The Who – Won't Get Fooled Again

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We'll be fighting in the streets
With our children at our feet
And the morals that they worship will be gone
And the men who spurred us on
Sit in judgement of all wrong
They decide and the shotgun sings the song

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again

The change, it had to come
We knew it all along
We were liberated from the fold, that's all
And the world looks just the same
And history ain't changed
'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
No, no!

I'll move myself and my family aside
If we happen to be left half alive
I'll get all my papers and smile at the sky
Though I know that the hypnotized never lie
Do ya?

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

There's nothing in the streets
Looks any different to me
And the slogans are replaced, by-the-bye
And the parting on the left
Are now parting on the right
And the beards have all grown longer overnight

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play
Just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again
No, no!

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss

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Lyrics submitted by palmdogg10

Track duration: 08:32

"Won't Get Fooled Again" as written by Peter Townshend

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Won't Get Fooled Again song meanings
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78 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song is Anti-Government in general. Mainly in the fact that they mean a revolution is bound to happen over and over again because of political corruption. When they say "the marching on the left is now marching on the right" they're talking about liberals( the left) switching to conservative (the right) to please the general public. They use the line "we don't get fooled again" sarcastically because inevitably the general population gets fooled and their rights are taken from right under their noses. "For i know that the hypnotize never lie", This line refers to the media and how it distracts the people from whats really going on and fills their head full of S***. "Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss" this line says it all, who ever is in power, weather it be Democrat or Republican, They are the same although the general public doesn't notice.... Eventually they will.
    Flag wsdwg70on April 24, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of my favorite songs by the Who...in my opinion, I have always thought the song to really about how fake the musical world really is, but I am probably way off on the meaning. Listen to the Van Halen cover off of Live:Right Here, Right Now. Its a good cover.
    Flag CKF929on January 01, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song refers to presidents and that regardless of their party they're not usually good leaders and no better or worse than the previous one. Yet people often times get fooled that those presidents are gonna be better when there are few exceptions of those leaders actually being noticeably good. Those exceptions right now would be the founding fathers, Abraham Lincoln, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan. But other than that... what is there?
    Flag MetalRoxon December 07, 2012   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    Lyric Correction:I think the line is "And the parting on the left is now a parting on the right", rather than "And the parting on the left are now parting on the right". I'm pretty sure it's referring to men's hairstyles -- men who have a respectable position in society (businessmen, politicians, etc.) usually wear their hair with a side parting, sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right. I think the line is making the point (in line with the rest of the song) that it's essentially the same men, just with a slightly different appearance (especially as it's followed by the line "And the beards have all grown longer overnight").

    Also, I think Americans usually say a "part", but in England, we call it a "parting".

    Whatever, it's a great song!
    Flag Tessieon July 05, 2011   Link
  • -1
    General Comment:"meet the new boss, same as the old boss" nothing more clear than that, nothin will change until no-one is above no-one (which is no countries, and no capitalism)
    Flag Bachion January 26, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The WHO?!
    Flag DriniSlaughteron August 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:WHAT YOU BASTARDS
    only 79 comments this one of the greatest songs of all time this should have hundreds!
    Flagged anderson2657on June 20, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:'Meet the new boss, same as the old boss' echos true today. Whether it's Clinton, Bush or Obama, what's the difference.
    Flag Ravinon May 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I never get tired of this song.

    It reminds me of 1984, rather than Animal Farm (which seems to be what others are thinking). Particularly lines like, 'And history ain't changed/'Cause the banners, they are flown in the next war'.

    I like what this song gets at, though, which I think is that all the political parties can claim to be liberal, which is what the people say they want, but once they're voted in, they develop a new motto and a right-wing approach. So they can pretend to be whatever they like to get themselves popularity.

    Whatever, its a great song.
    Flag NotaNazion February 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Probably has to do with Lifehouse, but it is about governments in general.

    BTW, this is IMO the single greatest song in the history of music. It is sheer epic perfection.
    Flag Truck101on May 29, 2009   Link

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