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.
See My Way
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To make you see my way
Even if you don't think like I do
You know that it's true
It's your mind that I seek
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
To make you see my way
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
You see my way
The lyrics to The Who's "See My Way" suggest a relationship, possibly romantic, with one person struggling to get the other to understand their way of thinking. The main message is that the singer will keep trying to make the other person see things from their perspective, even if it takes a long time. The line "It's your mind that I seek" highlights the desire to connect with the other person on a deeper level, intellectually and emotionally.
The song also touches on the frustrations that come with this kind of communication breakdown. The line "Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad" refers to the other person's attempts to discredit the singer's opinions and ideas. The singer may have doubted their own sanity at times ("I thought that I was mad"), but they ultimately stand their ground and refuse to be swayed from their convictions.
The chorus of "Come back when you see my way" serves as both a plea and a threat. It implies that the singer won't give up until the other person understands them, but also leaves the door open for reconciliation. The song is ultimately about the persistence of human connection, even when it seems impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
I'll find a way to make you understand my perspective someday
To make you see my way
To make you see things from my point of view
Even if you don't think like I do
Even if you don't share my beliefs or opinions
You know that it's true
You know my intentions are genuine
It's your mind that I seek
I'm trying to change your perception and mindset
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
You tried to convince me that my opinions were wrong
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
Your persistence made me doubt my sanity
I'm glad it's goodbye
I'm relieved it's over
You don't have to ask why
No explanation is needed
Come back another day
When we're both feeling different about this topic
Come back when you see my way
Come back when you understand my perspective
You see my way
You have finally come to understand what I was saying
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ROGER DALTRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jenn prickly
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
To make you see my way
Even if you don't think like I do
You know that it's true
It's your mind that I seek
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
To make you see my way
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
You see my way
Alexander Mendoza
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
Algún día, algún día encontraré una manera
To make you see my way
para hacerte tener mi punto de vista.
Even if you don't think like I do
Incluso si no piensas como yo,
You know that it's true
sabes que es verdad.
It's your mind that I seek
Es tu mente lo que busco,
Tried so hard to make me
me esfuerzo mucho en hacerme
think my point of view was bad
pensar que mi punto de vista estaba mal.
Although at times when you kept on
Aunque a veces, cuando seguías,
I thought that I was mad
pensé que estaba loco.
I'm glad it's goodbye
Me alegro de que sea el adiós,
You don't have to ask why
no tienes que preguntar por qué.
Come back another day
Regresa otro día,
Come back when you see my way
regresa cuando lo veas a mi manera,
You see my way
cuando lo veas a mi manera.
Tried so hard to make me
me esfuerzo mucho en hacerme
think my point of view was bad
pensar que mi punto de vista estaba mal.
Although at times when you kept on
Aunque a veces, cuando seguías,
I thought that I was mad
pensé que estaba loco.
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
Algún día, algún día encontraré una manera
To make you see my way
para hacerte tener mi punto de vista.
I'm glad it's goodbye
Me alegro de que sea el adiós,
You don't have to ask why
no tienes que preguntar por qué.
Come back another day
Regresa otro día,
Come back when you see my way
regresa cuando lo veas a mi manera,
You see my way
cuando lo veas a mi manera
Eric Laurence Glassman
I definitely hear the Buddy Holly influence in this song :) Is there anybody he didn't influence? Buddy Holly is the man!
Ian Archibald
To my knowledge, Roger Daltrey, and possibly Keith Moon were actual Holly fans. Not sure about Entwistle, however, correct if I'm wrong but I don't think Townsend was ever impressed with this.
Lia Mari
Great lyrics, great sound, great cardboard boxes!
jenn prickly
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
To make you see my way
Even if you don't think like I do
You know that it's true
It's your mind that I seek
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
Tried so hard to make me think my point of view was bad
Although at times when you kept on I thought that I was mad
Some way, some day, I'll find a way
To make you see my way
I'm glad it's goodbye
You don't have to ask why
Come back another day
Come back when you see my way
You see my way
You see my way
Andrew Whyte
The most democratic Who album. The cover has them each singing one of their own offerings on the record. Townshend revisited this 'fourness' aspect of the band with Quadrophenia, having already done so with I'm a Boy, the previous year to this one.
John Bickle
Love the artwork for this album
MeloLand
Wonderful song!
BM151
One of 4 songs Roger wrote... Keith is actually drumming on cardboard boxes here too, lol
J.J.Spliffstar
No he isn't. Those are drums.
Archie S
oildrums on my generation album