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 Can't Explain
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a certain kind (can't explain)
I feel hot and cold (can't explain)
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (can't explain)
I said (can't explain)
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (can't explain)
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means, but
Can't explain
I think it's love
Try to say it to you
When I feel blue
But I can't explain (can't explain)
Yeah, hear what I'm saying, girl (can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling bad
The things you've said have got me real mad
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means but
Can't explain
I think it's love
Try to say it to you
When I feel blue
But I can't explain (can't explain)
Forgive me one more time, now (can't explain)
(Ooh) I said I can't explain, yeah
(Ooh) you drive me out of my mind
(Ooh) yeah, I'm the worrying kind, babe
(Ooh) I said I can't explain
The lyrics of The Who's song "I Can't Explain" are about a person who is experiencing an intense emotional feeling towards someone else, but they are unable to articulate it. He describes feeling "dizzy in the head and feeling blue" and having "funny dreams again and again." The singer seems to be struggling to come to terms with his feelings, and he is unable to explain them to the person he loves. He also describes feeling hot and cold, which could symbolize his confusion and indecisiveness about how to act on his feelings. Despite all of this, he feels good at times, indicating that the feelings may be positive overall.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a feeling inside (can't explain)
I have a strong emotion that I can't describe.
It's a certain kind (can't explain)
It's a unique feeling that I can't identify.
I feel hot and cold (can't explain)
My emotions are intense and conflicting.
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (can't explain)
I feel this deeply and it's coming from a place within me.
I said (can't explain)
I've already mentioned that I can't describe it.
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (can't explain)
Although I feel good, I still can't explain this feeling.
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling blue
I'm feeling disoriented and sad.
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
Perhaps the things you've said are accurate.
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I keep having strange dreams.
I know what it means, but
I know the meaning but I still can't explain it with words.
Can't explain
I can't put this feeling into words.
I think it's love
I have a suspicion that it's love.
Try to say it to you
I'm attempting to communicate this feeling to you.
When I feel blue
I feel this the most when I'm sad.
Forgive me one more time, now (can't explain)
Please excuse my inability to articulate this feeling.
(Ooh) I said I can't explain, yeah
I know I keep repeating myself but I still can't describe it.
(Ooh) you drive me out of my mind
You make me feel crazy with these emotions.
(Ooh) yeah, I'm the worrying kind, babe
I'm naturally anxious about this feeling.
(Ooh) I said I can't explain
I can't stress enough how difficult it is to describe this feeling.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pinkfloydandsydbarretttour5569
I know exactly where I was on Friday, 29th January 1965. I was watching the TV show Ready Steady Go! I was sitting in an armchair in my parent's lounge about eight feet from the TV screen. Cathy McGowan introduced a new group called The Who. When the TV cameraman did a close-up of Pete Townsend hitting the first chord of 'I Can't Explain' with his windmill arm, within half a second I was six inches from the TV and stayed glued to the spot for the next two and a half minutes. That was my first taste of The Who and they remain my favourite band to this day.
@stonecoggins107
Gotta love John Entwistle knocking out these ridiculous bass riffs with no emotion on his face
@iloveMRKO
Stone Coggins
No matter how he looks, he can’t stop this song from having exciting energy
@billrana2373
Because he was best bassist ever ...effortless
@joefriedman9843
@@billrana2373 Him and Moon is the best bass drummer duo ever
@returnofthebrotha
@@billrana2373 Nah.
@James-ch7uy
He was a badass
@donkeeton7897
These guys literally formed a band as teenagers and spent most of their lives together.
@hugejohnson5011
Ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies. Yes, and even later in life, when "The Ox" was putting touring bands together, and spending more to play than they took in, the other two would try to help him out. Friends until the end. I will cry when the next one goes, if I'm even still here!
I won't be sad for whichever one of them goes, but my heart will ache for the one left behind.
@jonathanhadley2555
Pete Meaden R.I.P