The conversation between The Who and their audience was always the source of their beauty. Pete Townshend understood that to reach the people he wanted, he had to go beyond simply creating catchy songs that people loved to turn up the radio for. This was in contrast to most other bands from that era. To draw the audience along, he would need to sing. Townshend acknowledged that he wanted to write a song against the grain when he sat down to write “Won’t Get Fooled Again” because sometimes the audience is unsure of what they want.
The Who had the world at their disposal after the release of “My Generation.” Similar Mod groups had existed in the past. However, none of them were able to produce the same level of noise. Or the main riff that would later serve as a model for punk rock.
Though the single was a respectable example of disgruntled rock and roll, Townshend set higher goals for himself when composing his other songs. When Townshend began assembling Tommy, he envisioned a character piece that would make rock music fans appreciate it in the same way that they appreciate opera or other genres. Rock and roll needed to mean something more.
However, it’s unlikely that Townshend considered the extent of the impact it would have. Townshend disliked the idea of simply repeating the same old formula. Aside from creating the rock opera, everyone was now eagerly awaiting his next move.
The remnants of the project intended to be the next album, Lifehouse, appeared on Who’s Next. This was originally envisioned as another opera. Although the album contained some excellent tracks, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” was meant to be the grand finale. In this track, Bobby, the new character, battles against dystopian rulers who want to give everyone an artificial life.
Townshend told The New York Times that he wanted to write a song that put the audience in their place even though he loved the idea of starting a revolution. He said, “I wrote ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again,’ which was essentially saying to the audience: ‘Just [expletive] off.” I’m not going to be your tool. It raised the question, “What are you going to do if you’re going to say ‘[expletive] off’ to revolutionary thinking?”
It’s not as though Townshend lacked knowledge in his field. Even though social change was already gaining momentum in the 1960s, Townshend knew he wanted more from the world. He felt that the ideals of the Woodstock generation were insufficient once the Summer of Love subsided.
Not only is “Won’t Get Fooled Again” one of his best songs ever, but it also sounds like Townshend’s take on Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone.” Townshend reminded everyone that nothing would change after becoming one of the world’s biggest stars. He was the new boss, but is that really that revolutionary, considering the lyrics?
