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Who Are You? Lyrics
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 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
[chorus:]
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
Who are you?
Ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ooh wa ...
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?
[chorus]
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 recieve your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?
[chorus]
This song is based on a day in the life of Pete Townshend. It began with a very long meeting dealing with royalties for his songs: "Eleven hours in the Tin Pan, God, there's got to be another way." The "Tin Pan" he is referring to is "Tin Pan Alley" which is the name given to the collection of New York City-centered music publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States. After this excruciating meeting he received a large check for royalties, left and went to a bar and got completely drunk. In that bar he encountered Paul Cook and Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols, who thought very highly of Pete for paving the way for Punk rock music. Townshend was conflicted because he feared The Who had sold out, and seeing The Sex Pistols, who were icons of rebellion, exasperated him even more. Pete left that bar and passed out in a random doorway in Soho (a part of New York). A policeman recognized him ("A policeman knew my name") and being kind, woke him and and told him, "You can go sleep at home tonight (instead of a jail cell), if you can get up and walk away." Pete's response: "Who the f--k are you?"
All correct, except it's set in London not New York. He mentions "I staggered back to the underground" and "I took the tube" - referring to London's Underground subway.
All correct, except it's set in London not New York. He mentions "I staggered back to the underground" and "I took the tube" - referring to London's Underground subway.
We have an area called "Soho" unlike New York's "SoHo".
We have an area called "Soho" unlike New York's "SoHo".
Also, the "Tin Pan Alley" referenced is a nickname we use for parts London's West End (named after the area in NYC) where songs were similarly pedalled.
Also, the "Tin Pan Alley" referenced is a nickname we use for parts London's West End (named after the area in NYC) where songs were similarly pedalled.
@Conn8 It's set in London
@Conn8 It's set in London
It's London, not New York. Soho was a popular hangout for Mods, the Who was a Mod band throughout the 60's
It's London, not New York. Soho was a popular hangout for Mods, the Who was a Mod band throughout the 60's
Anyone else wanna correct me again?
Anyone else wanna correct me again?
@Conn8 it'th London, thilly!
@Conn8 it'th London, thilly!
@Conn8
@Conn8
You're all wrong. This happened in Mumbai, known as Bombay at the time.
You're all wrong. This happened in Mumbai, known as Bombay at the time.
@Conn8 Thanks!
@Conn8 Thanks!
This would be London, not New York (Underground and Tube are names for the London subway). There is (was) a 'Tin Pan Alley' in London - Denmark Street - where members of the Sex Pistols lived. Denmark Street is in Soho in London.
This would be London, not New York (Underground and Tube are names for the London subway). There is (was) a 'Tin Pan Alley' in London - Denmark Street - where members of the Sex Pistols lived. Denmark Street is in Soho in London.
I’ll correct you a little more. It was actually in London’s Speakeasy club which was a hang out for music industry people. Steve Jones and Paul Cook from the Pistols were there and because Pete was one of their local heroes from Shepherds Bush, they went to talk to him. He was well oiled and kept saying to them “But who are you?”
I’ll correct you a little more. It was actually in London’s Speakeasy club which was a hang out for music industry people. Steve Jones and Paul Cook from the Pistols were there and because Pete was one of their local heroes from Shepherds Bush, they went to talk to him. He was well oiled and kept saying to them “But who are you?”
From Steve’s autobiography, Lonely Boy. It’s a great book BTW
From Steve’s autobiography, Lonely Boy. It’s a great book BTW
This song is actually about a night of horrible drinking from Townshend. He came back from a meeting with the The Who about money and he met two members of the Sex Pistols in the bar, who were absolutely crazy about him and his music and he tore up a check of six figures in front of their eyes. just a random fact. =]
My Dad (A huge fan of The Who, a really smart guy by all accounts), told me his opinion of the song, which makes a lot of sense to me. He pointed out that the end of the last verse "How can I measure up to anyone now after such a love as this", doesn't really sound like he's talking to a girl, it sounds more like he's talking about religion, which we know Pete Townshend kindasortamaybe dabbled in. So that would explain the chorus, he's asking who or what is above him, what is outside this world. And then the rest of the song is about an event that became a religious epiphany, that makes him questions how he got here.
I had not heard about Pete's comments regarding this song... the end of the song makes a lot more sense now.
And puts an entirely different spin on this work of art. It's not exactly one I would sing in church per se, but a fantastic message nonetheless. "I, who screw up so much, am still loved. Who ARE You?"
I spit out like a sewer hole- I give you a lot of crap to deal with Yet still recieve your kiss- but you still love me
How can I measure up to anyone now After such a love as this? And the last two lines are detailing the regret he feels at losing probably the best love he will ever have; no one else could even come close.
I totally can relate to what u said. Someone I know has given me a lot of mayhem and I still love him. I always will. But I would love to know WhoAreYou? Who am I talking to? What do u want from a situation? Are you happy with the rolling pin? Do u know - you will never have a love like me again?
I totally can relate to what u said. Someone I know has given me a lot of mayhem and I still love him. I always will. But I would love to know WhoAreYou? Who am I talking to? What do u want from a situation? Are you happy with the rolling pin? Do u know - you will never have a love like me again?
this is one the most awesome songs ever!!!
I always thought of this song kind of meant that he got hurt in a relationship, and then to drown out his anger he went out and got fucked up. Thats why the last stanza is talking about love. And when he sings the "Who are you" parts, i think he is kind of asking himself who he is, because now he has to reinvent himself after his traumatic breakup. But thats just what i get out of it anyway....
@vipergt196 Well, he was married to Karen Astley at the time, and as far I know had no real marital 'rifts' at the time of this song being composed.
@vipergt196 Well, he was married to Karen Astley at the time, and as far I know had no real marital 'rifts' at the time of this song being composed.
Awesome song, I think it's about getting srunk out of your mind, which makes sense with the lyrics. It's awesome because on the ardio, the 'fuck's come so fast that they can't block them out.
how could no one have commented yet? the who is one of the most influential rock bands ever. their music is timeless.
i agree with the first 2 comments, amazing song yet i'm disappointed that there are no other comments about this song... even in this day and age, a TV series such as CSI uses this song as their theme song or whatever... that means something!