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.
Music Must Change
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every feeling I get from the street says it soon could be found
When I hear the cold lies of the pusher, I know it exists
It's confirmed in the eyes of the kids, emphasized with their fists
But the high has to rise from the low
Like volcanoes explode through the snow
The mosquito's sting brings a dream
The music must change
For we're chewing a bone
We soared like the sparrow hawk flied
Then we dropped like a stone
Like the tide and the waves
Growing slowly in range
Crushing mountains as old as the Earth
So the music must change
Sometimes at night, I wake up and my body's like ice
The sound of the running wild stallion, the noise of the mice
And I wondered if then I could hear into all of your dreams
I realize now it was really the sound of your screams
But death always leads into life
But the street fighter swallows the knife
Am I so crazy to feel that it's here prearranged?
The music must change
It's gets higher and higher
Smoldering like leaves in the 1
Then it bursts into fire
Its rhythm grows strong
It's so new and so strange
Like bells in the clouds, then again
The music must change
But is this song so different?
Am I doing it all again?
It may have been done before
But then music's an open door
Deep in the back of my is an unrealized sound
Every feeling I get from the street says it soon could be found
When I hear the cold lies of the pusher, I know it exists
It's confirmed in the eyes of the kids, emphasized with their fists
But the high has to rise from the low
Like volcanoes explode through the snow
The mosquito's sting brings a dream
But the poison's derange
The music must change
For we're chewing a bone
We soared like the sparrow hawk flied
Then we dropped like a stone
Like the tide and the waves
Growing slowly in range
Crushing mountains as old as the Earth
So the music must change
The Who's song "Music Must Change" addresses the need for change in music, which is reflective of the societal changes and upheavals of the 1970s. The opening lines suggest that the songwriter is aware of something great and unheard in the back of their mind, and this anticipation is realized in the sound of the streets. The reference to the pusher's lies and the fists of the young people emphasize the need for change, but this change cannot happen without the highs and lows required by creative processes. The refrain, "The Music Must Change," serves as a reminder that change, albeit uncomfortable and chaotic, is necessary for pushing society forward.
The middle section of the song suggests that change will come from within, and the music will continue to evolve and change with the times. The idea of death leading to life, and the street fighter swallowing the knife, suggests that even though people may be struggling with their own darkness, they will find a way to push through and create something new. The writer acknowledges their own feelings of anxiety and fear, but eventually realizes that this is simply a part of the creative process.
The final verse questions whether this new music is really so different from what has come before, but ultimately acknowledges that music is an ever-evolving art form that will continue to change and grow. The repeated verses, combined with the emphasis on "The Music Must Change," drive home the importance of embracing change, even when it is uncomfortable and uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep in the back of my mind is an unrealized sound
There's a sound I can't quite put my finger on in my mind, but I know it's there.
Every feeling I get from the street says it soon could be found
The vibe I get from the city streets tells me that the sound I'm looking for is close by.
When I hear the cold lies of the pusher, I know it exists
Despite the lies and manipulation of drug dealers, I know the sound I'm searching for is real.
It's confirmed in the eyes of the kids, emphasized with their fists
The youth I see around me confirm that this music is real and important, and they express it with passion.
But the high has to rise from the low
Like volcanoes explode through the snow
The mosquito's sting brings a dream
But the poison's derange
Great art and creativity often arise from difficult or painful experiences, but it takes careful management to avoid destructive tendencies.
The music must change
For we're chewing a bone
We soared like the sparrow hawk flied
Then we dropped like a stone
Like the tide and the waves
Growing slowly in range
Crushing mountains as old as the Earth
So the music must change
Music, like life, is constantly changing and evolving, and we must adapt to stay relevant and vibrant. We've had our highs and lows, but we need to keep moving forward and crushing obstacles.
Sometimes at night, I wake up and my body's like ice
The sound of the running wild stallion, the noise of the mice
And I wondered if then I could hear into all of your dreams
I realize now it was really the sound of your screams
Sometimes in the darkness, I feel disconnected and fearful, but I wonder if I can tap into the fears and dreams of others. I now realize that the sounds I hear are actually the cries of those in pain.
