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.
Do You Think It's Alright?
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?
Do you think it's alright
He's had a few too many tonight!
D'you think it's alright?
I think it's alright, yes I think it's alright
The Who's song "Do You Think It's Alright" explores the idea of responsibility and accountability in familial and societal structures. The first two lines of the song ask a question about whether it's alright to leave a boy with Uncle Ernie, and whether it's alright despite the fact that Uncle Ernie has drunk too much. The singer repeats this question asking if it's right, further emphasizing the idea of accountability.
The singer provides their own opinion in the following line, stating that they think it's alright. This particular line can be interpreted in two different ways: the first being that the singer believes it is okay to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie despite the fact that he is intoxicated, while the second is that the singer is simply stating that it's alright to ask this question and to bring up the issue of accountability in such situations. The repeated lines and questions give the song a haunting and thought-provoking quality that forces listeners to question their own beliefs about responsibility and caregiving.
Overall, "Do You Think It's Alright" is a powerful and evocative song that explores themes of personal responsibility and accountability in the face of social and familial structures. This song forces its listeners to confront the realities of caretaking, and the moral quandaries that often arise in such situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you think it's alright
Is it morally acceptable to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?
To leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?
To abandon the boy in the care of Uncle Ernie?
Do you think it's alright
Is it socially acceptable to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie?
He's had a few too many tonight!
Uncle Ernie has consumed an excessive amount of alcohol today.
D'you think it's alright?
Do you believe it is acceptable to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie despite his drunken state?
I think it's alright, yes I think it's alright
I believe it is morally and socially acceptable to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie, regardless of his current condition.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETE TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Uncle Ernie
It's alright.
Jonathan GT-r AMG M3 Nismo
How long jave you been waiting to comment this lol
liam applegate
Uncle Ernie I though you were his " wicked uncle Ernie" you nineteen people that like his comment have clearly not heard "fiddle about"
Mr & Mrs Walker
Wonderful, then. Don't wait up for us!
Krysta King
I remember having this song stuck in my head a few years ago, when I was in junior high, and I would absentmindedly just sing it out loud... I made no friends that year...
SJ
Do you think it's alright, to leave the boy with Cousin Kevin?
Do you think it's alright? There's something about him I don't really like.
Do you think it's alright?
I think it's alright, I think it's alright
Klos1neMN
This song creeps me out...well, maybe as not as much as the next song,
Maureen Schneider
13 people thought that it was alright to leave the boy with Uncle Ernie
MeloLand
Very short but very fantastic!
boss bubsy
Agreed I wish there was a long version