ive read/seen several interviews with pete where he either implies or flat out says that this song is about vietnam, but ive never heard why. the way i see it is that the song is from the point of view of a refugee from communist north vietnam. he doesnt want to be involved in the war ("i dont need to fight to prove im right"), he just wants to live normally and he can only doing that by escaping to south vietnam ("travel south crossland"). i think the chorus comes from the fact that the war devestated vietnam both economically and enviromentally (the "wasteland"), and that when pete wrote this song in 1971, americans had been occupying vietnam for well over a decade (and so, "teenage").
the title comes from 2 names: meher baba, petes mentor, and terry o'riley, a minimalist composer who inspired pete. pete set up a way to program information about people into a synthesizer so that every person would have a unique melody. he programmed in information about meher baba, such as his birthdate and his height, and came up with the background melody of baba oriley. the original loop was over 9 minutes long, but it was shortened for the song. people dont realize how revolutionary the whos synthesizer use was. now, every other song you hear has a synth loop, but in 1971, basically the only people experimenting with them in their music were the who and stevie wonder.
The explanation I heard also had to do with Vietnam, but I heard a different explanation for the chorus. Basically, the explanation I heard is a much more literal interpretation of the term "Teenage Wasteland"...all these young men being sent to war to fight and die. In other words a literal wasteland of human beings.
The explanation I heard also had to do with Vietnam, but I heard a different explanation for the chorus. Basically, the explanation I heard is a much more literal interpretation of the term "Teenage Wasteland"...all these young men being sent to war to fight and die. In other words a literal wasteland of human beings.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
I don't know. The UK as a nation were not even involved in Vietnam militarily or in any regard. It was a much larger consciousness in the US obviously.
I don't know. The UK as a nation were not even involved in Vietnam militarily or in any regard. It was a much larger consciousness in the US obviously.
First verse seems to be sarcasm by young working people towards their more rebellious counterparts who have to 'fight' to prove themselves , who are wrong and then have be 'forgiven'
First verse seems to be sarcasm by young working people towards their more rebellious counterparts who have to 'fight' to prove themselves , who are wrong and then have be 'forgiven'
2nd verse sounds like the exodus of youth to Brighton 'getting together before they get much older'. Put out the fire may just mean moving on after stopping and camping
2nd verse sounds like the exodus of youth to Brighton 'getting together before they get much older'. Put out the fire may just mean moving on after stopping and camping
Teenage wasteland seems to be about all the energy wasted...
Teenage wasteland seems to be about all the energy wasted by youth revolt at the time. Sounds like a jab at the hippies and anti establishment
sorry dude, people like you irritate me to no end. If the songwriter himself says "it's aabout vietnam", then there's a pretty good bet it's about vietnam. I can't stand people who "know" what the songwriter meant better than the songwriter.
sorry dude, people like you irritate me to no end. If the songwriter himself says "it's aabout vietnam", then there's a pretty good bet it's about vietnam. I can't stand people who "know" what the songwriter meant better than the songwriter.
and you need to look into history a bit. prior to the US being involved in southeast asia, france had occupied it. I'm sure the british had some involvement in that area whether officially or unofficially and could have predicted that a "police action" would not accomplish much.
and you need to look into history a bit. prior to the US being involved in southeast asia, france had occupied it. I'm sure the british had some involvement in that area whether officially or unofficially and could have predicted that a "police action" would not accomplish much.
other than a...
other than a "teenage wasteland" drug out over far too many years.
@davidrharris72 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (everyone forgets that the Vietnam conflict was not exclusively fought in one nation) were all predominantly part of French Indo-China until the mid-1950s, when they withdrew as part of the European retreat from Empire, thus the capitalism vs. communism conflict took over. The only real involvement Britain had in southeast Asia following the Partition of India in 1947 was a working agreement with Siam/Thailand and ownership of Malaya. Certainly, Britain had interests in that area, and they were keen to contain communism and prevent it spreading through Asia long before the United States started paying...
