My Generation

The Who

About My Generation

"My Generation" is a song by the English rock band the Who, which became a hit and one of their most recognizable songs. The song was named the 11th greatest song by Rolling Stone on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time and 13th on VH1's list of the 100 Greatest Songs of Rock & Roll. It is also part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and is inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame for "historical, artistic and significant" value. In 2009 it was named the 37th Greatest Hard Rock Song by VH1. The song has been said to have "encapsulated the angst of being a teenager," and has been characterized as a "nod to the Mod counterculture". The song was released as a single on 29 October 1965, reaching No. 2 in the UK, The Who's highest charting single in their home country and No. 74 in America. "My Generation" also appeared on The Who's 1965 debut album, My Generation (The Who Sings My Generation in the United States), and in greatly extended form on their live album Live at Leeds (1970). Although The Who re-recorded the song for the Ready Steady Who EP in 1966, ultimately it was not included, and remained unissued until the 1995 remaster of A Quick One. The main difference between this version and the original is that it is heavily abridged and instead of the hail of feedback which closes the original, the band play a chaotic rendition of Edward Elgar's "Land of Hope and Glory." In the album's liner notes the song is thus credited to both Townshend and Elgar. 


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People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Don't try to dig what we all s-s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)

My generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don't you all f-fade away (talkin' 'bout my generation)
And don't try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm not trying to 'cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin' 'bout my generation)
I'm just talkin' 'bout my g-g-generation (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My, my, my generation

People try to put us d-down (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (talkin' 'bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (talkin' 'bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
My, my, my generation

(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation)
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation
(Talkin' 'bout my generation) this is my generation

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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 Townshend

Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Band History
"My Generation" is a song by the British rock band, The Who.
Song Release
The song was first released as a single on 29 October 1965 in the United Kingdom.
Album Details
"My Generation" is also the title track of the band's debut studio album, released in December 1965.
Chart Success
It reached No. 2 in the UK charts and peaked at No. 74 in the United States.
Lyrics Theme
The song's lyrics are renowned for expressing the rebellious counterculture of the 1960s.
Vocal Style
Lead vocalist Roger Daltrey delivers the lyrics in a stammering style, conveying the frustration and angst of the theme.
Culture Impact
"My Generation" is often cited as the anthem of youthful rebellion and has been covered by numerous artists.
Famous Line
One of the song's most famous lines, "I hope I die before I get old," reflected the youth counterculture's disdain for complacency and old age.
Recognition
Rolling Stone magazine placed "My Generation" 11th in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2004.
Music Preservation
In 2009, the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
Notable Performances
The Who’s 1967 performance of 'My Generation' on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is known for resulting in significant damage to the set due to an explosive finale.
Bass Solo
'My Generation' contains a bass solo by John Entwistle; it's considered one of the first in rock music history.
Band Influence
This song helped establish The Who as one of the most influential bands of the 60s and 70s rock era.
Song Composition
Composed by Pete Townshend, the song was reportedly influenced by the Queen Mother who had Townshend’s 1935 Packard Hearse towed off a street in Belgravia because she was offended by the sight of it during her daily drive through the neighborhood.
Song Influences
The song also noticeably contains harmonic and rhythmic elements of traditional blues and R&B, a testament to the band's musical influences.

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    My Generation

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1966

    Billboard #74


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