My Generation
Written by: Pete Townshend
Originally recorded by: The Who


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

This is my generation
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
This is my generation, baby

Why dont you all f-fade away (talkin bout my generation)
Why dont you all f-fade away (talkin bout my generation)
And dont try to dig what we all s-s-say (talkin bout my generation)
And dont try to dig what we all s-s-say (talkin bout my generation)
Im not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin bout my generation)
Im not trying to cause a big s-s-sensation (talkin bout my generation)
Im just talkin bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin bout my generation)
Im just talkin bout my g-g-g-generation (talkin bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
This is my generation, baby

Why dont you all f-fade away (talkin bout my generation)
Why dont you all f-fade away (talkin bout my generation)
And dont try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin bout my generation)
And dont try to d-dig what we all s-s-say (talkin bout my generation)
Im not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin bout my generation)
Im not trying to cause a b-big s-s-sensation (talkin bout my generation)
Im just talkin bout my g-g-generation (talkin bout my generation)
Im just talkin bout my g-g-generation (talkin bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
This is my generation, baby

People try to put us d-down (talkin bout my generation)
People try to put us d-down (talkin bout my generation)
Just because we g-g-get around (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)
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)
Yeah, I hope I die before I get old (talkin bout my generation)

This is my generation
This is my generation
This is my generation, baby
This is my generation, baby

DOCUMENTATION

This song was on The Who album of the same name.  The title song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and remains one of The Who's best known songs and one of the most acclaimed songs in rock and roll history.

Recorded October 13th, 1965 at Pye Studios, London This was The Who's fourth attempt at recording this song. Pete had written it on May 19th during a train ride to Southampton to appear on a television show. The original was a slow "talking" blues without a stutter. Pete reworked it into its present form with the help of manager Chris Stamp. It was released as a single in the U.K. on November 5th, 1965 and reached #2. The U.S. single release was November 20th, 1965 where it peaked at #74.

Pete Townshend has often regretted penning the memorable lines "Hope I die before I get old" but 'My Generation' remains the hardest hitting single released by any U.K. pop group in 1965.  'My Generation' went through many transformations whenever The Who played it live. Often it became a slow blues that gradually speeded up.  There are many false endings where Pete silences the band before heading off into uncharted territory, apparently finishing the song, only to restart and accelerate again. .  

This song has been covered by Alice Cooper, Oasis, Phish, and Patty Smith, to name a few.

Rick performed this song live for the first time in Richmond, BC Canada on 6/17/06 and continued  performing it out in the audience throughout the rest of the year.