The Fork in the Road (or, Take a Sad Song and Make It Better)

Today's song is... not a song. 

I got ready to post my 212th Beatles song today and discovered that I finally reached the final unheard Past Masters song--yesterday. Since I hadn't been paying too much attention--simply going day by day and not looking ahead--it was quite a surprise. I realized it would arrive someday (even when this blog felt like it would never go anywhere), and during the past two weeks or so I knew the end was imminent since I was getting close to the magic number (which I believed was 208, but ended up being 211). It's just one of those things you never really expect to finally see but that creep up on you unawares, much like homework deadlines or your birthday. 

Looking back, it's been an amazing journey. I've spent the better part of a year committed to this project--that's a pretty substantial chunk of time. Although I missed a day here and there, I never once skipped a song, something I'm rather proud of (if I didn't post one day, I posted twice the next to make up for it). I guess I passed my self-imposed test of commitment. :P

As far as my Heard It Tally, the final numbers were 54 (songs I'd heard previously) out of 211 (songs total), giving me a 25.6% rate. It was about 10% higher than I predicted starting out, but overall my guess wasn't too far off. Additionally, I've learned more than I ever expected, and discovered so many fantastic songs that I probably never would've heard otherwise. That to me is one of the highlights of this blog; the sheer amount of education that I gained was invaluable, even if that education came from Wikipedia. ;)

Now the time has come for me to say goodbye to The Beatles... or at least to "The Beatles". I'll be taking a short hiatus, and then I'll begin covering each Beatle's solo discography, beginning with John Lennon and finishing in the expected order with Mr. Richard Starkey.

So, until then...

You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)

"You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)" is an exceedingly weird song written by Lennon. According to Wikipedia:

The song is a music hall comedy number. Lennon came up with the lyric/title after seeing a phone book. He said:

That was a piece of unfinished music that I turned into a comedy record with Paul. I was waiting for him in his house, and I saw the phone book was on the piano with 'You know the name, look up the number.' That was like a logo, and I just changed it.

The song contains various weird vocalizations and different music styles that imitate some of The Beatles' contemporaries. Overall, it's a quirky song that starts off only a little odd and devolves into something truly bizarre. At this juncture I'm unable to decide how I feel about this song on a personal level. :P

That's it for now... see you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 54

Songs Completed: 211

Old Brown Shoe

Today we hear Harrison's "Old Brown Shoe", which was the B-side to "The Ballad of John and Yoko". Wikipedia notes:

Harrison commented about this song: "I started the chord sequences on the piano, which I don't really play, and then began writing ideas for the words from various opposites... Again, it's the duality of things – yes no, up down, left right, right wrong, etc." This idea was also prevalent in their earlier single, "Hello, Goodbye".

It's a fun love song, one that makes you laugh. I particularly enjoyed the line, "I want a short-haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long" as well as "If I grow up I'll be a singer / Wearing rings on every finger", which I took to be a humorous nod to Ringo, who was known for wearing lots of rings. 

John and Paul were great lyricists in their own ways, and had distinctive and individual styles that were hard to miss. However, when it came to writing love songs, George was the undisputed master. It's funny, how it took a long time for Harrison to even start writing lyrics that he felt comfortable enough to show to his bandmates, and he ends up writing some of the group's best songs. :)

That's it for now... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 54

Songs Completed: 210

The Ballad of John and Yoko

"The Ballad of John and Yoko" is a song written by Lennon in 1969. The song is not a "ballad" in the modern sense (that is, a slower-paced and often powerful love song, i.e. the "power ballad"); it's in the traditional style of a narrative poem in a song. The ballad chronicles Lennon's and Ono's wedding and honeymoon, including an account of their "'Bed-In' at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel and their demonstration of 'bagism.'" (Both the bed-in and bagism are noteworthy reads; I recommend losing yourself in the Wikipedia articles for a while.)

