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.
Shakin' All Over / Spoonful / Twist & Shout
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And walk out in the air
The stars are all connected
To the brain
Find me a woman and lay down on the ground
Her pleasure comes fallin' down like rain
Get myself a car
I feel power as I fly
It all looks fine
To the naked eye!
But it don't really happen that way at all!
Don't happen that way at all!
You sign your own name
And I'll sign mine
They're both the same
We still get separate rooms
You can cover up your guts
But when you cover up your nuts
You're admittin' that there must be something wrong
Press any button
Milk and honey flow
The world begins behind your neighbor's wall
It all looks fine
To the naked eye!
But it don't really happen that way at all!
Don't happen that way at all!
You hold the gun
And I hold the wound
And we stand lookin' in each other's eyes
It all looks fine
To the naked eye!
But it don't really happen that way at all!
Don't happen that way at all!
The Who's Naked Eye is a song that speaks about the illusions and misconceptions that people have about power, pleasure, and control. Starting with the first verse, the lyrics suggest the use of drugs to heighten one's senses, and the singer attempts to dominate a woman, as he interprets her pleasure. The second verse contrasts the illusion of power and control, as the singer describes separation and the ineffectiveness of covering up one's flaws. The third verse is a metaphorical description of how people hurt each other in relationships, despite holding all the power and control, with one person holding the gun, and the other holding the wound.
The lines 'It all looks fine to the naked eye, but it don't really happen that way at all' are repeated throughout the song, emphasizing how the things that seem glamorous and desirable are often merely illusions. The singer seems to be aware that these illusions exist, and he wants to expose them by revealing the true struggles and vulnerabilities that lie beneath them. Overall, Naked Eye can be interpreted as a warning about the dangers of ignoring the harsh realities of life and relying on shallow pleasures and illusions.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a little dope
Indulging in some intoxicant
And walk out in the air
Going outside
The stars are all connected
The universe is interconnected
To the brain
In a metaphysical sense
Find me a woman and lay down on the ground
Engaging in sexual activity
Her pleasure comes fallin' down like rain
She experiences orgasm
Get myself a car
Acquiring material possessions
I feel power as I fly
A false sense of control
Whoa, now I'm really in control
A delusional belief
It all looks fine
Superficial appearance
To the naked eye!
At first glance
But it don't really happen that way at all!
Reality is different
Don't happen that way at all!
Contradicting societal norms
You sign your own name
Individuality
And I'll sign mine
Separate identities
They're both the same
Unity in humanity
We still get separate rooms
Social conventions
You can cover up your guts
Putting on a facade
But when you cover up your nuts
Denial of biological reality
You're admittin' that there must be something wrong
Insecurity
Press any button
Instant gratification
Milk and honey flow
Abundance
The world begins behind your neighbor's wall
Curiosity
You hold the gun
Violence
And I hold the wound
Victimhood
And we stand lookin' in each other's eyes
Confrontation
Lyrics © ABKCO MUSIC INC , FABULOUS MUSIC LTD , SPIRIT MUSIC GROUP
Written by: PETER DENNIS BLANDFOR 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.