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.
Girl
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl's eyes, butterflies, how she cries, can't get through to you
She knows all the charts, breaks her heart, thinks a lot of you
Each time you play a melody
It means the earth to this little girl
Can you be cruel and break her heart
Tear her small world apart?
She's there, eyes aglow, very front row, don't throw sticks at her
Please don't look her way, see her way, don't care anyway
It's you who led her on, I see
Just leave her down in her misery
She don't want help from you and me
Can't tell a note from a symphony
It's you who led her on, I see
Just leave her down in her misery
She don't want help from you and me
Can't tell a note from a symphony
Girl's eyes, butterflies, how she cries, can't get through to you
She knows all the charts, breaks her heart, thinks a lot of you
Each time you play a melody
It means the earth to this little girl
Can you be cruel and break her heart
Tear her small world apart?
Odorono
Could have saved her day, could have helped her to get the part
Odorono
And he would have stayed, and helped her to save her heart
Save her heart
The Who's song Girl's Eyes is a poignant commentary on the adoration that fans often have for music artists, and how this adoration can go unrequited, leading to heartbreak and misery for the fans. The lyrics paint a picture of a young girl who is a massive fan of the artist, and who attends every concert, sitting in the front row, hoping to catch the artist's eye. She knows all the charts and loves every melody he plays, and her eyes glow with excitement every time he appears on stage. However, despite her best efforts, she cannot get through to him, and he seems to ignore her completely, leading to her heartbreak and misery.
The song also highlights the responsibility that music artists have for the fans who adore them so much. The artist is portrayed as being callous and cruel, leading the girl on and breaking her heart by ignoring her. The lyrics suggest that the artist has a responsibility to be kind and compassionate to the fans who support them, and that their behavior can have a profound impact on the fans' lives.
The song's chorus, which repeats the lines "Each time you play a melody, it means the earth to this little girl, can you be cruel and break her heart, tear her small world apart?", emphasizes the impact that music can have on people's lives, and the importance of being kind and compassionate towards fans who love and support the artist.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello
A greeting to the listener as the song begins
Girl's eyes, butterflies, how she cries, can't get through to you
There is a girl with a crush on the singer but he is not responsive to her, which is causing her pain
She knows all the charts, breaks her heart, thinks a lot of you
The girl is a big fan of the singer and knows all his songs by heart. However, her infatuation with him has caused her emotional distress
Each time you play a melody, It means the earth to this little girl
Every time the singer performs, it is the highlight of the girl's day and she feels deeply connected to him through his music
Can you be cruel and break her heart, Tear her small world apart?
The singer is questioning whether he should continue to ignore this girl and risk causing her further pain and heartbreak
She's there, eyes aglow, very front row, don't throw sticks at her
The girl is a devoted fan, always sitting in the front row with admiration and respect for the singer. The artist is asking his audience not to throw anything at her as it would be cruel
Please don't look her way, see her way, don't care anyway
The singer is suggesting that he and his fans should ignore this girl's obsessive and unrequited attraction to him
It's you who led her on, I see, Just leave her down in her misery
The singer places blame on himself and his fellow artists for using their music to create unrealistic expectations and unhealthy attachments in their fans. He is now urging them to leave the girl alone, knowing that the music alone cannot satisfy her needs
She don't want help from you and me, Can't tell a note from a symphony
The girl is not seeking the singer's or anyone else's intervention to resolve her obsessive feelings. The singer is acknowledging that the girl's immature attachment is not based on real understanding or connection to the music
Odorono, Could have saved her day, could have helped her to get the part
Odorono is a reference to a deodorant that the girl in the song is using, suggesting that she is trying to make herself more attractive to the singer, but it did not help her get closer or be noticed
And he would have stayed, and helped her to save her heart
The singer is contemplating how he could have helped the girl save herself from heartbreak, had he been more attentive to her and her struggles
Save her heart
The singer is urging himself and others to be more mindful of their fans' emotions and well-being, especially those who may be struggling with unhealthy infatuations
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEITH MOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cara
Probably one of my favorite songs because it means something to me and keith sings it.
flagemdown66
Keith Moon song written and sung by Keith Moon along with John Entwistle as they did on "In The City" and "We Close Tonight"
Michael Kent
What a brilliant song!! So charming and fresh.
Rajah O'bagal
gorgeous, from a truly gorgeous album (The Who Sell Out)
thereagauze
I never heard this song until today, it's not on Odds & Sods unless it's some later reissue CD or something.
Rajah O'bagal
Odds & Sods yes i used to have it
Alan Elam
+Rajah O'bagal One of many tracks they cut during the sessions for TWSO that were left off the original album, which were released later on the "Odds & Sods" compilation, and as bonus tracks on later CD reissues of TWSO.
lyonslaforet
Another gem from the Who!
ystrianka
i love the solo.love you pete, keith, john and roger!!! :D
Jack Wells
Great song. Makes me feel good.