Baba O'Riley

The Who

About Baba O'Riley

"Baba O'Riley", often erroneously referred to as its chorus refrain "Teenage Wasteland", is a song by the British rock band the Who and the opening track to their studio album Who's Next. It was issued in Europe as a single on 23 October 1971, coupled with "My Wife". Roger Daltrey sings most of the song, with Pete Townshend singing the middle eight: "Don't cry/don't raise your eye/it's only teenage wasteland". The song's title is a combination of the names of two of Townshend's philosophical and musical influences: Meher Baba and Terry Riley. "Baba O'Riley" appears in Time magazine's list of the All-Time 100 Songs, Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. It also features on live albums: Who's Last, Live from Royal Albert Hall, Live from Toronto, and Greatest Hits Live. In concert Daltrey plays the violin solo on harmonica. 


Year:
1974
75 
#4

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Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals
I get my back into my living
I don't need to fight
To prove I'm right
I don't need to be forgiven

Don't cry
Don't raise your eye
It's only teenage wasteland

Sally take my hand
We'll travel south cross land
Put out the fire
And don't look past my shoulder
The exodus is here
The happy ones are near
Let's get together, before we get much older

Teenage wasteland
It's only teenage wasteland
Teenage wasteland
Oh yeah, teenage wasteland
They're all wasted!

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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: Peter Dennis Blandford Townshend

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Abkco Music Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Creation Inspiration
"Baba O'Riley" was inspired by the teachings of Meher Baba, an Indian spiritual master, and Terry Riley, a pioneering musician in minimalism. Pete Townshend, the lead guitarist for the Who, combined the names of these inspirations for the song title.
Concept Album Basis
Originally, "Baba O'Riley" was written for "Lifehouse," a projected but never completed rock opera that was intended to be the follow-up to "Tommy." The storyline of "Lifehouse" was set in a dystopian future, where music is the only escape.
Signature Keyboard Riff
The song's iconic keyboard riff is a repeating pattern played on a Lowrey Berkshire Deluxe TBO-1 organ with a marimba repeat percussion setting, which gives it a unique pulsating sound.
Unofficial Anthem
"Baba O'Riley" is often called the unofficial anthem for the teenage wasteland, even though the term "teenage wasteland" is not the title and is only mentioned once in the lyrics.
Misnamed Track
The song is often mistakenly called "Teenage Wasteland," due to the recurring lyric in the song. The correct title, "Baba O'Riley," is not mentioned at all in the lyrics.
Live Performance Relation
The Who often played "Baba O'Riley" as the last song in their setlist during concerts. The powerful ending with a violin solo became a peak moment during live performances.
Chart Rankings
Though the song was never released as a single in the U.K., in the U.S., it reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
Instrumental Ending
The song has an extended instrumental ending featuring a violin solo by Dave Arbus.
Pop Culture Feature
"Baba O'Riley" has been frequently used in popular culture, featuring in films, commercials, TV shows, and even as entrance music at sporting events. Notably, it's used as the theme song for the TV show "CSI: New York."
Recognition
In 2005, "Baba O'Riley" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for its significance in music history. It is also listed as one of the greatest songs in the Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

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