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.
Let's See Action
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
Let's see who cares
Take me with you
When you leave me
And my shell behind us there
I have learned it
Known who burned me
Avatar has warmed my feet
Take me with you
Let me see you
Time and life can meet
Nothing is
Everything
Everything is
Nothing is
Please the people
Audiences
Break the fences
Nothing is
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
In the air
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's be free
Let's see who cares
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
In the air
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's be free
Let's see who cares
Give me a drink boy, wash my feet
I'm so tired of running from my own heat
Take this package and here's what you do
Gonna get this information through
I don't know where I'm going
I don't know what I need
But I'll get to where I'm gonna end up
And that's alright by me
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
In the air
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's be free
And see who cares
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's see freedom
In the air
Let's see action
Let's see people
Let's be free
Let's see who cares
Nothing, nothing, nothing
Every, every, every, every
Every, every, every, every
Nothing, nothing, nothing
Nothing, nothing, every
The lyrics of The Who's song "Let's See Action" call for action and freedom. The verses focus on the desire to see people and everything stripped down to their barest essence, without the usual trappings and expectations placed on them. The chorus repeats the call for action and freedom, urging listeners to join in the quest to see who truly cares about making a change.
The lyrics suggest a sense of disillusionment with the status quo and a yearning for something more significant. The lines "I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what I need, but I'll get to where I'm gonna end up, and that's alright by me" encapsulate the urgency and uncertainty of the search for meaning and purpose.
Overall, "Let's See Action" is a call to arms, urging people to break down barriers, ignore conventions, and fight for a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's see action
Let's take action and make a real impact
Let's see people
Let's focus on the people involved and their needs
Let's see freedom
Let's work towards a vision of true freedom
Let's see who cares
Let's find out who truly cares about making a difference
Take me with you
Let me join you in making change happen
When you leave me
After you're gone and I'm left behind
And my shell behind us there
And my former self is left behind as we move forward
I have learned it
I have gained knowledge from past experiences
Known who burned me
I know who has hurt me in the past
Avatar has warmed my feet
A helpful guide or mentor has given me comfort and support
Let me see you
Let me witness firsthand the change you're making
Time and life can meet
The present moment is an opportunity to make a difference
Nothing is
All our ideas and beliefs can be discarded or reimagined
Everything
The possibilities are endless
Please the people
Make sure those you're helping are truly benefiting
Audiences
Those who are watching or listening to our efforts
Break the fences
Eliminate barriers that prevent people from achieving their goals
In the air
A sense of possibility and excitement
Give me a drink boy, wash my feet
Provide me with comfort and care so I can continue to make a difference
I'm so tired of running from my own heat
I'm exhausted from trying to achieve my own personal goals
Take this package and here's what you do
Accept this information and use it to help others
Gonna get this information through
Will make sure this information is accepted and believed
I don't know where I'm going
I'm uncertain of what the future holds
I don't know what I need
I'm unsure of what I require to make a difference
But I'll get to where I'm gonna end up
I'm confident that my efforts will lead to my intended destination
And that's alright by me
And I'll be content with where I end up
Nothing, nothing, nothing
Our previous assumptions and beliefs are no longer valid
Every, every, every, every
But new possibilities and opportunities exist at every turn
Nothing, nothing, every
We have to be willing to discard old ideas and embrace new ones
Lyrics © ABKCO 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.