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.
Sally Simpson
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That Sally couldn't go to the meeting
He went on cleaning his blue Rolls Royce
And she ran inside weeping
She got to her room, and tears splashed the picture
Of the new Messiah
She picked up the book of her father's life
And threw it on the fire
She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart
But her mother said, "Never mind, your part
Is to be what you'll be"
The theme of the sermon was 'Come unto me,
And love will find a way',
So Sally decided to ignore her dad
And sneak out anyway
She spent all afternoon getting ready
And decided she'd try to touch him
Maybe he'd see that she was free
And talk to her this Sunday
She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart
But her mother said, "Never mind, your part
Is to be what you'll be"
She arrived at six, and the place was swinging
To gospel music by nine
Group after group appeared on the stage
And Sally just sat there crying
She bit her nails, looking pretty as a picture
Right in the very front row
And then a DJ wearing a blazer with a badge
Ran on and said, "Here we go!"
The crowd went crazy
As Tommy hit the stage
Little Sally got lost as the police bossed
The crowd back in a rage
Soon the atmosphere was cooler
As Tommy gave a lesson
Sally just had to let him know she loved him
And lept up on the rostrum
She ran across stage to the spotlit figure
And brushed him on the face
Tommy whirled around as a uniformed man
Threw her off the stage
She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart
But her mother said, "Never mind, your part
Is to be what you'll be"
Her cheek hit a chair and blood trickled down
Mingling with her tears
Tommy carried on preaching
And his voice filled Sally's ears
She caught his eye, she had to try
But he couldn't see through the lights
Her face was gashed, and the ambulance men
Had to carry her out that night
The crowd went crazy
As Tommy left the stage
Little Sally was lost for the price of a touch
And a gash across her face, oh
Sixteen stitches put her right, and her dad said
"Don't say I didn't warn you"
Sally got married to a rock musician
She met in California
Tommy always talks about the day
The disciples all went wild
Sally still carries a scar on her cheek
To remind her of his smile
She knew from the start
Deep down in her heart
That she and Tommy were worlds apart
But her mother said, "Never mind, your part
Is to be what you'll be"
The song "Sally Simpson" is a cautionary tale of a young girl who becomes obsessed with a rock star, Tommy. Sally is told by her father she cannot attend the concert to see Tommy, but she sneaks out anyway. Despite warnings from her father, Sally goes to the concert and tries to touch Tommy on stage. In her attempt to get closer to her idol, Sally is injured and the crowd goes wild.
The lyrics explore the themes of obsession, the power of music, and the consequences of reckless actions. Sally's father tries to protect her from the dangers of idolizing someone to the point of risking her safety. Sally, however, ignores his warnings and ultimately pays the price for her obsession.
The song also touches on the idea of individuality and fulfilling one's destiny. Sally's mother tells her to be who she wants to be, which conflicts with her father's attempts to keep her safe. In the end, Sally marries a rock musician, fulfilling her own desires despite the warnings and restrictions of others.
Overall, "Sally Simpson" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and recklessness, but also celebrates the idea of following one's own path and embracing individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Outside the house Mr. Simpson announced
Mr. Simpson told Sally that she cannot go to the meeting and kept cleaning his blue Rolls Royce outside.
That Sally couldn't go to the meeting
Sally was forbidden from attending the meeting.
He went on cleaning his blue Rolls Royce
Mr. Simpson continued washing his car while Sally ran inside crying.
And she ran inside weeping
Sally went inside the house and started crying.
She got to her room, and tears splashed the picture
Sally went to her room and cried so much that the tears fell on the picture of the new Messiah.
Of the new Messiah
The picture was of the new Messiah.
She picked up the book of her father's life
Sally took hold of the book about her father's life.
And threw it on the fire
Sally threw the book on the fire.
Deep down in her heart
Sally knew from the beginning that her and Tommy were very different.
That she and Tommy were worlds apart
Sally and Tommy were completely different.
But her mother said, "Never mind, your part
Is to be what you'll be"
Despite the differences between Tommy and Sally, Sally's mother advised her to be true to herself.
The theme of the sermon was 'Come unto me,
And love will find a way',
The theme of the sermon was to approach love to find a path forward.
So Sally decided to ignore her dad
And sneak out anyway
Sally decided to ignore her father's wishes and sneak out to the meeting.
She spent all afternoon getting ready
Sally spent the entire afternoon preparing for the meeting.
And decided she'd try to touch him
Sally decided to try and touch Tommy.
Maybe he'd see that she was free
Sally hoped that Tommy would notice her freedom.
And talk to her this Sunday
Sally hoped that she and Tommy could talk that Sunday.
She arrived at six, and the place was swinging
When Sally arrived at 6 PM, the meeting was in full swing.
To gospel music by nine
By nine PM, the music had shifted to gospel.
Group after group appeared on the stage
As the night went on, different groups appeared on stage.
And Sally just sat there crying
Sally sat in the front row and cried through the meeting.
She bit her nails, looking pretty as a picture
Sally nervously bit her nails but still looked beautiful.
Right in the very front row
Sally sat in the very front row.
And then a DJ wearing a blazer with a badge
A DJ with a badge on his blazer appeared on stage.
As Tommy hit the stage
Tommy went on stage and the crowd became excited.
Little Sally got lost as the police bossed
The crowd back in a rage
The police forced the crowd back and Sally got lost in the confusion.
Soon the atmosphere was cooler
After some time, the atmosphere calmed down.
As Tommy gave a lesson
Tommy began his sermon.
Sally just had to let him know she loved him
Sally felt that she had to tell Tommy that she loved him.
And lept up on the rostrum
Sally jumped onto the stage.
She ran across stage to the spotlit figure
Sally ran across the stage to where Tommy was standing in the spotlight.
And brushed him on the face
She brushed Tommy on the face.
Tommy whirled around as a uniformed man
Threw her off the stage
A uniformed man threw Sally off the stage, causing Tommy to turn around.
Her cheek hit a chair and blood trickled down
Sally hit her cheek on a chair and it started to bleed.
Mingling with her tears
Her tears mixed with the blood as she cried.
And his voice filled Sally's ears
Even as Sally was injured, she could still hear Tommy's voice.
She caught his eye, she had to try
Sally saw Tommy's eyes and still wanted to try to get closer.
But he couldn't see through the lights
Tommy could not see Sally because of the bright stage lights.
Her face was gashed, and the ambulance men
Had to carry her out that night
Sally was wounded and had to be carried out by ambulance that night.
Sixteen stitches put her right, and her dad said
"Don't say I didn't warn you"
Sally had 16 stitches to heal the wound, and her father reminded her that he had warned her earlier.
Sally got married to a rock musician
She met in California
Sally married a rock musician she met in California.
Tommy always talks about the day
The disciples all went wild
Tommy still talks about the day the disciples were ecstatic.
Sally still carries a scar on her cheek
To remind her of his smile
Sally still has a scar on her cheek that reminds her of Tommy's smile.
Lyrics © ABKCO MUSIC INC PETE TOWNSHEND CATALOG , FABULOUS MUSIC LTD , SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
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.