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.
Goin' Down
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down, down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down
Down, down, down, down, down
I've got my head out the window
And my bare feet on the ground
She's gone
She's gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
I've got my head out the window
And my bare feet on the ground
I'm goin' down
Down, down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down
I've got my head out the window
And my bare feet on the ground
The Who's song "Goin' Down" is a rock anthem about heartbreak and the feeling of helplessness that comes with it. The repeated choruses of "I'm goin' down" and "She's gone" underscore the intensity of the singer's despair. The verses themselves provide a vivid image of the physicality of his pain: his head sticking out the window and his bare feet on the ground suggest a restless, pent-up energy that he can't contain. These images also convey a sense of being untethered, as if he's adrift and at the mercy of his emotions.
The song's minimalistic structure and repetitive lyrics give it an almost hypnotic quality, reinforcing the sense of being trapped in a cycle of pain and frustration. There's a sense that the singer is trapped in his own head, unable to escape the thoughts and memories that torment him. One could interpret his physical restlessness as an attempt to break free from that mental prison, but ultimately he remains stuck in place.
In many ways, "Goin' Down" is a quintessential rock song, with its raw energy, driving beat, and unvarnished emotion. It's a testament to the enduring appeal of the genre and its ability to capture the intense, chaotic, and often contradictory emotions of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm goin' down
The singer is feeling low and defeated and is expressing that by saying they are going down
Down, down, down, down, down
The repeated use of 'down' emphasizes the singer's feeling of falling or sinking
I've got my head out the window
The singer is possibly seeking fresh air or trying to clear their head and escape their current situation
And my bare feet on the ground
Having bare feet on the ground may signify vulnerability or being grounded in reality
She's gone
The artist is mourning the loss of someone or something important to them
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
The repetition of 'gone' emphasizes the finality of the loss and the depth of the singer's feelings
I'm goin' down
Again, the singer reiterates their feeling of defeat
I've got my head out the window
The artist is still seeking escape or a change of perspective
And my bare feet on the ground
The artist is still grounded in the reality of their situation, despite their desire to escape
Contributed by Isaac F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zach Wolfer
Bought this record without knowing this song was on it but wholey shit this is one of the best songs The Who have. I don't care if it is a cover or anything this song really captures the energy The Who has live. highly recomend The Who's Next, just for this song alone. Nothing like some good old classic rock!
Dissident Aggressor
This song is from The Who's performance at the Civic Center in San Francisco on December 13th, 1971.
Daniel Golus
This Dec 13, 1971 concert was a stunning show. The band was on fire this day. Better than they were the day before also in San Francisco. The Dec 13 concert was professionally recorded, but only a few songs from it have since been properly released - like this one - bit-by-bit, over the decades. I dont know why the band hasnt released the entire concert, which, in my opinion, is better than their great Live At Leeds 1970 concert. Meanwhile, bootlegs have been released (of most) of the entire show, but it's an audience recording. Not so good fidelity-wise. But you do hear how great they were that day!
raydarable
Thanks!
lipiarski steve
Pete Townshend remarked as much in footage from 1971 used in “The Kids Are Alright”: “We'd realised the end of our tether...we'd reached it. We'd come upon the point when...the... (Breaks out with wild flailing gestures and swooping noises) ...nosebleeds and all that, are no good. We can't go on doing that. It’s no good...uh... It's beyond the beyond.” 2
Dan Pagan
wish they'd release this concert ...legit!! no boot!
F. Lavoie
My absolute teenage fixture. What about shock when I realized most of the song was John Entwistle hacking away at the song instinctively.
annadalestrider
awesome
Eugene
i like it. Very indulgent
Ryan Buckley
Best re-make of This song!