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.
Fragments
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or breathing in
Are we leaving life
Or moving on
Are we breathing out
Or breathing in
Are we breathing in
Falling now and settling
Like snowflake crystal
Building on the city street
Snowflakes falling
Snowflakes falling
Snowflakes falling
Snowflakes falling
Are we the parts
Are we the whole
Are we the thoughts
Are we the soul
The parts of me
And this is true
The parts of me
Belong to you
Breathing out
Breathing in
Breathing out
Breathing in
Breathing out
Breathin' in
Belong to you
And you
And you
And you...
The song Fragments by The Who explores the idea of mortality and the transient nature of life. The lyrics reflect on the constant cycle of breathing in and out, questions the concept of whether we are leaving life or moving on, and ultimately contemplates the connection between individual parts and the whole. The repetition of the phrase "breathing out, breathing in" highlights the rhythm of life, the ebb and flow of energy that fuels human existence.
The metaphor of falling snowflakes settling on the ground is used to illustrate the idea that each of us is a small, unique piece that contributes to the building of something greater. Whether it is a city or a collective consciousness, we must all work together and accept that our individual parts belong to something larger than ourselves. The final repetition of "belong to you" emphasizes this sentiment and highlights the importance of connection and community.
Line by Line Meaning
Are we breathing out
Are we exhaling, releasing our breath?
Or breathing in
Or inhaling, taking in air?
Are we leaving life
Are we dying and departing from life?
Or moving on
Or progressing and transitioning to something else?
We are tiny pieces
We are small components,
Falling now and settling
Descending and coming to rest,
Like snowflake crystal
Similar to the structure of snowflakes,
Building on the city street
Creating upon the urban path,
Snowflakes falling
Snowflakes descending,
Are we the parts
Are we the components,
Are we the whole
Are we the entire entity,
Are we the thoughts
Are we the ideas and musings,
Are we the soul
Are we the spiritual essence,
The parts of me
My components,
And this is true
This is fact,
Belong to you
Belong to you,
Breathing out
Exhaling,
Breathing in
Inhaling,
Belong to you
Belong to you,
And you
And also to you,
And you
And even to you,
And you...
And to all of you...
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: PETER DENNIS BLANDFOR TOWNSHEND, LAWRENCE ANDREW BALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
JJ
on Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Album Version
It was Racist
Philip Kassabian
on Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere
The Who have so many great songs it's difficult to even describe.
Philip Kassabian
on See Me, Feel Me
Yet another excellent song by The Who one of the best bands of the 1960's.
Philip Kassabian
on I Can't Explain
A really good song by The Who.
Philip Kassabian
on I Can See for Miles
A song that definitely gets stuck in your head.
Philip Kassabian
on My Generation
An amazing song by The Who.