During the recording session, the group was missing two members: George Harrison was on holiday, and Ringo Starr was filming The Magic Christian. Wikipedia continues:

In his biography, McCartney recalls that Lennon had had a sudden inspiration for the song and had suggested that the two of them should record it immediately, without waiting for the other Beatles to return. Reflecting this somewhat unusual situation, the session recordings include the following exchange:

Lennon (on guitar): "Go a bit faster, Ringo!"

McCartney (on drums): "OK, George!"

The song wasn't well-received in some circles, however. Lennon, who had uttered the infamous "more famous than Jesus" line, again drew the ire of conservative religious groups and radio stations, who took offense at the chorus of the song:

Christ, you know it ain't easy
You know how hard it can be
The way things are going 
They're gonna crucify me

In addition, and somewhat more hilariously, "The Spanish government under Franco objected to the song due to its statement that Gibraltar was "near Spain". The status of Gibraltar was a subject of debate between Spain and the United Kingdom at that time." How random is that? :P

I like this song quite a bit. Although I have mixed feelings about the Lennon/Ono mythos, particularly its effects on The Beatles as a group, this song seems to embody the best parts of their relationship--the creativity and inspiration that they produced when they were together (which, let's be honest, was all the time). If ever there was a "good parts" version of their relationship, it's "The Ballad of John and Yoko". 

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 54

Songs Completed: 209

Don't Let Me Down

"Don't Let Me Down" is an angst-ridden ballad, written by John Lennon for Yoko Ono. It was recorded during the 1969 Get Back/Let It Be sessions, but was dropped by Spector from Let It Be. According to Wikipedia:

...Paul McCartney interpreted it as a "genuine plea", with Lennon saying to Ono, "I'm really stepping out of line on this one. I'm really just letting my vulnerability be seen, so you must not let me down." Lennon's vocals work their way into screams, presaging the primal scream stylings of the following year's John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album.

The Beatles performed this song twice during their rooftop concert, which, as we know, was the last time they performed together publicly (or somewhat publicly, as it were).

As far as love songs go, it's very anguished and heart-wrenching. Lennon's vocals (particularly on the version I listened to first, followed by the rooftop version) are fierce and send his passionate shrieks straight to listeners' hearts (and eardrums, if you're like me and crank the volume up). "Don't Let Me Down" is a relays a message that most, if not all, people can relate to: the anxiety, insecurity and nervousness involved in giving your heart to someone. 

That's it for today... see you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 54

Songs Completed: 208

Revolution

We heard the experimental "Revolution 9" and the remix "Revolution 1". Now it's time for the original version, "Revolution". It was written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney, and according to Wikipedia:

"Revolution" was inspired by political protests in early 1968. Lennon's lyrics expressed doubt about some of the tactics. When the single version was released in August, the political left viewed it as betraying their cause. The release of the album version in November indicated Lennon's uncertainty about destructive change, with the phrase "count me out" modified to "count me out, in". In 1987, the song became the first Beatles recording to be licensed for a television commercial, which prompted a lawsuit from the surviving members of the group.

The protests, which were against the Vietnam War in America (along with protests in Poland and France, among others) inspired The Beatles to express a political statement for only the second time ever (the first being in Harrison's "Taxman"). Like most (if not all) political statements, "Revolution" left a bitter taste in many fans' and critics' mouths. Some critics, however, took a different view of the song:

Music journalist Greil Marcus noted that the political critics had overlooked the music; he wrote that while "there is sterility and repression in the lyrics", the "freedom and movement in the music ... dodges the message and comes out in front." Among later music critics, Dave Marsh included "Revolution" in his 1989 book covering the 1001 greatest singles, describing it as a "gem" with a "ferocious fuzztone rock and roll attack" and a "snarling" Lennon vocal. Writing for Allmusic, Richie Unterberger called "Revolution" one of The Beatles' "greatest, most furious rockers" with "challenging, fiery lyrics" where the listener's "heart immediately starts pounding before Lennon goes into the first verse".

