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 Need You
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is what people tell you
That you're thinking wrong
Embrace you,
But they really mean 'So long'
You talk to them
They laugh aloud
In any crowd
Please talk to me again
I need you
We're dancing
We will come and dance near you
We want to learn
Let us come and sitar with you
Distort my ears when
The lyrics of "I Need You" by The Who are a declaration of love and dependence on a significant other. The song expresses the feeling of being incomplete without the presence of the beloved one. The Japanese verse adds to the romantic and passionate essence of the song, showcasing a feeling of warmth and protection. The lines "Please stay with me" and "I'll be with you" reinforces the idea of wanting to be together with the loved one, no matter what happens. The repetition of "I love you" in the chorus emphasizes the importance of the feeling of love and how it affects the individual.
The second verse denotes that the persona has been positively impacted by the presence of his/her partner, leading them to become more loving and caring towards others. The promise of being there through thick and thin is repeated again through the line, "the world could end, but my feelings for you will never change." It expresses the depth and magnitude of the love felt for the beloved one.
Overall, "I Need You" highlights the importance of love, affection, and companionship to an individual's emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.
The singer is expressing their love for someone and repeats it continuously for emphasis.
I NEED YOU.
The singer admits they require the other person in their life and cannot live without them.
I WANT YOU.
The singer reveals their desire and longing for the other person.
もう何も言わないで
The singer implores the other person to not say anything and just stay near them.
今 となりにいるだけ
Both the singer and their lover are content just being beside each other and do not need to communicate verbally.
二人は長い道のりを
The couple has been through many trials and obstacles in their relationship.
遠回りしてこうしてる
Despite the difficulties they've encountered, the couple is still together and happy.
ねえ あなたのぬくもり
The singer is grateful for the warmth and comfort provided by their lover's presence.
今 体に感じる
They can physically feel the other person's presence and it's reassuring.
このままいつも私だけ
The singer desires for their relationship to remain this way, with them being the only one by their lover's side.
離さずにこうしていて
The singer wants their lover to never let them go and hold them tight like this forever.
(Please Stay With Me)
The singer is begging their lover to stay with them and never leave their side.
大好き I LOVE YOU.
The singer reiterates their intense love and affection for their partner.
(My Darling)
The singer is addressing their lover with a term of endearment.
何度でも言える
The singer is expressing their desire to say 'I love you' to their lover countless times.
(I'm Fallin' Love)
The singer has fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with their partner.
今までの私を変えた
Their partner has changed them and their life in countless positive ways.
(Without Your Love)
The singer acknowledges that they would not be the person they are today without their lover's influence and love.
この頃私の顔 優しくなってきたの
The singer has noticed a positive change in themselves since they started their relationship.
友達増えて誰にでも
The singer has more friends now, but still believes their lover is the most important person in their life.
優しさを分けてあげれる
The singer has learned to be kind and share their warmth with others, but still reserves their deepest affections for their lover.
大切よあなただけ
The singer emphasizes how valuable and precious their lover is to them.
世界が滅んだって
No matter what happens in the world, their love for the other person will never die.
変わらずにずっとこの気持ち
The singer will always continue to feel this way, unwavering and unchanging.
(I'll Be With You)
The singer promises to always be by their lover's side.
何年たっても
Their love for their lover will last for years and years to come.
照れないで大きな声で
The singer encourages their lover to tell them their feelings passionately and without any hesitation.
心を込めて伝えるよ
The singer wants their lover to express their feelings for them with all their heart and genuine emotion.
どんなことでもできそうな
The singer feels capable of doing anything as long as their lover is with them and supporting them.
(I Love You So)
The singer loves their lover so much that they feel invigorated and filled with indescribable strength.
不思議な力わいてくる
Their love for each other gives them a mysterious and inexplicable power.
永遠に誓う I LOVE YOU.
The singer vows to love their partner eternally and unconditionally.
I NEED YOU.
The singer reiterates how much they need the other person to be with them always.
I WANT YOU.
The singer reiterates their desire and longing for the other person repeatedly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: KEITH MOON
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.