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.
Much Too Much
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got too much to lose
I built a castle for myself
I let the walls down for you
But it's too much
I got too much to lose
I finally found myself
I can't lose her to you
Think its too much
Think its too much
[Way too much]
Think its too much
Think its too much
Think its too much
I want to have raw sex and make bad decisions
But there's some things I just can't do
I knew you weren't him but I still envision
A fairytale life if I could change you
We could be passport tripping
Ain't nothing different
Doing what we want to do
But we outside flipping
Ain't nothing different
Hate we bout to do
(And it's)
Too much
I got to much to lose
I built a castle for myself
I let the walls down for you
But it's too much
I got too much to lose
I finally found myself, I can't lose her to you
Think its too much
Think its too much
Think its too much
[Way too much]
Think its too much
Think its too much
Think its too much
Don't control me, you control your emotions
But there's some things we just can't do
You the leader but your mind never focused
Living lies instead growing in truth
We could be passport tripping
Ain't nothing different
Doing what we want to do
But we outside flipping
Ain't nothing different
Hate we bout to do
(And its)
Too much
I got to much to lose
I built castle for myself
I Let the walls down for you
But Its to much
I got too much to lose
And I finally found myself, I can't lose her to you
The Who’s song Much Too Much, released in 1965 on their debut album “The Who Sings My Generation,” explores the theme of sensory overload and the consequences it can have on one’s emotional and psychological well-being. The opening verse suggests that the singer has experienced and witnessed a lot in his life but questions if it has been too much for him to handle. This is evident in the repetition of the phrase “I don’t know,” highlighting the singer’s uncertainty and confusion.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer’s mental state. The line “searching, trying to find the crutch” suggests that the singer is searching for a coping mechanism to deal with the emotional and sensory overload they are experiencing. The lines “this time, it’s bled a bit too much” indicates that the singer’s emotional state has reached a critical point and they can no longer suppress their feelings.
The chorus reiterates the theme of excess, with the line “too much of anything is too much for me,” providing a clear message that the singer needs to find balance in their life. The song ends on a poignant note with the repetition of the opening verse and the sense of uncertainty and confusion that it conveys. The simple structure of the song and the use of repetition powerfully conveys the singer’s sense of overwhelm and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
I think these hands have felt a lot
I have experienced a lot in my life, physically.
I don't know, what have I touched?
I don't know if I have touched too much or if what I have touched was good or bad.
I think these eyes have seen a lot
I have experienced a lot in my life, visually.
I don't know, maybe they've seen too much
I don't know if what I have seen was good or bad, but maybe it was too much to handle.
I think this brain has thought a lot
I have spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting.
Searching, trying to find the crutch
I have been searching for a support or solution to my problems.
I think this heart has bled once too often
I have experienced emotional pain and heartbreak too many times.
This time, it's bled a bit too much
This particular instance of heartbreak has been particularly difficult to handle.
Too much of anything is too much for me
I cannot handle an excess of anything in my life.
Too much of everything gets too much for me
Even an excess of good things can be overwhelming for me.
I can't remember before '49
I cannot remember much from before the year 1949.
But I know '48 was there
I know that the year 1948 existed.
My ears let in what I should speak out
I hear things that I should share with others or speak up about.
Mmm, there's something in the air
I feel like there is something significant or important happening around me.
I've overloaded on my way
I have had too much to deal with on my journey through life so far.
Bye bye, you better keep in touch
Goodbye, please make sure to stay in contact with me.
I think your ears hear a whole lot of music
You have a lot of experiences and emotions in your life.
And like me, you've heard a bit too much
Just like me, sometimes too much of a good or bad thing can be overwhelming for you.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Scribbles Who
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.