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.
Go To The Mirror Boy!
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tests I gave him show no sense at all.
His eyes react to light the dials detect it.
He hears but cannot answer to your call.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
All hope lies with him and none with me.
Imagine though the shock from isolation.
When he suddenly can hear and speak and see.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
His eyes can see
His ears can hear his lips speak
All the time the needles flick and rock.
No machine can give the kind of stimulation,
Needed to remove his inner block.
Go to the mirror boy!
Go to the mirror boy!
I often wonder what he's feeling.
Has he ever heard a word I've said?
Look at him now in the mirror dreaming
What is happening in his head?
Listening to you I get the music.
Gazing at you I get the heat
Following you I climb the mountain
I get excitement at your feet!
Right behind you I see the millions
On you I see the glory.
From you I get the opinions
From you I get the story.
What is happening in his head
Ooooh I wish I knew, I wish I knew
The Who's "Go to the Mirror Boy" portrays a young man who exhibits an unusual behavior, making him seem unreceptive to the world around him. The tests conducted on him show no sense at all, and he seems to hear but cannot react to anyone's call. The song describes his situation as one that needs a more elaborate solution, one that's not readily available. There is no chance for an untried operation, and all hope lies with him, and none with his caregivers. The song alludes to the use of needles (likely in some medical procedure) that aren't providing the desired stimulation to remove the man's inner block.
The song goes on to describe the man's eyes that can finally see, ears that can hear, and lips that can finally speak. The thought of being isolated for so long and suddenly having his senses switch on is startling. The chorus of the song ("See me, feel me, touch me, heal me") suggests that perhaps the man is the one singing the song, expressing a desire to reconnect with the world around him actively. The last lines of the song - "What is happening in his head/Ooooh I wish I knew, I wish I knew," convey the caregivers' curiosity and desperation to understand the man's state of mind and help him.
Line by Line Meaning
He seems to be completely unreceptive.
It appears as though he is unwilling to communicate or respond in any way.
The tests I gave him show no sense at all.
Based on the tests I administered, there is no logical explanation for his unresponsiveness.
His eyes react to light the dials detect it.
Although he is uncommunicative, his physiological responses indicate that he can still sense light.
He hears but cannot answer to your call.
Despite being able to hear, he is incapable of responding or acknowledging any calls for communication.
See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.
I want you to experience me as a whole, through all the senses, to heal me from my unresponsiveness.
There is no chance no untried operation.
There are no untested remedies or procedures that we can attempt to help him.
All hope lies with him and none with me.
Our last hope for recovery is that he will regain the ability to communicate on his own.
Imagine though the shock from isolation.
Consider the trauma and distress caused by being completely cut off from the world.
When he suddenly can hear and speak and see.
If he is able to suddenly regain his senses and ability to communicate, it could be a profound and life-changing experience.
His eyes can see
He has regained the ability to visually perceive his surroundings.
His ears can hear his lips speak
He is able to process auditory information and articulate speech himself.
All the time the needles flick and rock.
Throughout his recovery, medical devices are constantly monitoring and adjusting his treatment.
No machine can give the kind of stimulation,
The kind of stimulation he requires cannot be replicated by machines or technology.
Needed to remove his inner block.
The specific kind of stimulation he needs is necessary to overcome his mental and emotional barriers to communication.
Go to the mirror boy!
I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and really contemplate your own feelings and emotions.
I often wonder what he's feeling.
I am curious about his internal emotional state and what he might be experiencing.
Has he ever heard a word I've said?
I am unsure whether he has been able to understand anything I have said to him.
Look at him now in the mirror dreaming
I am observing him as he appears to be lost in his own thoughts and emotions while looking at himself in the mirror.
Listening to you I get the music.
When I hear you speak or sing, I experience a beautiful musical quality.
Gazing at you I get the heat
When I look at you, I feel a strong sense of emotional intensity or passion.
Following you I climb the mountain
By following you, I am inspired to overcome my own challenges and ascend to new heights.
I get excitement at your feet!
Being around you fills me with a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation.
Right behind you I see the millions
While following you, I am aware of the vast amount of people who are also following and admiring you.
On you I see the glory.
I see the majesty and impressive qualities that you possess.
From you I get the opinions
I am interested in your perspectives and beliefs.
From you I get the story.
I believe that hearing your story or experiences will bring me great insight or understanding.
What is happening in his head
I am still uncertain about what thoughts or emotions are occupying his mind.
Ooooh I wish I knew, I wish I knew
I genuinely desire to understand his inner world and perspective, but remain frustrated by my inability to do so.
Lyrics © ABKCO MUSIC INC PETE TOWNSHEND CATALOG , FABULOUS MUSIC LTD , SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Written by: PETER TOWNSHEND
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.