Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

The Who

About Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is a song by English rock band, the Who. It was written by the band's bassist, John Entwistle. The song was about drummer Keith Moon's drinking problems. This would be the first of two songs from The Who written about Keith Moon, the second being "Doctor Jimmy" from the album Quadrophenia. Who biographer John Atkins calls it "a macabre tribute to Keith Moon.""Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" has been compared to a Hammer horror film. The lyrics describe the good and evil elements within a single character, as in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The music incorporates a "scarey opening" and has a melody led by Entwistle's bass guitar line, which Chris Charlesworth describes as "menacing" and Atkins describes as "grinding." It also contains a French horn solo that Charlesworth describes as "spooky." Atkins describes the melody as being "strongly inventive.""Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" had been considered as a possible single release, along with "Call Me Lightning," but it was released as the B-side of "Call Me Lightning" instead. Atkins laments this decision, stating that although its horror film imagery was not ideal for a single, it was far better than "Call Me Lightning." He considers it one of Entwistle's best songs, saying that the "music and performance combine to create a perfectly chilling horror-comic Gothic mood piece." Charlesworth states that the song "succeeds admirably."Two very different versions of this song exist. The first one, running 2:24, is the B-side to the US single "Call Me Lightning". It is still available on the 1968 compilation album Magic Bus: The Who on Tour. The second version, which exceeds the former's length by 14 seconds, was the B-Side to the UK single "Magic Bus". This version has a more prominent guitar line, as well as spooky "Mr. Hyde" effects (the voice John Entwistle had used in chorus of the song "Boris the Spider") and can be found on the Japanese release of the Who's Missing/Two's Missing compilation released in 2011. 


Year:
1994
111 

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Hyde, Hyde.
Someone is spending my money for me,
The money I earn I never see,
In all things I do he interferes,
All I know is trouble as soon as he appears.

Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Hyde.
When I drink my potion my character changes,
My whole mind and body rearranges,
This strange transformation takes place in me,
Instead of myself everybody can see...

Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Hyde.
Whenever you're with me make sure it's still me,
I've got to the stage I can't tell which I'll be,
The loveable fellow who'll buy you a drink,
Then when he's drunk his he'll change in a wink into...

Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Mister Hyde, Hyde.

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The Who

The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey (lead vocals, guitar, harmonica), Pete Townshend (vocals, guitar, keyboards), John Entwistle (vocals, bass) and Keith Moon, (drums, vocals). They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction. The Who have sold about 100 million records, and have charted 27 top forty singles in the United Kingdom and United States, as well as 17 top ten albums, with 18 Gold, 12 Platinum and 5 Multi-Platinum album awards in the United States alone. more »

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Written by: JOHN ENTWISTLE

Lyrics © GOWMONK, INC.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was penned by drummer Keith Moon. It was released as the B-side to their 1968 single "Magic Bus".
Album Inclusion
This song was not originally on any of The Who's full-length studio albums. However, it was added to the 1995 and 2001 CD reissues of "Magic Bus: The Who on Tour".
Thematic Context
The song's narrative reflects the psychological struggle between the good and evil aspects of a person's character, similar to the classic novel "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Musical Style
The track showcases The Who’s talent for creating theatrical aspects within their music. It features the unusual combination of brass instruments and heavy guitars.
Personal Connection
Some fans and critics interpret the song as autobiographical, reflecting Moon's own struggles with alcohol and substance abuse which often drastically altered his personality.
Lesser-Known Track
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is less well-known than many of The Who's other songs and often overlooked. Despite this, it is praised for its originality and expressive lyricism.
Live Performances
Unlike many of The Who's songs, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was seldom performed live by the band.
Critical Reception
The song has received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised its lyrics and thematic coherence, others criticized it for its stark contrast to the band's more popular tracks.
Co-writing Contribution
"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" was one of the few songs penned predominantly by Moon, with Pete Townshend and John Entwistle usually taking the majority of the songwriting duties.
Unique Arrangement
The song stands out due to its distinctive brass section, an element not typically found in The Who's rock-oriented repertoire.

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