The Who's 'Won't Get Fooled Again': Iconic Drum Solo and Best Lyrics Explained
Released June 25, 1971, The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" is one of the iconic English's band's signature hits. In the United States, the song cracked the top 10 of the Cash Box chart and reached No. 15 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Over the years, "Won't Get Fooled Again" has garnered a number of superlatives, including rock's greatest outro and one of the best drum solos of all time. Additionally, one pundit called the song's closing lines the best lyrics in rock and roll history.
Nine words that have become immortal
"Won't Get Fooled Again, which was written by Pete Townshend, The Who's lead guitarist and primary songwriter, is meant as a cynical take on the free-spirited revolutionary movements popular at that point in time.
"I wrote ‘Won't Get Fooled Again' as a reaction to all that – ‘Leave me out of it: I don't think you lot would be any better than the other lot!'" Townshend explained to Creem in 1982. "All those hippies wandering about thinking the world was going to be different from that day. As a cynical English arsehole, I walked through it all and felt like spitting on the lot of them, and shaking them and trying to make them realize that nothing had changed and nothing was going to change."
The song's final two lines--"Meet the new boss/Same as the old boss"--embodied Townshend's attitude.
"If we take these lines in the context of the rest of the song, the "new boss" being referred to is the head of state or government in the country which has supposedly experienced revolutionary change," wrote Far Out's Guy Howie. "The "old boss" was the political figurehead deposed by the revolution."
It was those nine words that Nick DeRiso of Ultimate Classic Rock deemed the best lyrics in rock history back in 2023, adding that they "actually defined [Townshend's] generation, while (sadly) defining every one that followed."
A drum solo for the ages
It's not just the words that make "Won't Get Fooled Again." Keith Moon, one of the greatest drummers in music history, made his presence felt with a rousing solo.
In July 2024, Melodics named Moon's performance one of the best drum solos ever.
"Moon's solo not only showcases his technical mastery, but also captures his larger-than-life personality and commanding stage presence. His drumming exudes a sense of rebelliousness, with every beat serving as a bold statement against conformity and the norm. This solo has solidified Moon's status as a true legend," Melodics wrote.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 6:21 PM.