The Punk and the Godfather

Song by The Who

"The Punk and the Godfather" (titled "The Punk Meets the Godfather" on the US album) is a song written by Pete Townshend, the guitarist for The Who, for their sixth album, Quadrophenia.

In "The Punk and the Godfather", the protagonist of Quadrophenia, Jimmy, goes to see a mod band perform, only to be disappointed that the band were just part of the mod culture that made up the audience. In the song, Townshend was "apparently also trying to understand the roots of the Who, its attraction as rallying point and its eventual rejection by such as Jimmy", according to a review in Rolling Stone. According to Who biographer John Atkins, Jimmy "questions the balance of power that prevails between rock star and fan." Pete Townshend said of the song's lyrics:

The song quotes The Who's 1965 hit, "My Generation". John Entwistle provided a melodic bass line that is very prominent in "The Punk and the Godfather". Caryn Rose, writing for Billboard, called the song "One of the record's iconic moments, the song opens with clanging power chords, perfectly interspersed percussion, and majestic vocals. This track is trademark Who, period." A review in PopMatters said the song "serves as an epitaph—for Townshend, and every rock legend that had the audacity to not die young—to the decidedly anti rock notion of growing old."

"The Punk and the Godfather" was first performed live during The Who's 1973 tour that was used to promote Quadrophenia. It has since become a live favorite, being performed on multiple tours since.