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.
So Sad About Us
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la
So sad about us
So sad about us
Sad that the news is out now
Sad about us
So bad about us
So bad about us
Bad, never meant to break up
Bad, suppose we'll never make up
Bad about us
Apologies mean nothing
When the damage is done
But you can't switch off my lovin'
Like you can't switch off the sun
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
So sad about us
So sad about us
Sad, never meant to break up
Sad, suppose we'll never make up
Sad about us
"So Sad About Us" by The Who is about the sadness and regret felt by someone who has broken up with their partner. The song has a strong sense of loss and longing, as the singer expresses their deep sorrow for what they have lost. The repeated refrain of "So sad about us" emphasizes the feeling of sadness that permeates the song.
In the first verse, the singer expresses their sadness that the news of the breakup is now out, and that there is no going back. The second verse acknowledges the mistakes made in the relationship, and the regret that they will never be able to reconcile. The chorus is simple yet powerful, repeating the key phrase "So sad about us" four times each time it is sung.
The bridge of the song shifts the focus to the idea that apologies cannot undo the damage that has been done in the relationship. However, the singer also asserts that their love cannot be turned off like a switch, emphasizing the depth of their feelings for their partner.
Overall, "So Sad About Us" is a melancholic and introspective song that explores the emotions of a person who has ended a relationship, and the regrets they feel about what has been lost.
Line by Line Meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
So sad about us
Feeling sorrowful about our relationship
So sad about us
Feeling sorrowful about our relationship
Sad that the news is out now
Feeling sad now that everyone knows that we broke up
Sad, suppose we can't turn back now
Feeling sad because we can't undo what happened
Sad about us
Feeling sad about our broken relationship
So bad about us
Feeling regretful about our relationship
So bad about us
Feeling regretful about our relationship
Bad, never meant to break up
Regretting that we broke up when we didn't intend to
Bad, suppose we'll never make up
Feeling pessimistic that we'll never reconcile
Bad about us
Feeling regretful about our broken relationship
Apologies mean nothing
Realizing that apologies can't change what happened
When the damage is done
Recognizing that the harm has already been caused
But you can't switch off my lovin'
Asserting that the love between us can't be turned off like a switch
Like you can't switch off the sun
Comparing the strength and permanence of our love to the unchanging nature of the sun
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeating the sound of the syllable 'la' to create a melody with no particular meaning
So sad about us
Feeling sorrowful about our broken relationship
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Peter Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
adil4ever
Keith's drumming is just incredible!
Lupo de' Lupis
He's an octopus!
Mikey J.
Behold Keith Moon. He's not going to let down the party. He' plays like an ocean of awesomeness.
travis Bickle
MAGIK 🔝❤❤❤
Lefty Stevenson
He was a monster until the early 70s ...then booze and drugs ruined him.
jenny_jenny_nc
🌹Moonie.
Tomás Orellana
Every component in this group was irreplaceable. You can just see that Townshend, Moon, Entwistle and Daltrey were pure dynamite on stage. The creativity of the songwritting, their instrumental skills on pop/rock music and the high energy they had live, made The Who the influential band that they still are.
fsdkjl
Kenney Jones tho
John Oberle
Everything about this band is amazing. The imperfections are perfect. Life long fan.
Dennis Prather
Keith Moon attended Billy Cobham's drumming camp and after watching Keith play his drums for a while, Billy stood there, rubbed his chin and said "I don't know what it is exactly that you're doing, man, but just keep doing it". Moon the loon, wow what a drummer.