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.
Summertime Blues
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna raise a holler
'Bout workin' all summer
Just to try to earn a dollar
Well, I went to the bossman
Tried to get a break
But the boss said 'No dice, son,
You gotta work late'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Well, my Mom and Poppa told me
Son, you gotta earn some money
If you want to use the car
To go riding next Sunday
Well, I didn't go to work
I told the boss I was sick
He said 'You can't use the car
'Cause you didn't work a lick'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
There ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Gonna take two weeks
Gonna have a fine vacation
Gonna take my problem
To the United Nations
Well' I went to my congressman
He said 'quote'
'I'd like to help you son,
But you're too young to vote'
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
The Who's song "Summertime Blues" is a classic rock hit that laments the struggle of working to earn a dollar during the summer season. The first verse describes how the singer is frustrated with working tirelessly only to earn a meager wage. He approaches his boss to request a break, but the boss denies the request and even asks him to work late. The chorus then emphasizes the singer's helplessness as he wonders what he is going to do since there is no cure for the summertime blues.
The second verse recounts a conversation with the singer's parents, who encourage him to earn his own money if he wants to use the car to go for a ride on Sunday. When the singer feigns sickness and decides to skip work, he is told that he cannot use the car due to the same excuse. The last verse is a satirical approach to resolving the summertime blues. The singer plans to take his problem to the United Nations and his congressman, who tells him that he's too young to vote, thus satirizing the political system's bureaucracy.
Overall, "Summertime Blues" is a song about the frustration of being young, working hard, and trying to enjoy the summer season while still trying to make a living. The song's message is timeless, and the catchy tune and clever lyrics make it a memorable classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm gonna raise a fuss
I'm going to make a lot of noise and complain
I'm gonna raise a holler
I'm going to shout and make a big commotion
'Bout workin' all summer
About having to work for the entire summer
Just to try to earn a dollar
Just to try to make some money
Well, I went to the bossman
I went to my employer
Tried to get a break
Tried to get some time off
But the boss said 'No dice, son,
But the boss said no
You gotta work late'
You have to work late hours
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
I wonder what can be done
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Because there's nothing that can be done to help the situation
Well, my Mom and Poppa told me
My mother and father instructed me
Son, you gotta earn some money
Son, you need to make some money
If you want to use the car
If you want to use the car
To go riding next Sunday
To have a ride next Sunday
Well, I didn't go to work
I didn't go to my work
I told the boss I was sick
I informed my boss that I was ill
He said 'You can't use the car
He said you cannot use the car
'Cause you didn't work a lick'
Because you didn't work at all
Gonna take two weeks
I'm going to take two weeks off
Gonna have a fine vacation
I'll have a great holiday
Gonna take my problem
I'm going to take my problem
To the United Nations
To the United Nations
Well' I went to my congressman
I went to my representative
He said 'quote'
He said
'I'd like to help you son,
I'd like to help you
But you're too young to vote'
But you're too young to vote
Sometimes I wonder what am I gonna do
I wonder what I should do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Because there's no solution to the problem of summertime blues
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Eddie Cochran, Jerry Neal Capehart
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.