For My Sunday Song #101, we go back to picking some of my favorite songs and no theme behind these next 10. First up is “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who. The song is off their album ‘Who’s Next’ and was the final song on the album as well as a single which wen tall the way to #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. If you aren’t familiar with it, you might know it as the song on the opening credits for the CBS show CSI: Miami.
The song was written during the ‘Lifehouse’ project the Who were working on. This was another rock opera following the success of ‘Tommy’; however, the project was later scrapped. This song was so good that they felt it would work as a standalone song on the album that became ‘Who’s Next’.
The song is about a revolution and you can see that through the lyrics. The beginning of the song is of course the beginning of the uprising of the revolution. The middle of the song has the revolution over with the new people in power and the song ends with the new people in power being just as bad as the previous people so they have to start a new revolution. It is a stark look at the reality of government. You might vote someone new into office, but they are just as bad or worse than who was previously in power. It is a constant struggle across the globe.
The song itself is absolutely amazing. It is over 8 minutes long or you can get the single edit which is shortened to a measly 3:36, but you miss the whole power behind the song. The original “full” version is a stroke of genius musically. Pete outdoes himself with both his guitar work and his work on the synthesizer which is the main focus of the song. The synthesizer is symbolic of the revolution and you can track the progression with the impact of it during the song.
One of the best parts of the song is also one of the greatest screams in music history. Roger Daltrey’s scream towards the end of the song is so powerful. The band were out having lunch and heard that scream and immediately thought that Roger was fighting with someone in the recording booth. Let me tell you it is an amazing scream and not many can duplicate it as convincingly as Roger did it. And right before that scream you get some brilliant drumming by Keith Moon.
Overall, it is just one of the greatest songs ever written and performed. Simply breathtaking in my book. I could listen to this on repeat all day and in fact it has been on repeat as I wrote this.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Thanks and have a Happy Sunday!!
“Won’t Get Fooled Again”
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the songI’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that’s all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain’t changed
‘Cause the banners, they are flown in the last war
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
No, no!
I’ll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I’ll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Oh I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?
There’s nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by the bye
And a parting on the left
Is now a parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight
I’ll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I’ll get on my knees and pray
We don’t get fooled again
Don’t get fooled again
No, no!
Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
2 Loud 2 Old Music 
Truly one of the greats. Won’t Get Fooled Again is as high class a rock song as any ever written or recorded. I particularly love the video of it from British TV where they put Keith front and centre on the stage and the band play behind him. It’s a mesmerising performance and a great moment from a perfect album
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I will look that one up.
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Great pick. Probably The Who time I’m most familiar with. Instantly recognisable from its intro… an intro so good that Weiland & The Wildabouts lifted it. Great song.
Actually, this is The Who song that got me interested in the band… and although I didn’t get them first time I explored their stuff, I still liked this song a whole lot.
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My intro to the band was really Eminence Front as MTV played it s lot. When I explored them after that I realized I knew a lot of their songs and this was one the immediately jumped out at me.
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Great track and poignant for me. This is a title I think/sing to myself for the journey coming out of the new age to God and knowing that He has given me the gift of discernment about my deception for so many years! I definitely will not BE FOOLED AGAIN 😀
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Great song to drive that point across. Thanks for sharing.
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An enduring classic despite having heard it a gazillion times! For all the synth and production, it works great just on an acoustic guitar too. Sign of a well written song that. Great choice!
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Thanks. I have heard a lot of artist say that if the song doesn’t sound good acoustically they won’t play it live as it is not really a good song.
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I remember Paul Stanley saying that when they did the Unplugged thing.
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I like the line about the CSI theme song – I think there’s a generation that may be most familiar with the Who as the group that did the CSI theme songs!
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That is sad, but at least they will know “who” they are.
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It always amazed me how this song has never aged.
So good so powerful!
Who’s Next is such a great record….
Great Post!
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Thanks! I love that record too! This song is timeless and will never feel dated.
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Definitely one of Pete Townsends best songs ever with The Who. Love that synthesiser and how it pulsates and Keith Moon’s drum work is awesome.
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Plus the scream. Don’t forget the scream!!
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This is one of the ultimate great rock songs. You’re so right. And that scream… it’s the greatest scream in all rock music, and I don’t think that will ever change for me.
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Yeah, that scream is the best! I can’t name one I like better either.
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My all-time favorite song from The Who.
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I think it is for me as well.
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They wrote this one for CSI: Miami, I think,
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I think they wrote ones for all the CSI series. It is amazing so late in their career they still come up with great songs. 😂
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