@davidrharris72 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (everyone forgets that the Vietnam conflict was not exclusively fought in one nation) were all predominantly part of French Indo-China until the mid-1950s, when they withdrew as part of the European retreat from Empire, thus the capitalism vs. communism conflict took over. The only real involvement Britain had in southeast Asia following the Partition of India in 1947 was a working agreement with Siam/Thailand and ownership of Malaya. Certainly, Britain had interests in that area, and they were keen to contain communism and prevent it spreading through Asia long before the United States started paying any attention. However, for two reasons, Britain never had any involvement in the Vietnam War and even generally refused to support U.S. action in the region: the first reason was the public outcry against the war, which the British government - unlike its U.S. counterpart - was wise enough to heed, and the second was that Britain was almost bankrupt following the Second World War and was in the process of withdrawing all forces from 'east of Suez' in order to shrink the vast military budget.
look. history class is next door. and don't assume ignorance where there is none. I realize "vietnam" was not just fought in vietnam. Please work on your reading comprehension.
look. history class is next door. and don't assume ignorance where there is none. I realize "vietnam" was not just fought in vietnam. Please work on your reading comprehension.
What i said was that if the songwriter himself made a statement about the origin of the song, then chances are pretty good it's accurate.
What i said was that if the songwriter himself made a statement about the origin of the song, then chances are pretty good it's accurate.
Besides: "vietnam" was not just a "war". It was a time throughout the world when teens and young adults were beginning to realize there was more going on than they were being told through official channels. It was an era...
Besides: "vietnam" was not just a "war". It was a time throughout the world when teens and young adults were beginning to realize there was more going on than they were being told through official channels. It was an era of turmoil, uncertainty and angst.
ive read/seen several interviews with pete where he either implies or flat out says that this song is about vietnam, but ive never heard why. the way i see it is that the song is from the point of view of a refugee from communist north vietnam. he doesnt want to be involved in the war ("i dont need to fight to prove im right"), he just wants to live normally and he can only doing that by escaping to south vietnam ("travel south crossland"). i think the chorus comes from the fact that the war devestated vietnam both economically and enviromentally (the "wasteland"), and that when pete wrote this song in 1971, americans had been occupying vietnam for well over a decade (and so, "teenage").
the title comes from 2 names: meher baba, petes mentor, and terry o'riley, a minimalist composer who inspired pete. pete set up a way to program information about people into a synthesizer so that every person would have a unique melody. he programmed in information about meher baba, such as his birthdate and his height, and came up with the background melody of baba oriley. the original loop was over 9 minutes long, but it was shortened for the song. people dont realize how revolutionary the whos synthesizer use was. now, every other song you hear has a synth loop, but in 1971, basically the only people experimenting with them in their music were the who and stevie wonder.
very informative! thanks :)
very informative! thanks :)
The explanation I heard also had to do with Vietnam, but I heard a different explanation for the chorus. Basically, the explanation I heard is a much more literal interpretation of the term "Teenage Wasteland"...all these young men being sent to war to fight and die. In other words a literal wasteland of human beings.
The explanation I heard also had to do with Vietnam, but I heard a different explanation for the chorus. Basically, the explanation I heard is a much more literal interpretation of the term "Teenage Wasteland"...all these young men being sent to war to fight and die. In other words a literal wasteland of human beings.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
Actually, Edgar Winter created "Frankenstein" during this same time frame. I thought this song was about Pete's disillusionment w/ Woodstock, but I'm usually wrong about what songs mean, which I why I often come here.
@PJ10 awesome explanation, thanks.
@PJ10 awesome explanation, thanks.
@PJ10 What is that synthesizer called. The one that creates a loop based on personal information.
@PJ10 What is that synthesizer called. The one that creates a loop based on personal information.
@PJ10
@PJ10
I don't know. The UK as a nation were not even involved in Vietnam militarily or in any regard. It was a much larger consciousness in the US obviously.
I don't know. The UK as a nation were not even involved in Vietnam militarily or in any regard. It was a much larger consciousness in the US obviously.
