The Who – “My Generation” Live At Woodstock

Don’t Try To Dig What We All Say!

“My Generation” was written by Pete Townshend and featured in The Who’s debut studio album. After its release, it became one of the band’s most recognizable songs. Townshend wrote the lyrics as he was riding a train. He’s had several inspirations including Mose Allison’s “Young Man Blues.”

• Number 11 on the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” by The Rolling Stone magazine
• Number 13 on the “100 Greatest Songs of Rock & Roll” by VH1
• Included in the list of “The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll”

The song has been said to have “encapsulated the angst of being a teenager,” and has been characterized as a “nod to the mod counterculture.”

When it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, it was cited for its “historical, artistic and significant” value. Of all the incredible elements in the song, the one most striking are the lyrics. In fact, the line “I hope I die before I get old” has been quoted several times. And even the tone is undeniably remarkable!

Like much of The Who’s earlier Mod output, the song boasts clear influences of American rhythm and blues, most explicitly in the call and response form of the verses. Daltrey would sing a line, and the backing vocalists, Pete Townshend (low harmony) and John Entwistle (high harmony), would respond with the refrain “Talkin’ ’bout my generation”:

The song talks about finding one’s place in the society and man, it sure became legendary!

+ LYRICS +

People try to put us d-down (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we get around (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I hope I die before I get old (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don’t you all f-fade away (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
And don’t try to dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I’m not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I’m just talkin’ ’bout my g-g-g-generation (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

Why don’t you all f-fade away (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
And don’t try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I’m not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
I’m just talkin’ ’bout my g-g-generation (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby

People try to put us d-down (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Things they do look awful c-c-cold (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (Talkin’ ’bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation, baby