Although written as "5.15" on the single cover, on the back cover of Quadrophenia (the album from which the song is taken) it is written as "5:15".

the who - 5:15 lyrics meaning

3/15

"5.15", like many of the songs from Quadrophenia, is self-referential - "M-m-m-my generation" is a line - and thus represents an angrily self-centered, teenage disconnection with society, family and the opposite sex. 'Jimmy' was "born in the war" (that is, World War II and its aftermath) and does not understand why he should care about it (or anything) in the context of his extravagant Mod values.

In the song, the main character Jimmy has taken the titular train to Brighton, consumed a lot of drugs, recollecting his life with the Mods, the cultural movement to which he belongs (even if he has dropped out for now), and their duels with the Rockers. Jimmy's memories are extremely disjointed, consisting mainly of anger, confusion, violence, sexual frustration, and rootlessness.

"5.15" (sometimes written "5:15" or "5'15") is a song written by Pete Townshend of British rock band The Who from their second rock opera, Quadrophenia (1973). The song reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart,[1] while the 1979 re-release (accompanying the film and soundtrack album) reached number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]