The Who – We’re Not Gonna Take It/See Me, Feel Me

Yesterday my friends Hanspostcard and  Dave featured The Who’s Tommy’s 50th anniversary. I missed out on that so I picked one of my favorite songs off of the Tommy album. Pete Townsend said this song’s message is “we’re not gonna take fascism.”

I’ve never been a big Woodstock fan but there were a few great performances there. The Who performing this song was one of them. It was raw, huge, powerful and almost spiritual sounding. Pete Townsend’s SG there sounded HUGE and it was a great performance considering the circumstances.

When the lyrics get to Listening to you, I get the music…it rises to another level.

In the story, the song is about Tommy’s followers who are revolting against him when they feel exploited.

 

We’re Not Going To Take It/See Me Feel Me

Welcome to the Camp, 
I guess you all know why we’re here
My name is Tommy
And I became aware this year

If you want to follow me, 
You’ve got to play pinball
And put in your earplugs
Put on your eye shades
You know where to put the cork

Hey you getting drunk, so sorry!
I’ve got you sussed
Hey you smoking Mother Nature!
This is a bust!
Hey hung up old Mr. Normal
Don’t try to gain my trust!
‘Cause you ain’t gonna follow me any of those ways
Although you think you must

We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it

We’re not gonna take it
Never did and never will
We’re not gonna take it
Gonna break it, gonna shake it
Let’s forget it better still

Now you can’t hear me
Your ears are truly sealed
You can’t speak either
Your mouth is filled
You can’t see nothing
And pinball completes the scene
Here comes Uncle Ernie to guide you to
Your very own machine

We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it
We’re not gonna take it

We’re not gonna take it
Never did and never will
Don’t want no religion
And as far as we can tell
We ain’t gonna take you
Never did and never will
We’re not gonna take you
We forsake you
Gonna rape you
Let’s forget you better still

We forsake you
Gonna rape you
Let’s forget you better still

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

See me
Feel me
Touch me
Heal me

Listening to you
I get the music
Gazing at you
I get the heat
Following you
I climb the mountains
I get excitement at your feet

Right behind you
I see the millions
On you
I see the glory
From you
I get opinions
From you
I get the story

Listening to you
I get the music
Gazing at you
I get the heat
Following you
I climb the mountains
I get excitement at your feet

Right behind you
I see the millions
On you
I see the glory
From you
I get opinions
From you
I get the story

Listening to you
I get the music
Gazing at you
I get the heat
Following you
I climb the mountains
I get excitement at your feet

Right behind you
I see the millions
On you
I see the glory

 

 

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

25 thoughts on “The Who – We’re Not Gonna Take It/See Me, Feel Me”

      1. I remember reading in Petes autobiography that he didn’t like the sound of the electric on that album. To be fair it does sound like he plugged straight into the desk in parts, like there’s no actual amp- don’t you think? Still I happen to like that sound..

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      2. It sounds tinny on the album…I think the whole production does…Moons drums…while great sound like tin cans. I think they did plug straight in…you can do that now and get by with it more.
        At Woodstock I love the sound of that guitar.

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      3. One man’s tinny is another’s hi-fi lol The guitars do sound brittle for sure but there’s just enough crunch there too. I dig em and the drums too. I just checked townsends book on the guitars….he rated them ‘poor’!

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      4. When I posted him with the SG you came to mind lol.

        I guess I’m spoiled with the sonic sound of Who’s Next… but I will admit it was a different style.

        What is your favorite guitar sounding record… by anyone?

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  3. I enjoy most but not all of Tommy. These songs I like.

    Not about Tommy specifically, but did you see Pete and Roger on Jimmy Fallon this week, performing ‘We Don’t Get Fooled Again’ with Jimmy and The Roots? It’s a must-see, imo. Pete is wearing coveralls–red this time, and that is just one of the many great things about it. I won’t give any more details.

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    1. I will look that up…thank you so much. My cousin saw the Who last Thursday in Nashville and loved it but I got him pumped up for Won’t Get Fooled Again Live…they did it..but acoustically. He wanted the full show lol. He said it was great though…

      I had to go and see it….that was great!!!! It sounded good.

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      1. Oh my, an acoustic version of We Won’t Get Fooled Again? I wouldn’t have expected that. It’s such a big, loud number. But I do like that they have revised their stage show. I ended up seeing them do basically the same show in 2015 and 2016. I’m not complaining, mind you, but I like seeing things changed up, too.

        I had to watch that Fallon performance several times. There were so many fun moments. The best part may have been seeing Pete and Roger thoroughly enjoying themselves.

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      2. What made it kind of disappointing for him is because I tell anyone who will listen…Won’t Get Fooled Again is the best “live” song I’ve ever heard period. He was really ready for it…so while he liked it, he wanted the electric version.
        They are having a good time…Pete seems like he is finally having a good time with The Who. He was very talkative when I saw them in 15 or 16…

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      3. I agree, the electric version is that good live. I’ve probably mentioned their Hyde Park 2015 cd-dvd set before this, but if you want to hear that song live and loud again, that’s the one to buy, imo. The cd might as well be permanently installed in my car player, I listen to it while driving so much. I agree about Pete seeming to enjoy their gigs these past few years.

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      4. I think Pete thought too much in many of his years with The Who…but that is what he does I guess. He has loosened up now…I loved hearing the Moon stories live.

        I need to get that cd-dvd set…you like them as much as me so I know it has to be good. The best one I’ve seen of when they were younger was The Isle of Wight concert.

        So I will get it.

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      5. I have the Isle Of Wight concert too. Haven’t watched that one in a while I need to get it out and watch it. Thanks for the reminder.

        Pete did seem to have that tortured artist brain and soul. He’s somehow freed himself from that and it’s great.

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  5. The words to this remind me so much of Roger Waters and The Wall. The dehumanization of members of a society to serve the machine. Is Uncle Ernie the one who raped him? If so the lyrics are even more profound. Also, to hear See Me/Feel Me in the context of Tommy’s story gives it that much more impact. Great choice today.

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    1. Thank you…Hanspostcard and Dave are the reason… I thought dang…I missed out on the anniversary…I’m terrible about doing post anniversaries.

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