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 Real Me
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To get another shrink
I sit and tell him 'bout my weekend
But he never betrays what he thinks
Woo
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Doctor?
Woah, doctor
I went back to my mother
I said I'm crazy ma, help me
She said I know how it feels son
'Cause it runs in the family
Can you see the real me, mama?
Mama?
Can you see the real me, mama?
Woah, mama
Can you see
Can you see the real me?
Can you see
Can you see the real me
The real me
The real me
The cracks between the paving stones
Look like rivers of flowing veins
Strange people who know me
Peeping from behind every window pane
The girl I used to love
Lives in this yellow house
Yesterday she passed me by
She doesn't want to know me now
Can you see the real me?
Can ya?
Can ya?
Can you see the real me?
Can ya?
Woah, yeah
I ended up with a preacher
Full of lies and hate
I seemed to scare him a little
So he showed me to the golden gate
Can you see the real me, preacher?
Preacher?
Can you see the real me, preacher?
Can you see
Can you see
Can you see
Woah
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Can you see the real me, ma?
Can you see the real me (me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me)?
"The Real Me" is a song by British rock band The Who, appearing on their sixth studio album "Quadrophenia" released in 1973. The song features the story of Jimmy, the singer in "Quadrophenia", who meets with a doctor, his mother, strange people, an ex-girlfriend, and later a preacher as he grapples with his identity crisis. In the opening verse, he visits his psychiatrist to talk about his struggles, hoping to find answers and relief from the pain. However, he wonders if the doctor can truly see through his facade and understand his true self, beyond his words and appearance. Jimmy's plea "Can you see the real me, doctor?" reflects his yearning for empathy and acceptance, and his fear of rejection and misunderstanding from the one person who is supposed to help him.
In the second verse, Jimmy goes to his mother for comfort and guidance, admitting that he is losing his mind. His mother responds with empathy, telling him that mental illness runs in their family as if to acknowledge that she too has experienced similar distress. Jimmy asks his mother the same question he asks his doctor, "Can you see the real me, mama?", hoping for a different answer, for a sense of belonging and recognition that he has been searching for. However, the repetition of the question throughout the song suggests that Jimmy's plea remains unanswered, highlighting the frustration and loneliness he feels.
The chorus, with its anthemic power chords and repeated question "Can you see the real me?", captures the urgency and desperation of Jimmy's search for identity and validation. The lyrics "The Real Me" signify not just Jimmy's character but also the band itself, with lead singer Roger Daltrey belting out the question with ferocious intensity, as if to challenge the audience to see beyond the band's reputation and image. The song ends with Jimmy meeting a hypocritical preacher who wears a mask of righteousness but is full of lies and hate. Jimmy's last plea "Can you see the real me, preacher?" echoes the same question he has been asking throughout the song, suggesting that he has yet to find someone who can truly understand and accept him.
Line by Line Meaning
I went back to the doctor
Returning to a psychiatrist for therapy
To get another shrink
To ask for a different therapist
I sit and tell him 'bout my weekend
Discussing personal matters with the psychiatrist
But he never betrays what he thinks
The therapist doesn't reveal his personal opinions
Can you see the real me, doctor?
Asking the therapist if they can see the true self
I went back to my mother
Returning to family for support
I said I'm crazy ma, help me
Admitting to struggling with mental health and seeking help
She said I know how it feels son
His mother can empathize with his struggles
'Cause it runs in the family
Mental health issues have affected other family members
Can you see the real me, mama?
Asking if his mother can see his true self
The cracks between the paving stones
Visual imagery of the world falling apart around him
Look like rivers of flowing veins
Metaphor for the feeling of anxiety or panic
Strange people who know me
Feeling like people are watching and judging him
Peeping from behind every window pane
Feeling paranoid and like he's being watched
The girl I used to love
Reflection on past relationships
Lives in this yellow house
Visual imagery of the girl's home
Yesterday she passed me by
Seeing the girl but she ignores him
She doesn't want to know me now
Realizing the relationship is over
I ended up with a preacher
Turning to religion for answers
Full of lies and hate
Realizing the faith may not be helpful
I seemed to scare him a little
Upsetting the preacher with personal struggles and doubts
So he showed me to the golden gate
The preacher referred him to a higher power
Can you see the real me, preacher?
Asking the preacher if he can see the true self
Can you see the real me?
Repeated question asking if anyone can truly understand him
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@0megaForce
Lyrics:
Do you believe in Heaven above?
Do you believe in love?
Don't tell a lie, don't be false or untrue
It all comes back to you
Open fire!
On my burning heart
I've never been lucky in love
My defenses are down
A kiss or a frown
I can't survive on my own
If a girl walks in and carves her name in my heart
I'll turn and run away
Every day, we've all been led astray
It's hard to be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
You're looking for love
Calling Heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Empty dreams can only disappoint
In a room behind your smile
But don't give up, don't give up
(Give up, give up, give up)
You can be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
You're looking for love
Calling Heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Right now
@muhammadhafizi3548
Do you believe in heaven above
Do you believe in love
Don't tell a lie don't be false and untrue
It all comes back to you
Open fire!
On my burning heart
I've never been lucky in love
My defences are down
A kiss or a frown
I can't survive on my own
If a girl walks in and carves her name in my heart
I'll turn and run away
Everyday we've all been led astray
It's hard to be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
You're looking for love
Calling heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now
Empty dreams can only dissapoint
In a room behind your smile
But don't give up,
Don't give up
You can be lucky in love
It gets in your eyes
It's making you cry
Don't know what to do
Don't know what to do
You're looking for love
Calling heaven above
Send me an angel
Send me an angel
Right now, right now.
@douglassmith3016
'80s Music: They knew we'd need it in the future.
@sherigilmore9141
You said that right!
@jaycombs5153
so true
@voiceofreezn8018
Truer words have never been spoken 👏
@chadgietzen4295
It's just that we repeat the past. Listen to Wind of Change from Scorpions. What's old is new again.
@yankeestone8161
Well said brother!!
@ALLOFTHEBOOST
2024 represent miss the 80s 90s music scene, when it was actual music by real artists.
@gelatinous6915
Go listen to Gunship's cover of this song. Incredible.
@ALLOFTHEBOOST
@@gelatinous6915 Paul oakenfold remix is good too.
@sionandtatev
Today's generation will never understand what 80s and 90s where like. this is forever a classic and a legend.