The song was intended to appear on one of Entwistle's solo studio albums, but drummer Kenney Jones (who replaced deceased Moon) convinced him to use the song for the Who.[2] Jones said "When I first joined (the Who), John (Entwistle) and I used to go down to Shepperton and just work out and have a play. He was working on this song and trying to arrange it, we both sort of arranged it together. I just loved it so much, he was going to put it on his solo album, and I said 'I think that's a definite Who song. You can't do that.' I made him sit on it for a year until we actually started recording. I'm so pleased I did it is definitely one of those exciting songs."[3]
"You" was never performed live by the Who but it was played by Entwistle's solo bands.
Critical reception
Authors Alan Parker and Steve Grantley said that the song was "possibly the worst lyrics John ever penned." They also said that the lyrics "highlight just how desperate for material the band were."
[2]But it's notable that these two couldn't begin to write a better song.