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About This Track
“5:15” is a song written by Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who from their second rock opera, Quadrophenia (1973). The song reached number twenty on the UK Singles Chart, while the 1979 re-release (along the film and soundtrack album) reached number seventy-nine on the Billboard Hot 100.
Role in the plot of Quadrophenia
In the song, the main character Jimmy has taken the titular train to Brighton, consumed a lot of drugs, recollecting his life with the Mods, the cultural movement to which he belongs (even if he has dropped out for now), and their duels with the Rockers. Jimmy’s memories are extremely disjointed, consisting mainly of anger, confusion, violence, sexual frustration, and rootlessness.
“5.15”, like many of the songs from Quadrophenia is self-referential - “M-m-m-maaah generation” is a line - and thus represents an angrily self-centered, teenage disconnection with society, family and the opposite sex. ‘Jimmy’ was “born in the war”, that is, World War II and its aftermath, does not understand why he should care about it (or anything) in the context of his extravagant, Mod values.
Style and variations
The studio recording shows off the originality of Keith Moon, whose drumming toward the end of the song mimics the rhythm of a train, slowing down as it enters a station. The simple power and drive of this song made it an extremely popular concert staple. The live performances of the song from 1996 to early 2002 were highlighted by an extended bass solo from John Entwistle that would push the song either toward or past the ten-minute mark (the version on Live at the Royal Albert Hall album clocks in at 11:40).
Role in the plot of Quadrophenia
In the song, the main character Jimmy has taken the titular train to Brighton, consumed a lot of drugs, recollecting his life with the Mods, the cultural movement to which he belongs (even if he has dropped out for now), and their duels with the Rockers. Jimmy’s memories are extremely disjointed, consisting mainly of anger, confusion, violence, sexual frustration, and rootlessness.
“5.15”, like many of the songs from Quadrophenia is self-referential - “M-m-m-maaah generation” is a line - and thus represents an angrily self-centered, teenage disconnection with society, family and the opposite sex. ‘Jimmy’ was “born in the war”, that is, World War II and its aftermath, does not understand why he should care about it (or anything) in the context of his extravagant, Mod values.
Style and variations
The studio recording shows off the originality of Keith Moon, whose drumming toward the end of the song mimics the rhythm of a train, slowing down as it enters a station. The simple power and drive of this song made it an extremely popular concert staple. The live performances of the song from 1996 to early 2002 were highlighted by an extended bass solo from John Entwistle that would push the song either toward or past the ten-minute mark (the version on Live at the Royal Albert Hall album clocks in at 11:40).
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Albums featuring this track
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My Generation - The Very Best Of The Who
The Who
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Quadrophenia (disc 2)
The Who Buy- Download Album
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- Amazon $8.28
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Quadrophenia
The Who Buy- Download Album
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- 7digital $14.99
- iTunes $14.99
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Who's Greatest Hits
The Who Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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Drazba wrote:
what an album that Quadrophenia is-if "whos next" wasnt so great i think it would be the whos best album-
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SerpentLazarus wrote:
prominence_la: Well, the compilations helped it become more noticeable, but relative to their more well-known tracks, I always thought this one trumped most of them yet didn't get quite the recognition it so deserved (at least that's how I saw it).
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pteronophobic wrote:
I love how the euphoric nature of the music contrasts the monotony that the title implies.
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panconhuevo wrote:
Magia.
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prominence_la wrote:
@SerpentLazarus - Not overlooked, thanks to compilations. This used to be one of the only tracks I knew off Quadrophenia.
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rwffl wrote:
Why should I care?
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pteronophobic wrote:
It's 5:15, time to listen to this song again.
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SonOfThirteen wrote:
The ox usually kills it live, but his wankery live at the royal albert hall wasn't upto his usual impeccable standards i feel :/
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SerpentLazarus wrote:
Great, overlooked track for the band. One of my favorites from their latter period.
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NorbertTaunus wrote:
The who: was sonst!
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Moxxxu wrote:
best of who
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huxr wrote:
Got only silence when Last.fm played this song...
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MCFC_Blue wrote:
Where have I been? Out of my brain on the 5:15 Out of my brain on a train. awsome
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kikikirsche wrote:
out of my brain on a train
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milkas_pl wrote:
:D
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Wiillian wrote:
música perfeita :D
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mikesimpson wrote:
Pretty girls, diggin,prettier women, is what I like to think about too :)
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lastfmdazza01 wrote:
Inside, outside, leave me alone.... We are the MODS
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hanginchili wrote:
Missed my stop!
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chefsam57 wrote:
yes
Track Stats
389,283 Scrobbles
126,192 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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Jojobonn added 5:15 to the playlist. Monday afternoon
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Jojobonn and Rasmuth added The Who – 5:15 to their libraries. Monday afternoon
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johnny_rock_94, VinciZeff and jimpark1066 loved The Who – 5:15. Sunday afternoon
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Art_Ramone added 5:15 to Art_Ramone’s library. Friday evening
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Art_Ramone added 5:15 to the playlist Лучшие песни The Who. Friday evening
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jamppa-86, juststooges, Zappaeatsfrogs and 1 other person loved The Who – 5:15. Friday afternoon
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JoeCalcaterra added 5:15 to JoeCalcaterra’s library. Thursday afternoon
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rmc211, rockyhorro666, akademon and 9 other people loved The Who – 5:15. Thursday afternoon
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bonprixe added 5:15 to bonprixe’s library. last month
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JoeMylau added 5:15 to the playlist Liste 13. last month
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