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I think in every generation, people have had conversations about dealing with the gap between the generations.  I know I’ve been to business seminars where the keynote speaker discusses the fact that there are multiple generations in the workforce.  On May 19, 1965, Pete Townsend of the rock band, The Who was contemplating intergenerational conflict when he wrote My Generation.  The 1960s was probably one of the most significant periods for intergenerational conflict as it was a period where demographics and baby boom after the Second World War resulted in the largest generation of teenagers in history.  This large generation would set its own terms and this was no more so expressed than in the lyrics of “My Generation”.  The Who was about to split up but this song that Pete Townsend wrote on a train when he was twenty years old, kept them together and would be the catalyst to make them the most successful rock band of the era.

“My Generation”
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

Posted by on May 19, 2015 in Entertainment, Music and tagged , , .

9 Comments

9 responses

  1. Louisa May Alcatt says:
    May 19, 2015 at 9:19 am

    Not only a great song, but one of the all-time best stuttering songs!

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  2. a gray says:
    May 19, 2015 at 11:58 am

    Yeah, I hope I die before I get old and now they are all old.

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  3. Birgit says:
    May 19, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    There was so much upheaval in the mid to late 60’s and early 70’s but from such strife came great music. 2 things stood out (aside from the great song) -Roger Daltrey’s bright hair and that they are now 70 plus. Actually Pete Townsend’s birthday is today! I am certain you knew that and he turns 70-OMG!!

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  4. jazzfeathers says:
    May 19, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    It sounds a lot like the Twenties I blogged about during the AtoZ Challenge.
    I’m a 1980s gal, and I’m happy of my genertion, but I do think the 1960s was a particularly meaningful time to be young.

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  5. summerstommy2 says:
    May 20, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    I so remember the Who……and this song in particular….its interesting that so much of it still applies to today’s teenage generation. Thought the idea of dying before I get old is become a reality I am not just yet ready to see happen….

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    • Maryann Holloway says:
      May 20, 2015 at 10:47 pm

      That is for sure. I think as we leave our youth behind, we can remember that we had different ideals than our parents but I think we learn to keep those ideals and join the world of adults. A merger of youth and adulthood. (Most of us anyway :))

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