I agree with Marcus about the lyrics and the music telling vastly different stories. While the lyrics make me a little bit mad at John--protester extraordinaire, if somewhat lazy--the music is indeed ferocious and almost makes your blood boil just listening to it. For that reason, I forgive John his ill-conceived notions about what revolutions should and shouldn't do. :P

That's all for now. See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 53

Songs Completed: 207

Hey Jude

Today we hear possibly The Beatles' most famous song: "Hey Jude". Allegedly written by Paul McCartney for Julian Lennon, John Lennon's oldest son, the song was originally called "Hey Jules". According to Wikipedia, "More than seven minutes in length, 'Hey Jude' was, at the time, the longest single ever to top the British charts."

While the back story of the song--Paul writing it to comfort Julian Lennon during his parents' divorce--is the most commonly believed version (including by Julian himself, who said he often felt closer to McCartney than to his own father), there are alternate versions that are equally interesting and possible. These include: that Paul wrote the song about John (which Lennon firmly believed), that Paul wrote the song about himself (he was breaking up with Jane Asher around that time), or that Paul wrote the song about various other people (most of them random). 

Wikipedia gives us this funny tidbit:

Ringo Starr almost missed his drum cue. He left for a toilet break—unnoticed by the other Beatles—and the band started recording. In 1994, McCartney said, "Ringo walked out to go to the toilet and I hadn't noticed. The toilet was only a few yards from his drum booth, but he'd gone past my back and I still thought he was in his drum booth. I started what was the actual take, and 'Hey Jude' goes on for hours before the drums come in and while I was doing it I suddenly felt Ringo tiptoeing past my back rather quickly, trying to get to his drums. And just as he got to his drums, boom boom boom, his timing was absolutely impeccable."

For me, however, the most interesting fact about this song is this one:

When McCartney introduced Lennon to his new composition, he came to "the movement you need is on your shoulder" and told Lennon "I'll fix that bit." Lennon asked why, and McCartney answered "...it's a stupid expression; it sounds like a parrot." Lennon parried with "You won't, you know. That's the best line in the song." McCartney thus left the line in, and later said "...when I play that song, that's the line when I think of John, and sometimes I get a little emotional during that moment."

For me, "Hey Jude" symbolizes the McCartney + Lennon saga more than any other song, even more than "Carry That Weight" or others that were written by one specifically about the other. This song, which (if you believe the main theory) was written for his best friend's son, represents all of the best parts of their partnership and friendship. It gives encouragement and hope instead of the more common criticism and resentment that was often exchanged between the two. That's why this is one of my absolute favorite Beatles songs--although there are many amazing songs out there that showcase John and Paul's collaborations, to me, nothing says "Lennon/McCartney" like "Hey Jude". 

That's it for today... see you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 52

Songs Completed: 206

The Inner Light

"The Inner Light" is a George Harrison piece from 1968, released as the B-side of "Lady Madonna". It displays Harrison's Indian influence and inspiration and, as it was recorded in Mumbai, India, features Indian artists on various instruments (including the sitar, shehnai, flute, sarod, tabla, pakhavaj, dholak, and harmonium. 

As we know from other Harrison works, he was greatly inspired by North India's music and spiritual culture. The lyrics in "The Inner Light" are actually from the Taoist Tao Te Ching, a Chinese classic text. The 47th chapter reads (from one translation): "Without stirring abroad/One can know the whole world;/Without looking out of the window/One can see the way of heaven."

This is quite a beautiful song, both musically and lyrically. The exotic-sounding instruments paired with the soul-searching lyrics, which ask the listener to look inward for knowledge and peace, create a lovely and fascinating piece. The lines that say, "The farther one travels, the less one knows / The less one really knows" seem to be saying something similar to "The more I see, the less I know," meaning, in short, that the more you learn, the more you realize how little you actually know. I happen to agree with that sentiment/philosophy, so this song resonates with me. :)

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 51

Songs Completed: 205

Lady Madonna

Today we meet the "Lady Madonna", released in March 1968 as an A-side, which was written by Paul McCartney in an attempt to emulate Fats Domino's style of piano blues. About the lyrics, Wikipedia says:

John Lennon helped write the lyrics, which give an account of an overworked, exhausted (possibly single) mother, facing a new problem each day of the week. The lyrics miss Saturday and in a 1992 interview, McCartney, who only realised the omission many years later, half-jokingly suggested that, given the difficulties of the other six days, the woman in the song likely went out and had a good time that night.

