We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new Constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

A change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they all flown in the last war

I'll tip my hat to the new Constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again, no, no

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half-alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
For I know that the hypnotized never lie

Do you?

Yeah

There's nothing in the street
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are effaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Is now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new Constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again, no, no

Yeah
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

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Lyrics submitted by palmdogg10, edited by Lumet1, OldFoggy

Won't Get Fooled Again Lyrics as written by Peter Townshend

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Abkco Music Inc.

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Won't Get Fooled Again song meanings

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94 Comments

+13
General Comment
This is an amazing, insightful song about Society, Govornment, and how things never REALLY change, they just get moved around. History repeats itself!

This is an amazing, insightful song about Society, Govornment, and how things never REALLY change, they just get moved around. History repeats itself!

Reason:

regbon June 08, 2002 Link
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michaelw1lon July 26, 2017

@regb Too bad it's been used in TV commercials. I guess when The Who came out with an album called "The Who Sell Out" they might've known that one day they'd actually do it.

SusanBassPlayeron February 08, 2019
+7
General Comment
'Meet the new boss, same as the old boss' echos true today. Whether it's Clinton, Bush or Obama, what's the difference.

'Meet the new boss, same as the old boss' echos true today. Whether it's Clinton, Bush or Obama, what's the difference.

Reason:

Ravinon May 06, 2010 Link
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@Ravin yep, and now with "The Drumpf"...he ran his campaign on "I am different, I don't need "their" money, I'll help the working man". People are just so stupid ha ha.

I also don't believe that voting really matters, or that people don't have a right to complain if they don't vote (one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard). If you have something better to do on Election Day, do it, because it really doesn't matter. Or, vote, hope for the best, but don't knock yourself out expecting much.

force263on February 26, 2017
+7
My Interpretation
This song is Anti-Government in general. Mainly in the fact that they mean a revolution is bound to happen over and over again because of political corruption. When they say "the marching on the left is now marching on the right" they're talking about liberals( the left) switching to conservative (the right) to please the general public. They use the line "we don't get fooled again" sarcastically because inevitably the general population gets fooled and their rights are taken from right under their noses. "For i know that the hypnotize never lie", This line refers to the media and how it distracts the people from whats really going on and fills their head full of S***. "Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss" this line says it all, who ever is in power, weather it be Democrat or Republican, They are the same although the general public doesn't notice.... Eventually they will.

This song is Anti-Government in general. Mainly in the fact that they mean a revolution is bound to happen over and over again because of political corruption. When they say "the marching on the left is now marching on the right" they're talking about liberals( the left) switching to conservative (the right) to please the general public. They use the line "we don't get fooled again" sarcastically because inevitably the general population gets fooled and their rights are taken from right under their noses. "For i know that the hypnotize never lie", This line refers to the media and how it distracts the people from whats really going on and fills their head full of S***. "Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss" this line says it all, who ever is in power, weather it be Democrat or Republican, They are the same although the general public doesn't notice.... Eventually they will.

Reason:

wsdwg70on April 25, 2013 Link
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+6
General Comment
In 1972 I heard Townshend say the song is about how British Labour Party pols used the foolish studentia to riot, protest, and demonstrate in order to facilitate their wins in Parliamentary elections. The promised changes did not come, and this is Pete's bitter denunciation of the liberal's lies.

In 1972 I heard Townshend say the song is about how British Labour Party pols used the foolish studentia to riot, protest, and demonstrate in order to facilitate their wins in Parliamentary elections. The promised changes did not come, and this is Pete's bitter denunciation of the liberal's lies.

Reason:

whraglynon August 18, 2002 Link
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@whraglyn
+4
General Comment
This song, right after the short organ solo after "we don't get fooled again, don't get fooled again, no no", that drum solo and then the screeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaam is PURE POWER. It makes me feel like jumping up and letting all my stress out with a great big giant scream! This is one of my favorite moments in any song. Oh, pure heaven! Anyone read the book Animal Farm? Read it, and then comment on this song using that as an example. Or maybe I'll just do it myself. How the pigs and them animals change everything, and then it becomes just like before, that is like this song. Wow! I love this.

