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.
God Speaks of Marty Robbins
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd been asleep forever
I opened one eye
'Twas then it was I
Got the whim to wake
And when the weight of space
Rolled like it was an ocean
Father and son
Watched the sunrise break
And as the ocean warmed
And from this dream we woke
One sang to greet the dawn
One pursed his lips and spoke
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear the music play
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear what the people say
I heard the heavens sing
Predicting Marty Robbins
I knew I'd find
Music and time
Were the perfect plan
I watched my son sail on
A little ship a-bobbin'
I had to grow
I needed to know
Exactly who I am
And as the ocean warmed
And from this dream we woke
One sang to greet the dawn
One pursed his lips and spoke
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear the music play
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear what the people say
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear the music play
Wake up and hear the music
Wake up and hear what the people say
The Who's song "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" is a contemplative reflection on the nature of creation, humility, and the power of music. The song begins with a mystical depiction of the moment of creation, with the singer awakening from an eternal slumber to witness the birth of the universe. The weight of space is compared to an ocean, and the interplay between father and son becomes a metaphor for the dawning of consciousness.
The singer hears the music of the spheres as the heavens sing, predicting the appearance of Marty Robbins, a legendary country singer. The song becomes a meditation on the spiritual power of music to awaken us from our slumber, to remind us of our place in the cosmos, and to connect us to others. The refrain, "Wake up and hear the music," urges us to be present and attentive to the world around us, to listen deeply and to respond with openness and compassion.
Overall, "God Speaks of Marty Robbins" is a poetic and philosophical exploration of the human condition, delivered with the urgency and passion that has made The Who one of the great rock bands of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
And when the world began
At the beginning of existence
I'd been asleep forever
I had been in a state of eternal sleep
I opened one eye
I began to perceive the world
'Twas then it was I
At that moment I
Got the whim to wake
Felt an urge to emerge from my state of slumber
And when the weight of space
As the enormity of the universe
Rolled like it was an ocean
Moved like an immense body of water
One became one
Father and son united
Father and son
Two beings of different generations
Watched the sunrise break
Observed the dawning of a new era
And as the ocean warmed
As time progressed
And from this dream we woke
And we became cognitively aware
One sang to greet the dawn
One communicated an expression of joy to celebrate the beginning of a new day
One pursed his lips and spoke
The other articulated a message
Wake up and hear the music
Be attentive and aware of the melodies surrounding you
Wake up and hear the music play
Listen to the rhythms and sounds of music being played
Wake up and hear what the people say
Pay attention to the words and ideas being communicated by others
I heard the heavens sing
I perceived a divine expression
Predicting Marty Robbins
Which was a premonition of an influential musician's arrival
I knew I'd find
I felt confident that I would discover
Music and time
The combination of the art of sound and the passage of time
Were the perfect plan
Were divinely arranged
I watched my son sail on
I observed my child embark on a journey
A little ship a-bobbin'
In a small boat that rocked rhythmically
I had to grow
I needed to develop
I needed to know
I had a desire to understand
Exactly who I am
My true identity
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: PETER DENNIS BLANDFOR 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.