I'll Be Back

Album: Who (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This smooth, soulful song is the only track on Who where Pete Townshend, rather than Roger Daltrey, sings lead.
  • The song was inspired by Townshend's interest in the writings of Indian spiritual teacher Meher Baba and his belief in reincarnation. He explained to Mojo magazine:

    "We can't all accept the scientific view that there is no other life. The idea for that song was - challenge. Have one song which is about what you would like to believe: the Indian teaching that says karma is a result of reincarnation and we work out our karma with reincarnation. That idea is hidden away in all religions. The Calvinists and the Lutherans and the Catholics and the Sunnis and the Shias, they all destroyed it. But it's there. We often meet people we somehow feel we've known before, there's no denying it.

    The other thing is, on a superficial level, The Who album is: well, we're back. You might not like it, it may work for you, it may not. But we're here and guess what dash we'll be back again."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

In The Cards

In The CardsSong Writing

Songwriters have used cards and card games to make sense of heartache, togetherness, and even Gonorrhea.

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the Song

"Private Eyes" - The Story Behind the SongSong Writing

How a goofy detective movie, a disenchanted director and an unlikely songwriter led to one of the biggest hits in pop history.

Dave Mason

Dave MasonSongwriter Interviews

Dave reveals the inspiration for "Feelin' Alright" and explains how the first song he ever wrote became the biggest hit for his band Traffic.

Al Kooper

Al KooperSongwriter Interviews

Kooper produced Lynyrd Skynyrd, played with Dylan and the Stones, and formed BS&T.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.