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.
Who Are You
The Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said, "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"
I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin' punches around
And preachin' from my chair
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin
I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there's got to be another way
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on and tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you?
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
(Ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh wa, ooh)
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
Who are you?
Who, who, who, who?
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I know there's a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees
I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still receive your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, I really wanna know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Come on, come on, who? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Ah, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Oh, tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Ooh)
I really wanna know
Oh, I really wanna know
Come on, tell me, who are you, you, you, ah, you? (Yeah)
The song "Who Are You" by The Who is a reflection on the uncertainty of identity and purpose in life. The repeated refrain of "Who, who, who, who are you?" serves as a reminder of the unknown and the persistent questioning of one's existence. The lyrics describe a night of heavy drinking and partying in Soho, with the singer waking up in a doorway and being confronted by a policeman who knows his name. He is given the option to go home, but instead chooses to continue his reckless behavior, including getting into fights and preaching from his chair.
As the song continues, the lyrics turn to more introspective themes of love and self-worth, with the singer questioning how he can measure up to anyone after experiencing a great love. The line "My heart is like a broken cup, I only feel right on my knees" speaks to the vulnerability and uncertainty that come with heartbreak and a loss of identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Who are you?
The singer is questioning the identity of the person they are addressing.
I woke up in a Soho doorway
A policeman knew my name
He said, "You can go sleep at home tonight
If you can get up and walk away"
I staggered back to the underground
And the breeze blew back my hair
I remember throwin' punches around
And preachin' from my chair
The singer describes a chaotic night they had, involving police and violence.
Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
'Cause I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
The singer repeats their earlier question, emphasizing their desire to know the person's identity.
I took the tube back out of town
Back to the Rollin' Pin
I felt a little like a dying clown
With a streak of Rin Tin Tin
I stretched back and I hiccupped
And looked back on my busy day
Eleven hours in the tin pan
God, there's got to be another way
The artist reflects on their dissatisfying day, likening themselves to a dying clown and a fictional dog, and expressing their desire for change.
Oh, who the fuck are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
The artist adds a profane emphasis to their earlier question, expressing frustration or impatience.
I know there's a place you walked
Where love falls from the trees
My heart is like a broken cup
I only feel right on my knees
I spit out like a sewer hole
Yet still receive your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?
The singer reflects on a lost love, describing their feelings of inadequacy and longing.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Peter Townshend
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertmbernhardt5650
i always liked their songs from when they came out to now 2022
@RM-lj8bv
HEAVENS MUSIC, BORROWED TO HEAR, HERE ON EARTH.
@cleberoliveira623
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
@TheEntreprize
Nope, this ain't it. This is the short Album edit (with cuss words intact)..
On the original 45, it's 3:22 in length, with Had Enough as the B-side. And it should have no f-bombs either, as it's the one that Top 40 stations played.
@stuarttacey
I've read the 45 version is a different mix?
@magneto7930
Not sure exactly what this edit is all about, but this definitely is not the 45 single. That version is much shorter and it has the who the "hell" are you, replacing the F-bomb. This is just an edit omitting the final verse.
@Greggee11
who are you
WHO AM I
@MichaelHansenFUN
there is one even shorter