This song, right after the short organ solo after "we don't get fooled again, don't get fooled again, no no", that drum solo and then the screeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaam is PURE POWER. It makes me feel like jumping up and letting all my stress out with a great big giant scream! This is one of my favorite moments in any song. Oh, pure heaven! Anyone read the book Animal Farm? Read it, and then comment on this song using that as an example. Or maybe I'll just do it myself. How the pigs and them animals change everything, and then it becomes just like before, that is like this song. Wow! I love this.

Reason:

AeroLed286on April 01, 2003 Link
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@AeroLed286 I'm doing a paper comparing this song and Animal Farm right now...

elyse11810on October 20, 2016
+3
General Comment
This song is obvious... It's about revolutions and how the new regime almost always ends up just as bad as the old regime: Meet the new boss/same as the old boss

This song is obvious... It's about revolutions and how the new regime almost always ends up just as bad as the old regime: Meet the new boss/same as the old boss

Reason:

topace129on April 19, 2004 Link
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@topace129
+2
General Comment
it's about revolutions in general, a good example is the french revolution...robespierre = new boss, Louis XVI=old boss...even tho that's not what pete townshend says. he said it's a plea to the audience not to make him the new boss, that you should be your own boss, cuz he's the same as the guy who was on the stage 5 minutes ago...he also said he takes full responsibility for the fact that his generation complained about the state of the world and did nothing to change it...that relates to teenage wasteland in baba o'riley

it's about revolutions in general, a good example is the french revolution...robespierre = new boss, Louis XVI=old boss...even tho that's not what pete townshend says. he said it's a plea to the audience not to make him the new boss, that you should be your own boss, cuz he's the same as the guy who was on the stage 5 minutes ago...he also said he takes full responsibility for the fact that his generation complained about the state of the world and did nothing to change it...that relates to teenage wasteland in baba o'riley

Reason:

ericfarsadon July 13, 2002 Link
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@ericfarsad
+2
General Comment
Though I know this wasn't what they had in mind, but I tend to think of Vietnam, Johnson, and Nixon when I hear this song. I noticed the similarities when we were learning about Vietnam and Watergate in Social Studies this year. (The fact that my teacher this year is HUGE Who fan and has a poster in his classroom probably helped me make the connection.) To sum it up very simply: Kind of how after Johnson lied so much while in office, people were hoping that Nixon would get us out of Vietnam and be more honest, but then Watergate came along and more disillusionment knocked us on our heads. ("Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss.") And, of course, the revolution in this song makes me think of the cultural revolution and anti-war movement that occured during this time. Yeah, probably doesn't fit completely, but I haven't analyzed the song word for word. It's just what the song sort of reminds me of. Oh! Someone mentioned the French Revolution as an example. I like that idea. Especially with Napolean becoming emporer and stuff.

Though I know this wasn't what they had in mind, but I tend to think of Vietnam, Johnson, and Nixon when I hear this song. I noticed the similarities when we were learning about Vietnam and Watergate in Social Studies this year. (The fact that my teacher this year is HUGE Who fan and has a poster in his classroom probably helped me make the connection.) To sum it up very simply: Kind of how after Johnson lied so much while in office, people were hoping that Nixon would get us out of Vietnam and be more honest, but then Watergate came along and more disillusionment knocked us on our heads. ("Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss.") And, of course, the revolution in this song makes me think of the cultural revolution and anti-war movement that occured during this time. Yeah, probably doesn't fit completely, but I haven't analyzed the song word for word. It's just what the song sort of reminds me of. Oh! Someone mentioned the French Revolution as an example. I like that idea. Especially with Napolean becoming emporer and stuff.

Reason:

Obsessive0514on July 03, 2007 Link
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@Obsessive0514
+1
General Comment
Great great great song, a real rock anthem. While I doubt Pete intended for this song to be so heavily related to war and all that, but I guess a good song has multiple meanings. The drum solo when the music dies down near the end, is amazing. And the line "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" simply genius.

Great great great song, a real rock anthem. While I doubt Pete intended for this song to be so heavily related to war and all that, but I guess a good song has multiple meanings. The drum solo when the music dies down near the end, is amazing. And the line "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" simply genius.

Reason:

Muzzyon April 18, 2003 Link
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@Muzzy
+1
General Comment
This song is awesome.. It has to be one of The Who's best songs. The keyboard is really cool. IT sounds just like teenage wasteland too.

This song is awesome.. It has to be one of The Who's best songs. The keyboard is really cool. IT sounds just like teenage wasteland too.

Reason:

echod16on July 02, 2003 Link
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