The Who Won’t Get Fooled Again
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The Who have been a rock and roll mainstay for over half a century. During their career, they have produced some of the most recognizable music in rock history and even been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. But none of their songs is more beloved than “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, a 1971 track dedicated to the battle against those forces trying to keep us down with the same tactics over and over again.
The song was originally released as the first single off of The Who’s album Who’s Next, and it went on to reach No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a signature track of the British Rock band. The song’s title was also made popular again when House of Cards’ character Frank Underwood popularized it in the series.
The lyrics of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” express a feeling of defiance against those in power. Singer Roger Daltrey sings “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”, expressing a cynical view of political power. Daltrey’s inviting of the audience to shout “yeah” was an early instance of getting the audience to connect and resonate with the message in the song.
The overall sound of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” is recognizable for its prominent organ part and staccato guitar riffs. The intro features a Moog synthesizer, and at around 4:08 features one of the most memorable guitar solos in rock music history. This is the only song that the Who’s late guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend ever released as a solo.
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” is a timeless anthem of defiance against an oppressive power and a classic example of The Who’s classic rock. No matter how often we hear it, we won’t get fooled again.