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.
The Kids Are Alright
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's fine, I know them all pretty well
But I know sometimes I must get out in the light
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
The kids are alright
Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away
Bells chime, I know I gotta get away
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
The kids are alright
I know if I go things would be a lot better for her
I had things planned, but her folks wouldn't let her
I don't mind other guys dancing with my girl
That's fine, I know them all pretty well
But I know sometimes I must get out in the light
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
The kids are alright
Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away
Bells chime, I know I gotta get away
And I know if I don't, I'll go out of my mind
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
The kids are alright, the kids are alright, the kids are alright
"The Kids Are Alright" is a song by The Who that is about the youth rebellion of the 1960s. The lyrics discuss the freedom and independence that the youth of the time sought to gain from their parents and society as a whole. The singer of the song acknowledges that he does not mind other guys dancing with his girl, but he must get out in the light sometimes. He implores his girl to stay behind with the kids, who are all right.
The message of the song is that the kids of the time were okay and will be okay, even if they did not conform to societal norms. The singer realizes that sometimes he needs to escape from the constraints of society and his relationship to preserve his mental health. The song suggests that the youth movement of the time was a natural and necessary evolution in society.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind other guys dancing with my girl
I am not bothered by other men dancing with my girlfriend
That's fine, I know them all pretty well
I have no problem with it, because I am familiar with all of them
But I know sometimes I must get out in the light
However, I do acknowledge that there are times when I need to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight
Better leave her behind with the kids, they're alright
In those moments, it's best for me to leave my girlfriend behind with the younger generation, because they will be fine without me
The kids are alright
I am confident that the children will be okay in my absence
Sometimes, I feel I gotta get away
There are times when I feel the need to escape from my current situation
Bells chime, I know I gotta get away
Even if it's just a subconscious feeling, I am aware that it is necessary to take a break
And I know if I don't, I'll go out of my mind
I recognize that if I don't take that break, my mental health may suffer
I know if I go things would be a lot better for her
I am aware that my girlfriend may benefit from my absence at times
I had things planned, but her folks wouldn't let her
I had made plans with her, but her parents prevented her from joining me
The kids are alright
Once again, I have faith that the children are perfectly fine without me around
The kids are alright, the kids are alright, the kids are alright
This chorus is simply repeating the sentiment that the children do not need me and are doing just fine on their own
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Pete 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.