But death always leads into life
But the street fighter swallows the knife
Am I so crazy to feel that it's here prearranged?
Even in the midst of death and destruction, new life and hope can emerge. Even though the danger is real, I can't help feeling that everything happens for a reason.
The music must change
It's gets higher and higher
Smoldering like leaves in the 1
Then it bursts into fire
Its rhythm grows strong
It's so new and so strange
Like bells in the clouds, then again
The music must change
The music we create must continue to evolve and grow, moving to new heights and bursting forth with energy. It may be unfamiliar and strange, but it's essential for our survival and progress.
But is this song so different?
Am I doing it all again?
It may have been done before
But then music's an open door
I wonder if this new music I'm creating is really that different from what's come before. Maybe I'm just repeating the past. But in the end, music is always open to new possibilities and interpretations.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: PETE TOWNSHEND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ROB-IN-PHILLY
Deep in the back of my mind is an unrealized sound
Every feeling I get from the street says it soon could be found
When I hear the cold lies of the pusher, I know it exists
It's confirmed in the eyes of the kids, emphasized with their fists
But the high has to rise from the low
Like volcanoes explode through the snow
The mosquito's sting brings a dream
But the poisons derange
The music must change
For we're chewing a bone
We soared like the sparrow hawk flied
Then we dropped like a stone
Like the tide and the waves
Growing slowly in range
Crushing mountains as old as the Earth
So the music must change
Sometimes at night, I wake up and my body's like ice
The sound of the running wild stallion, the noise of the mice
And I wondered if then I could hear into all of your dreams
I realize now it was really the sound of your screams
But death always leads into life
But the street fighter swallows the knife
Am I so crazy to feel that it's here prearranged?
The music must change
It's gets higher and higher
Smouldering like leaves in the 1
Then it bursts into fire
Its rhythm grows strong
It's so new and so strange
Like bells in the clouds, then again
The music must change
But is this song so different?
Am I doing it all again?
It may have been done before
But then music's an open door
Deep in the back of my is an unrealized sound
Every feeling I get from the street says it soon could be found
When I hear the cold lies of the pusher, I know it exists
It's confirmed in the eyes of the kids, emphasized with their fists
But the high has to rise from the low
Like volcanoes explode through the snow
The mosquito's sting brings a dream
But the poison's derange
The music must change
For we're chewing a bone
We soared like the sparrow hawk flied
Then we dropped like a stone
Like the tide and the waves
Growing slowly in range
Crushing mountains as old as the Earth
So the music must change
Daniel Ruback
Holy shit, I forgot how fucking much I love this song. The sound of Petes guitar touches my soul. Daltry is masterful with his delivery, and the lyrics, holy Moses the lyrics. First time I saw these guys was in the seventies in the Philly Spectrum with Keith Moon. Changed my entire life, even till this day. Thank you guys for all the great music you have given me.
Arthur F. Scaltrito
Saw them three times there.
1) Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Who 71
2) The Who 75
3) 1980 right after the Cincinnati Tragedy
All Philadelphia Spectrum
chrisradano
This album had it's distinctive, recognizable, and very pleasing sound! Difficult to describe in words, but this album nailed a feeling!
JohnnyX Music
The crisp synths and crackerjack production.
david johanson
First Album i actually paid for in 1982. was young, the song Who are you on the radio made me wanna check them out. big fan.
ltyr2002
Roger Daltrey is my favorite rock singer.
TrainInVain
+ltyr2002 This is one of his best performances for sure
wannababrit
So theatrical, with so many interesting changes. Smoky jazz, Broadway, blues; Pete never ceases to amaze.
sal economos
Agree...Lots of moving parts here musically. Truly a perfect Who song from Pete off of their last exceptional LP ....IMHO.
townshendshean
I've always felt exactly the same way about this song...it's off the charts...GREAT!