in my life and provide me with a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
I'm looking for you
You are the missing piece of my life that I have been searching for and I will stop at nothing to find you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephencoomer5692
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I had
To find you I'd suffer anything and be glad
I'd pay any price just to get you
I'd work all my life and I will
To win you I'd stand naked, stoned and stabbed
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I sit looking 'round
I look at my face inm the mirror
I know I'm worth nothing without you
And like one and one don't make two
One and one make one
And I'm looking for that free ride to me
I'm looking for you
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
@motorcitymanman7711
So Cuzzy....new world wide Socialist rule says u can only own 7 albums.......which ones do u own??
Heres my list
1.Whos Next
2. Tommy
3. Quadrophenia
4. FOGHAT "Live"
5..BOSTON first album
6. DOOBIE BROS. The Captain and Me.
7.DOOBIE BROS. Stampede
@robertbartholomew7183
A great song off a great album. The Who were firing on all cylinders in 1971.
@michaelgarner1951
Don't care what anyone says this song is the greatest rock ballad of all
@chuckpotockimusic2288
Being a guitarist, I naturally gravitate to Townshend, but while all of the performances on this song are stellar, I give my biggest praise to Daltrey here, his vocals are full tilt and top shelf!
@thegadson9315
Definitely. His range and power set the "tone" for heavy metal
@brianjacob8728
Best screamer in Rock, up there with Ian Gillan and Michael Anthony.
@Andy-ok7ev
If u. Listen 2 the drums amazing now try to play it
@KG-vr3te
Thank-you for one of a very small voices shouting out for Rogers contribution. Incredible voice and Pete didn't appreciate him at first. But he sealed his position
@KG-vr3te
What a rock voice
@makmusique
The tension between the hard rocking parts and the sweet tender parts are beautifully juxtaposed. Great artistry. Perfection
@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe
Sweet tender parts?