The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consi… Read Full Bio ↴The Who is an English rock band formed in 1964. Their classic line-up consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered one of the most influential rock bands of the 20th century, selling over 100 million records worldwide and holding a reputation for their live shows and studio work.

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.

I'm a Man
The Who Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now when I was a little boy 'bout the age of five
I had something in my pocket
Keep a lot of folks alive

Now I'm a man, I'm age twenty-one
You know baby, we can have a lotta fun
I'm a man, I spell, M A N
Man

All you pretty women, stand in line
I can make love to you baby, in an hour's time
I'm a man, spelled M A N
Man

I'm going back down to Kansas
To bring back the second cousin
Little John, the conqueroo
I'm a man, spelled M A N
Man

The line I shoot will never miss
The way I make love to 'em, they can't resist

I'm a man, I spell M A N
Man

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm a Man" by The Who is a rock and roll anthem that speaks about growing up and becoming a man. The first verse of the song speaks about how the singer had something in his pocket when he was a little boy that kept a lot of folks alive. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for a sense of purpose or duty that he has carried with him from his childhood. The second verse acknowledges that the singer is now a man at age 21 and is open to having a lot of fun. However, the chorus emphasizes the fact that he is a man and spells it out explicitly. The third verse talks about the singer going back to Kansas to bring back his second cousin, Little John, the conqueroo. The conqueroo is a traditional African American folklore figure who is said to have originated in the southeastern United States. The final verse talks about the singer's prowess with a gun and with women, emphasizing his confidence in himself and his abilities.

The lyrics of "I'm a Man" can be interpreted in a number of ways. On one level, the song can be seen as a celebration of masculinity and virility, as the singer boasts about his sexual prowess and physical strength. On another level, the song can be read as an ironic commentary on the limitations and expectations placed on men by society. The singer's insistence on spelling out the word "man" could be seen as a challenge to traditional, narrow definitions of what it means to be a man.

Line by Line Meaning

Now when I was a little boy 'bout the age of five
As a child of five, I had something so useful in my pocket that it was responsible for a lot of people's survival.

I'm a ManThe Who Lyrics

JJ

on Won't Get Fooled Again - Original Album Version

Philip Kassabian

on Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere

Philip Kassabian

on See Me, Feel Me

Philip Kassabian

on I Can't Explain

Philip Kassabian

on I Can See for Miles

Philip Kassabian

on My Generation

I'm a Man
The Who Lyrics