| Pete Townshend wrote this about a revolution.
In the first verse, there is an uprising. In the middle, they
overthrow those in power, but in the end, the new regime becomes
just like the old one ("Meet the new boss, same as the old boss").
Townshend felt revolution was pointless because whoever takes over
is destined to become corrupt. |
| The synthesizer represents the revolution. It
builds at the beginning when the uprising starts, and comes back at
the end when a new revolution is brewing. |
| Townshend wrote this as part of his "Lifehouse"
project. He wanted to release a double-album and film about a
futuristic world where the people are enslaved, but saved by a rock
concert. Townshend couldn't get enough support to finish the project,
but most of the songs he wrote were used on the Who's Next album. |
| Part of Townshend's idea for Lifehouse was to
program the synthesizer based on the characteristics of audience
members (height, weight, etc.). He wanted to connect with the
listeners in a way that had never been done before. |
| The album version runs 8:30. The single was
shortened so radio stations would play it. |
| Townshend had various politicians in mind when
he wrote this. |
| This is the last song on the album. It was
also the last song they played at their concerts for many years. |
| Roger Daltrey's scream is considered one of
the best on any rock song. |
| This was one of the first times a synthesizer
was used in the rhythm track. When they played this live, they had
to play the synthesizer part off tape. |
| This was used in commercials for the 2000
Nissan Maxima. Some people considered this the biggest sell-out in
Rock, but The Who made lots of money in the deal. The same year,
Nissan used The Who's "Baba O'Reily" in an ad for their Pathfinder. |
| Townshend does not like this song anymore. He
feels it is irrlevant now and regrets that it remains popular. |
| This song was played by the remaining members
of the band at "The Concert for New York City," a fundraising
concert in the wake of the devastating attacks on September 11,
2001. Daltrey ommited the last line of the song: "Meet the new boss,
Same as the old boss." (thanks, Chris - Philadelphia, PA) |
| Part of this is used in the opening sequence
of the CBS TV show CSI Miami. |
