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.
Love Reign Over Me
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can make it rain
The way the beach is kissed by the sea.
Only love
Can make it rain
Like the sweat of lovers'
Laying in the fields.
Love, reign o'er me, rain on me.
Only love
Can bring the rain
That makes you yearn to the sky.
Only love
Can bring the rain
That falls like tears from on high.
Love reign O'er me.
On the dry and dusty road
The nights we spend apart alone
I need to get back home to cool cool rain.
The nights are hot and black as ink
I can't sleep and I lay and I think
Oh God, I need a drink of cool cool rain.
Love Reign Over Me by The Who is a song that explores the complexity of love and how it can bring people together, even in the midst of difficult times. The opening lines of the song, "Only love can make it rain, the way the beach is kissed by the sea," highlight the power of love to bring about change in the world. The comparison to the sea kissing the beach is a metaphor for the way that love can bring two opposite things together, much like the sea and the shore.
The chorus of the song, "Love reigns over me," emphasizes the idea that love has the power to reign over the world and bring about positive changes. The repetition of the phrase further emphasizes the importance of love and how it can make a difference in people's lives. The verse "On the dry and dusty road, the nights we spend apart alone, I need to get back home to cool cool rain," represents the longing for love that people often feel when they are away from those they care about. The rain represents the relief that love can provide in times of despair and the hope that it brings when things seem hopeless.
Line by Line Meaning
Only love
Love is the only thing that has the power to bring about change.
Can make it rain
Love has the power to transform the world around us.
The way the beach is kissed by the sea.
Just as the sea touches the shore, love has the ability to bring people together.
Like the sweat of lovers',
Intense love and passion can be felt through every part of our being.
Laying in the fields.
Problems fade away when we give ourselves to love and simply exist alongside someone.
Love, reign o'er me.
May love command my presence and thoughts in all that I do.
Love, reign o'er me, rain on me.
May love's influence come upon me like a refreshing rain shower.
Only love
Love is the only thing that can satisfy our deep longing for meaning.
Can bring the rain
Love can bring refreshment to our weary souls.
That makes you yearn to the sky.
Love inspires us to reach for greater heights and aspire to more.
That falls like tears from on high.
Love can heal our deepest wounds and bring us a sense of deep comfort.
Love reign O'er me.
May love be the guiding force in my life, leading me towards what is best.
On the dry and dusty road
Life can be challenging sometimes, and we may feel parched and weary.
The nights we spend apart alone
Being separated from our loved ones can be a lonely and difficult experience.
I need to get back home to cool cool rain.
We long to be back with the ones we love, and to feel their cool, refreshing presence.
The nights are hot and black as ink
Without love, even the darkest nights are oppressive and suffocating.
I can't sleep and I lay and I think
When love is absent, our thoughts can become obsessive and all-consuming.
Oh God, I need a drink of cool cool rain.
The deepest longing of our hearts is to be refreshed and renewed by the love of those we care about.
Lyrics © ABKCO MUSIC INC PETE TOWNSHEND CATALOG , FABULOUS MUSIC LTD , SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Written by: PETE TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@deniseelliott7776
If you are listening to this in 2024, I pray that LOVE is REIGNING OVER YOU!
@moonflower2772
Such a great wish thanks
@kristlepickles
Thank you! I wish the same for you!
@elenacaddell3639
Amen💖👍And to you too🙏
@moscowgonzo4721
Thank you!
Wish to get my love back.
@BRO77TX
I’d like for it to rain on me some day…TRUE unconditional LOVE!!
@paulbailey5751
I'm an old man now, and grew up on the who, but this, still to this day is such a beautiful tune
@rickmccloy4201
I'm an old guy too, 65, but when I am upset, this is the song that I turn to.
@gregginter5867
This song rocks me to my soul!
@mattwalker5129
Take a nappy pappy, and put a sock in it.