Who – Who Are You

This song is for Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week, the theme is to find a song that is based on reality. A prompt inspired by Badfinger (Max) of PowerPop. Whoever that crazy guy is. 

Great song by The Who and one of the first Who songs I knew. Keith Moon was not in the best shape by this time, but his drumming on this is still fantastic. The song helped define classic radio along with its siblings Baba O’Riley and Won’t Get Fooled Again. Unlike some 80s synth sounds, these synths of those three songs still sound fresh today.

Pete Townshend wrote it in the aftermath of a meeting with some industry suits, wandered into a Soho pub, ran into some of the Sex Pistols, and came out very drunk with a bruised ego and the chorus to one of The Who’s most iconic late-period tracks. Rock bottom, meet the charts. This song, released in August 1978, was the title track to what would turn out to be Keith Moon’s final album. He died three weeks after its release, and that ghost haunts the band to this day. 

This isn’t the mod, youthful energy of My Generation anymore, it’s the sound of grown men staring into the abyss of their own legend. The Who had spent a decade writing operas, smashing instruments, and becoming arena rock icons. And suddenly they were competing with punk bands they helped inspire.

Townshend once said, Who Are You was a cry of frustration, about the music industry, about the punk movement, about himself. Many of Townsend’s songs are about real-life events.  The song peaked at #14 in the Billboard 100 and #18 in the UK in 1978. The album Who Are You peaked at #2 on the Billboard Album Charts, #2 in Canada, and #6 in the UK. 

Pete Townshend: “I’d like to think that where the song came from wasn’t the feet that I was drunk when I did the demo, but the fact that I was f–king angry with  Allen Klein, and that the song was an outlet for that anger.”

Roger Daltrey: “We were getting incredible accolades from some of the new Punk bands. They were saying how much they loved The Who, that we were the only band they’d leave alive after they’d taken out the rest of the establishment! But I felt very threatened by the Punk thing at first. To me it was like, ‘Well, they think they’re f—ing tough, but we’re f—ing tougher.’ It unsettled me in my vocals. When I listen back to ‘Who Are You?’ I can hear that it made me incredibly aggressive. But that’s what that song was about. Being pissed and aggressive and a c—!”

Who Are You

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

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really want to 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?

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

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 receive your kiss
How can I measure up to anyone now
After such a love as this?

Well, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
Tell me, who are you? (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)
‘Cause I really want to know (Who are you? Who, who, who, who?)

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, 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. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

65 thoughts on “Who – Who Are You”

  1. The anger sure comes through in this. It’s brash as Hell. Interesting to hear how it was written from a pushed-up against the wall feeling.

    Allen Klein- who wouldn’t be pissed off by him, except his mother? Maybe.

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    1. I was going to put in the first sentence…please forgive me obbverse lol. The prompt of Jim’s sounded good for this one.
      Klein never managed The Who but I think he was involved with their royalities….how I don’t know…but yea I agree with you. Not hard getting pissed at him.
      Pete was really going through the ringer in this period.

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  2. The Who were from the area I came from and they were the group…. I remember this song with particular affection…. All groups were ripped off by management in those days …. probably still are. Great choice 💜

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      2. Yes you did. I came a generation later but this was the music I listened to. I was an 80s teen who listened to this generation much more than mine…to me it was the best.

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      3. I fell in love with music and lyrics listening to my older brothers and sisters music of late 50s /60s I was married and seventeen by 1971 and I had been fan of the who since they started and I would have been eleven/ twelve about the same time I found the stones! 😁

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      4. Wow…you grew up when I wanted to! I found the Beatles as an 8 year old in 1975 and from there I went to The Stones, Who, Kinks, and all of those great bands.

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      5. Yup we were lucky or my, my gen -er -ation were! That said there’s always Queen, ABBA, Guns and Roses NO I can’t listen them l love music, even Oasis, Take That, Imagine dragons,Imogen Heap and especially Sam Ryder I love music all music 💜🙂☺️☺️ You probably think I am mad now!!

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  5. I go through periods where I’m tired of this song, and then I like it again. I don’t listen to Classic Rock radio much anymore, so I don’t hear the overplayed ones that much. Video is hilarious and sad too. Sounds good today.

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    1. I stay away from classic rock radio on the most part as well…so many of the songs are fresh again…like this one.

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      2. I meant to tell you yesterday! Yes I did and I meant to tell you Thursday. Girls in Their Summer Clothes (he recaptured his older sound in this one)…is the highlight to me and I have to admit…I liked everything.