First verse seems to be sarcasm by young working people towards their more rebellious counterparts who have to 'fight' to prove themselves , who are wrong and then have be 'forgiven'
First verse seems to be sarcasm by young working people towards their more rebellious counterparts who have to 'fight' to prove themselves , who are wrong and then have be 'forgiven'
2nd verse sounds like the exodus of youth to Brighton 'getting together before they get much older'. Put out the fire may just mean moving on after stopping and camping
2nd verse sounds like the exodus of youth to Brighton 'getting together before they get much older'. Put out the fire may just mean moving on after stopping and camping
Teenage wasteland seems to be about all the energy wasted...
Teenage wasteland seems to be about all the energy wasted by youth revolt at the time. Sounds like a jab at the hippies and anti establishment
@PJ10
@PJ10
jgm4661:
jgm4661:
sorry dude, people like you irritate me to no end. If the songwriter himself says "it's aabout vietnam", then there's a pretty good bet it's about vietnam. I can't stand people who "know" what the songwriter meant better than the songwriter.
sorry dude, people like you irritate me to no end. If the songwriter himself says "it's aabout vietnam", then there's a pretty good bet it's about vietnam. I can't stand people who "know" what the songwriter meant better than the songwriter.
and you need to look into history a bit. prior to the US being involved in southeast asia, france had occupied it. I'm sure the british had some involvement in that area whether officially or unofficially and could have predicted that a "police action" would not accomplish much.
and you need to look into history a bit. prior to the US being involved in southeast asia, france had occupied it. I'm sure the british had some involvement in that area whether officially or unofficially and could have predicted that a "police action" would not accomplish much.
other than a...
other than a "teenage wasteland" drug out over far too many years.
@davidrharris72 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (everyone forgets that the Vietnam conflict was not exclusively fought in one nation) were all predominantly part of French Indo-China until the mid-1950s, when they withdrew as part of the European retreat from Empire, thus the capitalism vs. communism conflict took over. The only real involvement Britain had in southeast Asia following the Partition of India in 1947 was a working agreement with Siam/Thailand and ownership of Malaya. Certainly, Britain had interests in that area, and they were keen to contain communism and prevent it spreading through Asia long before the United States started paying...
@davidrharris72 Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia (everyone forgets that the Vietnam conflict was not exclusively fought in one nation) were all predominantly part of French Indo-China until the mid-1950s, when they withdrew as part of the European retreat from Empire, thus the capitalism vs. communism conflict took over. The only real involvement Britain had in southeast Asia following the Partition of India in 1947 was a working agreement with Siam/Thailand and ownership of Malaya. Certainly, Britain had interests in that area, and they were keen to contain communism and prevent it spreading through Asia long before the United States started paying any attention. However, for two reasons, Britain never had any involvement in the Vietnam War and even generally refused to support U.S. action in the region: the first reason was the public outcry against the war, which the British government - unlike its U.S. counterpart - was wise enough to heed, and the second was that Britain was almost bankrupt following the Second World War and was in the process of withdrawing all forces from 'east of Suez' in order to shrink the vast military budget.
@ Queenfan 1991
@ Queenfan 1991
look. history class is next door. and don't assume ignorance where there is none. I realize "vietnam" was not just fought in vietnam. Please work on your reading comprehension.
look. history class is next door. and don't assume ignorance where there is none. I realize "vietnam" was not just fought in vietnam. Please work on your reading comprehension.
What i said was that if the songwriter himself made a statement about the origin of the song, then chances are pretty good it's accurate.
What i said was that if the songwriter himself made a statement about the origin of the song, then chances are pretty good it's accurate.
Besides: "vietnam" was not just a "war". It was a time throughout the world when teens and young adults were beginning to realize there was more going on than they were being told through official channels. It was an era...
Besides: "vietnam" was not just a "war". It was a time throughout the world when teens and young adults were beginning to realize there was more going on than they were being told through official channels. It was an era of turmoil, uncertainty and angst.