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.
Dr. Jimmy
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen things you'll never see
Talk behind my back
But I'm off the beaten track
I'll take on anyone
Ain't scared of a bloody nose
Drink till I drop down
With one eye on my clothes
What is it? I'll take it
Who is she? I'll rape it
Got a bet there? I'll meet it
Getting high? You can't beat it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
You say she's a virgin
I'm gonna be the first in
Her fella's gonna kill me?
Oh fucking will he
I'm seeing double
But don't miss me if you can
There's gonna be trouble
When she choses her man
What is it? I'll take it
Who is she? I'll rape it
Got a bet there? I'll meet it
Getting high? You can't beat it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
Is it me? For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
I'm going back soon
Home to get the baboon
Who cut up my eye
Messed up my Levi's
I'm feeling restless
Bring another score around
Maybe something stronger
Could really hold me down
What is it? I'll take it
Who is she? I'll rape it
Got a bet there? I'll meet it
Getting high? You can't beat it
What is it? I'll take it
Who is she? I'll rape it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
Is it me? For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
The lyrics to The Who's song Dr. Jimmy depict the reckless and dangerous behavior of a young man who is heavily involved in drugs and alcohol. He boasts about his fearlessness and his willingness to take on anyone, even if it means getting a "bloody nose." He talks about his sexual conquests and how he will "rape" any woman he wants. The character of Doctor Jimmy represents the singer's alter ego, who only comes out when he is "pilled" or heavily intoxicated. The chorus of the song emphasizes this duality, as Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim are two different sides of the same person.
The lyrics also suggest a sense of desperation and emptiness that comes with this lifestyle. The singer is "feeling restless" and constantly seeking the next high, hoping that "something stronger could really hold me down." He is haunted by his past and is conflicted about his future, as he contemplates going "back soon home to get the baboon," possibly referring to his troubled upbringing or childhood trauma.
Overall, the lyrics to Dr. Jimmy paint a bleak picture of a young man spiraling out of control and engaging in risky behavior. The character of Doctor Jimmy symbolizes the singer's reckless and self-destructive tendencies, while mister Jim represents the more subdued and vulnerable side of his personality.
Line by Line Meaning
Laugh and say I'm green
You make fun of me and assume I am inexperienced
I've seen things you'll never see
I have experienced things you may never understand or comprehend
Talk behind my back
You gossip about me when I am not around
But I'm off the beaten track
I am a nonconformist and do things differently from others
I'll take on anyone
I am not afraid to face any challenge or fight anyone
Ain't scared of a bloody nose
I am fearless and unafraid of getting physically hurt
Drink till I drop down
I will keep drinking until I can no longer stand or pass out
With one eye on my clothes
Even while heavily intoxicated, I am still conscious of my appearance
What is it? I'll take it
I am willing to try anything, no matter the risk or consequences
Who is she? I'll rape it
I am willing to use force or coercion to have sex with any woman I desire
Got a bet there? I'll meet it
I am confident in my abilities and will wager on anything
Getting high? You can't beat it
I am addicted to drugs and believe that nothing else can compare
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
My persona splits into two when I am under the influence
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
One of my personas recedes when I am heavily medicated
He only comes out when I drink my gin
My other persona only appears when I am drinking gin
You say she's a virgin
You tell me the woman I desire has never had sex
I'm gonna be the first in
I intend to have sex with her before anyone else does
Her fella's gonna kill me?
You suggest that her boyfriend will harm me
Oh fucking will he
I am not scared of her boyfriend and believe I can handle him
I'm seeing double
I am so intoxicated that my vision is blurry
But don't miss me if you can
I am warning others that I am still dangerous, even intoxicated
There's gonna be trouble
I am predicting that my actions will lead to conflict or chaos
When she choses her man
When the woman I desire chooses someone else instead of me
Is it me? For a moment
I briefly question my sanity or reality
The stars are falling
I feel like everything is falling apart
The heat is rising
My emotions are intensifying
The past is calling
I am haunted by memories or regrets
I'm going back soon
I am returning to a place or state of mind that I associate with trouble
Home to get the baboon
I am going home to retrieve a weapon or a tool for my activities
Who cut up my eye
Someone injured me and I seek revenge
Messed up my Levi's
My clothing is damaged or stained from previous violent encounters
I'm feeling restless
I am unable to find peace or calmness
Bring another score around
I want more drugs to numb my senses
Maybe something stronger
I want an even more potent drug to escape my reality
Contributed by Levi A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alman Ribeiro
Laugh and say I'm green
I've seen things you'll never see
Talk behind my back
I'm off the beaten track
I'll take on anyone
Ain't scared of a bloody nose
Drink 'til I drop down
With one eye on my clothes
What is it?
I'll take it
Who is she?
I'll rape it
Got a bet there?
I'll meet it
Getting high?
You can't beat it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
You say she's a virgin
But I'm gonna be the first in
Her fellah's gonna kill me?
Oh fucking will he
I'm seeing double
But don't miss me if you can
There's gonna be trouble
When she chooses her man
What is it?
I'll take it
Who is she?
I'll rape it
Got a bet there?
I'll meet it
Getting high?
You can't beat it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
Is it me?
For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
Is it me?
For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
I'm going back soon
Home to get the baboon
Who cut up my eye
Tore up my Levis
I'm feeling restless
Bring another score around
Maybe something stronger
Could really hold me down
What is it?
I'll take it
Who is she?
I'll rape it
Got a bet there?
I'll meet it
Getting high?
You can't beat it
What is it?
I'll take it
Who is she?
I'll rape it
Doctor Jimmy and mister Jim
When I'm pilled you don't notice him
He only comes out when I drink my gin
Is it me?
For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
Is it me?
For a moment
The stars are falling
The heat is rising
The past is calling
chrisradano
I think this album is Roger's best performance. He is at the top of his game.
David Simmons
He brought the characters to life
cosmicdrifter287
i Think Roger is always on top of his game.
D R
i agree. it's my fave of theirs,brilliant
paul liquorish
I totally agree, him and Pete just nail it
cosmicdrifter287
@paul liquorish 👍
Neil Oakley
The absolute best album they ever made. The highs, the lows, and that emotional decline.... all produced through the most unique and powerful rock music. I love it ❤
Graham Harris
I totally agree it was townsend masterpiece it’s his fav as welll
Robert Livingstone
Daltrey is an incredible singer
Doctor Garbonzo
I once dated a gal that looked alike like Roger Daltry! She couldn't carry a tune though!