| One of the most celebrated lyrics from | | | | be sung by a farmer who was moving his |
| The Who Teenage Wasteland is sung in an | | | | family into the city of London, |
| emotional, almost breaking voice by | | | | explaining the 'Out here in the fields' |
| guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend | | | | line. This lyric, however, has since |
| during the bridge to the song 'Baba | | | | found resonance as a metaphor for many |
| O'Riley' from the 'Who's Next' album. | | | | who could identify with the feelings of |
| Townshend had put together an | | | | the song's protagonist, however removed |
| instrumental synthesizer demo in 1971 | | | | from the original meaning their life |
| which was over 9 minutes in length and | | | | might be. For The Who Teenage Wasteland |
| consisted of a series of rising and | | | | represented a less literal concept, with |
| falling arpeggios. He played it for the | | | | Townshend explaining that he used it to |
| band after the rock opera he had | | | | rail against those unwilling to work to |
| previously been working on had collapsed | | | | improve the world around them. |
| and left him an emotional wreck. The | | | | The song's synthesizer parts weren't the |
| Who took many bits and pieces of music | | | | only unique musical aspect of the track. |
| from that project along with songs that | | | | In the last section of the song the |
| other band members had been working on | | | | guitars fade away to reveal a violin |
| and combined them to form the new album. | | | | playing a folk-inspired, whirling |
| In some cases, songs were split up and | | | | dervish of a rhythm. This was unusual |
| sewn together, and this is how 'Baba | | | | for a rock band at the time, and instead |
| O'Riley' came to be written. The | | | | of being rejected by fans it became one |
| synthesizer demo was combined with an | | | | of the song's most endearing qualities. |
| entirely different track called 'Teenage | | | | On occasion The Who will employ a |
| Wasteland' and the end result was the | | | | violinist in a live setting specifically |
| extremely successful opening track off | | | | for 'Baba O'Riley', but usually the solo |
| of 'Who's Next'. The 'teenage | | | | is performed by Daltrey on the |
| wasteland' lyric in the bridge and | | | | harmonica. The song is only 5 minutes |
| chorus was so popular that the song is | | | | long, although in concert it can range |
| often identified by this name. | | | | well past 10 minutes depending on how |
| The original song by this name was | | | | involved the band becomes in exploring |
| released in 1999 as a demo from the | | | | the synthesizer lines. |
| sessions that took place for the | | | | is the mystical rehersal studio for |
| abandoned 'Lifehouse' rock opera. Some | | | | rockers DEMON TWEAK. Listen as they |
| of the lyrics in the track can be | | | | prepare for battle with the evil |
| attributed to the storyline of | | | | trickster Loki by playing home brewed |
| 'Lifehouse', as the song was intended to | | | | classic rock direct from Ragnarok. |