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 Reach You
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A million years behind you, too
A thousand miles up in the air
A trillion times I've seen you there
Your hair is golden, mine is grey
You walk on grass, it turns to hay
Your blood is blue and your eyes are red
I can't reach you
I've strained my eyes
I can't reach you
I've split my sides
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
The distances grow greater now
You drink champagne and past me plow
You fly your plane right over my head
You're so alive and I'm nearly dead
I can't reach you
With arms outstretched
I can't reach you
I crane my neck
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
Once I caught a glimpse
Of your unguarded, untouched heart
Our fingertips touched and then
My mind tore us apart
I can't reach you
With arms outstretched
I can't reach you
I crane my neck
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
I can't reach you
With arms outstretched
I can't reach you
I crane my neck
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
The lyrics to The Who's song "I Can't Reach You" speak to the distance that can exist between two people, despite their close proximity. The singer describes themselves as being a million ages past and a million years behind the person they are addressing. They long to connect with them, to see, feel, or hear from them, but they feel as though they are out of reach. The imagery in the song is striking, with lines like "Your hair is golden, mine is grey" and "You drink champagne and past me plow," illustrating the stark contrast between the two individuals.
The frustration of the singer is palpable, as they strain their eyes, split their sides, and crane their neck in an attempt to reach the other person. However, despite their efforts, they remain unable to connect with them. The song suggests that sometimes, despite our best efforts, we may be unable to understand or reach another person, even if we long to do so.
The final verse of the song offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer reminisces about a moment of connection they shared with the other person. They caught a glimpse of their unguarded, untouched heart and touched fingertips, but ultimately their minds tore them apart. This verse suggests that there may be moments of connection even between people who feel out of reach, but that these moments may be fleeting.
Overall, "I Can't Reach You" speaks to the universal longing for connection and the frustration that can arise when we feel unable to connect with others, even if we are physically close to them.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a million ages past you
I am far beyond you in time and experience
A million years behind you, too
I am also far behind you in time and experience
A thousand miles up in the air
I am so far removed from you in distance
A trillion times I've seen you there
I have seen you countless times from afar
Your hair is golden, mine is grey
You are youthful and vibrant, while I am old and worn
You walk on grass, it turns to hay
Your very presence transforms things into something mundane and everyday
Your blood is blue and your eyes are red
You are otherworldly and not of this world
My body strains, but the nerves are dead
I am physically incapable of expressing myself to you
I can't reach you
I've strained my eyes
I can't reach you
I've split my sides
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
I am desperate to connect with you, but I am unable to in any way
The distances grow greater now
The divide between us continues to increase over time
You drink champagne and past me plow
You live a life of luxury that is far beyond my reach
You fly your plane right over my head
You are soaring higher and higher while I am still rooted in place
You're so alive and I'm nearly dead
You have vitality and energy, while I am tired and worn out
Once I caught a glimpse
Of your unguarded, untouched heart
Our fingertips touched and then
My mind tore us apart
I briefly saw a glimpse of the real you, and that made me realize how unattainable you truly are
I can't reach you
With arms outstretched
I can't reach you
I crane my neck
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
Despite my efforts, I am unable to get through to you, and it is frustrating and painful
I can't reach you
With arms outstretched
I can't reach you
I crane my neck
I can't reach, tryin' to get on you, see, feel or hear from you
I am still unable to get through to you, and the pain and frustration continue
Lyrics © ABCKO MUSIC, INC.
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.