The Who » Tracks » Baba O'Riley

The Who – Baba O'Riley (5:00)

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About This Track

Baba O’Riley (often mistakenly called “Teenage Wasteland”) is the opening track of The Who’s 1971’s album Who’s Next, written by guitarist Pete Townshend. Lead singer Roger Daltrey takes the vocals for most of the song, while Townshend sings the middle eight: “Don’t cry/don’t raise your eye/it’s only teenage wasteland”. The title of the song is derived from this combination of the song’s philosophical and musical influences: Meher Baba and Terry Riley. Townshend originally wrote “Baba O’Riley” for his Lifehouse project, a rock opera that was to be the follow-up to The Who’s 1969’s rock opera Tommy.

Townshend derived the song from a Lowrey Berkshire home organ experimental recording, which the band reconstructed. Drummer Keith Moon had the idea of inserting a violin solo at the coda of the song, during which the style of the song shifts from crashing rock to an Irish folk-style beat. Dave Arbus, of East of Eden, plays the violin in the solo heard during this section.

“Baba O’Riley” was going to be used in the Lifehouse project as a song sung by Ray, the Scottish farmer at the beginning of the album as he gathers his wife Sally and his two children to begin their exodus to London. Although the Lifehouse project was later scrapped, many of the songs were released on The Who’s 1971 album Who’s Next. The song was released as a single in several European countries, but in the US and the UK was only released as part of the album. It has been a concert staple after its release. A remixed version is used in the title credits of the popular drama CSI:New York.
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  • Torryman

    Это офигеть какой шедевр!

    yesterday evening

  • hawk_spirit

    "don't cry"? almost cried seeing video of these folks performing it live in 2001.

    Tuesday evening

  • impronen

    How can a silly tv show ruin a band? Dont understand at all.

    Saturday afternoon

  • maxlharris

    F-ing CSI. Love this song, but CSI has ruined the Who for me.

    last week

  • lottadogs

    Who's Next is one of the greatest albums ever created...turn it up ;-)

    last week

  • hommerzero

    IT'S ONLY TEEANGE WASTELAND!

    12 days ago

  • cintiaalbuquerq

    this is more than awesome

    13 days ago

  • KISSastrophe

    Teenage Wasteland ♥ ♥

    19 days ago

  • ManCalled7Sun

    *******

    19 days ago

  • Pekinpah

    One of the best of all times! Did you seen the film "S.O.S. Summer of Sam" from Spike Lee?? When appears this song is the best moment of the film!!

    22 days ago

  • AntonVriesde

    It doesn't get any better than this.

    last month

  • Effy2

    <3

    last month

  • lifeabove619

    love it, theme song when i was just young

    last month

  • Marjo47

    classic

    last month

  • oldiesfanjohn

    Pete"Get the FUCK off my stage!"Townshend

    last month

  • lady-starlight

    loooooooooove this

    last month

  • lenara999

    aaaaaah this song! pure symphony, my essence sings along

    last month

  • tparks9243

    One Of The Best From The Who!!!

    December 2011

  • Liloucat

    LOOOOOVE it <3<3<3

    December 2011

  • slidein

    просто класс!!!!!

    December 2011
See all 1,799 shouts

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