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      3. Yeah, I had heard that song a time or two, and then heard it in the grocery store, and decided to look into the album. Found a used copy at a local music shop, and ended up really liking it. Glad you did too.

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      4. Thank you for reccomending it. I would have never given it a chance. I did like parts of his two album release in the early nineties…Lucky Town and Human Touch…not his best but some good songs.

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      6. That was on Lucky Town…it’s a beautiful song. One of my favorites from that album as well. I liked that one, Lucky Town, and Better Days.
        On Human Touch I liked the title song and 57 Channels which I tought was true and funny.

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  6. Much like yourself one of the first Who tunes I ever heard. Funny you hear some classic rock tracks over and over again yet for some reason I never get tired of Grumpy Rog belting out “Ah, Who the F**k are you??!” Pete nailed this composition big time.

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    1. I agree Glynn. I know some Who fans that draw the line with Tommy. Either they like Tommy and before or after Tommy. Personally I like their entire career.

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  14. yes, I began with Tommy (remember that part in the movie Almost Famous, that could have been me.

    I wasn’t a huge fan of Quadrophenia, I like that Townshend helped get Clapton back on track, and that he was a part of McCartney’s Rockestra….but watching the live set at Woodstock is worth seeing, hated the movie version of Tommy (it did get me to buy Roger Daltrey’s solo album) and fave tunes, among many, the Seeker and You Better Your Bet….

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    1. I didn’t like the movie or soundtrack either. I thought the Who did Tommy live better. The Who at the Isle of Wight is them at the top of their game. For me…it was the best live rock band I’ve heard…that and Live At Leeds.

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      1. Have you heard Live At The Young Vic 1971? I think it was a bonus disc on the Who’s Next 50th Anniversary set. I didn’t spring for it because I bought the first expanded CD. It’s on YouTube, though. It’s incredible hearing the Lifehouse/Who’s Next material so early on.

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      2. No but I’ve read about it. They were still trying to do Lifehouse at that point and that was part of it…taking it live…I’m listening now… they supposedly filmed it as well….that was some of the point of it.
        I think it was before they got Glyn Johns to produce it and he convinced Pete to cut the opera and just keep the songs.

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  15. Perhaps not quite as great as the songs on “Who’s Next” – still, it’s a classic by The Who you can’t go wrong with!

    I’m helping my wife with preparations for a party she’s hosting in our patio later this afternoon (just took a short break from being out in the sun and the heat). As such, most of my reading and commenting will have to wait until after dark!

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      2. LOL…but of course! I think sometimes wives hold meetings that we don’t know about…hmmm…how to make it as hard as possible!

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    1. There were a few who really liked them…of all the bands yea…The Who were liked by the Clash I know…but I guess some didn’t feel that way.

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  17. Yeah! I love this tune. After playing Townshend’s album, “Who Came First” on repeat, The Who gateway in my mind. You’ll have me a full-fledged fan at some point. All 4 fire on all cylinders, which is what makes them musical icons.

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  18. I’ve always loved Who Are You, and I’ve always been a Who fan. I prefer seeing live gig videos of them as it brings back memories of the three gigs I went to of theirs. But I enjoyed this vid of the demo. What the heck has Moonie got on his head though? It looks like he’s gaffer-taped his headphones on! (gaffer-tape = duck or duct-tape).

    I’m pasting this comment in via notepad as I’m super-clumsy at the moment, and keep clicking on the wrong things, don’t know why!

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    1. I wanted to post a live cut…BUT…it wouldn’t have included Keith of course…this is one they never did with him.
      Oh duct tape his headphones on I believe lol. I have days like that as well. A few months ago WP messed up in the comments and I had to paste from notepad for two days.

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  21. Great post Max and I always loved this song. Townshend got so drunk with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, that he passed out in a Soho doorway after the meeting with Allen Klein.  A policeman recognized him and offered him the chance to go home, rather than being arrested, but Townshend said, “Who the f–k are you?” Thanks for suggesting this wonderful theme.

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    1. Thanks Jim I appreciate it! I had a lot of fun and I’m honored that you mentioned me on it!

      Jim, I never ask this…but it can be the end of the week or whatever…I had a post Monday (I was off work) I would love for you to answer…or you can answer here. I asked the readers…what was the first song they remember hearing that stuck with them. Mine was Leaving on a Jet Plane by PP&M.

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      1. A few of my friends stared a band which they named the Fugs, and they played all cover songs and the one that sticks out for me is I’m So Glad, which was written by Skip James and covered by the Cream. After listening to that, I knew what type of music I liked.

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      2. Oh Cool Jim…thanks for answering… I had over 70 comments on that one. Thats a great one to start with!

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