This is an interesting song, in that the lyrics can be interpreted in a couple of vastly different ways. Wikipedia's account of the story is that the Lady Madonna of the song is simply an overworked mother; however, when I read the lyrics closely, I noticed a couple of things that make me believe she's possibly prostituting herself in order to feed her children. That may not be what McCartney and Lennon intended the song to say, but the lyrics suggest it nonetheless. I like this song, overall; no matter which interpretation you embrace, the song is about a hard-working woman trying to take care of her children--always an admirable and courageous feat. :)

That's all for today... see you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 51

Songs Completed: 204

Rain

"Rain" is an almost-psychedelic jam from June 1966, released as the B-side of "Paperback Writer". Wikipedia notes:

Written by John Lennon, "Rain" has been called The Beatles' finest B-side, especially notable for its heavy sonic presence and backwards vocals, both of which were a hint of things to come on Revolver, released two months later.

The Beatles also made three promotional videos for the song, which were accompanied by other videos they were making at the time. These films and music videos "sparked George Harrison to say during the Beatles Anthology, 'So I suppose, in a way, we invented MTV.'" Not nearly as controversial a statement as John Lennon's "more popular than Jesus" comment from decades earlier, but definitely a bold claim--and more than probably true. :P

John Lennon said that the lyrics to "Rain" were inspired by people who complain about the weather all the time. When it's raining, they hide inside, yet when it's sunny, they stay in the shade. To Lennon, all weather was good weather--at least for this song it was. Although both he and producer George Martin claimed credit for the idea of flipping a couple of the last lines backwards, whoever did it had a great idea, one that The Beatles expanded on a great deal afterwards.

That's it for today! See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 51

Songs Completed: 203

Paperback Writer

"Paperback Writer", from 1966, is a bass-heavy non-love song by Paul McCartney, who was encouraged by an aunt to write "a single that wasn't a love song". Lennon had some influence on the lyrics, as Wikipedia mentions:

The song's lyrics are in the form of a letter from an aspiring author addressed to a publisher. The author badly needs a job and has written a paperback version of a book by a "man named Lear." This is a reference to the Victorian painter Edward Lear, who wrote nonsense poems and songs of which Lennon was very fond (though Lear never wrote novels).

The article mentions that "the backing vocals during this section are from the French children's song "Frère Jacques". In addition, McCartney apparently wanted to create a song that remained on a single chord; with "Paperback Writer", he almost accomplishes that goal. It stays on G until the end of the verse, where it briefly touches on C.

I love this song; the bass is devastating (and was cranked up by engineer Geoff Emerick so as to be much louder than normal) and I love the vocals and the background harmonies. It's incredibly catchy, plus I'm a big fan of books and writing so "Paperback Writer" had a head-start with me from the get-go. :P

That's it for yesterday's tune... Today's song is coming up!

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Heard It Tally: 51

Songs Completed: 202

I'm Down

Today we start catching up with all the songs--mostly singles--that we've missed along the way. "I'm Down" was written by McCartney and released as a B-side to "Help!" in 1965.

Wikipedia states that "according to critic Richie Unterberger of Allmusic, ''I'm Down' is "one of the most frantic rockers in the entire Beatles' catalog.'" I have to agree; Paul's screaming earnestness as he asks, "How can you laugh when you know I'm down?" might be the best aspect of the song. The guitar is absolutely killer, too. As an homage to Little Richard, and this is an idea that no one really agrees about ("no one" meaning Ian MacDonald and Richie Unterberger), it definitely works. 

Finally, an interesting tidbit from our friendly neighborhood Wikipedia:

At the beginning of the Anthology version, McCartney says, "Let's hope this one turns out pretty darn good" in a faux American accent. During the session, particularly between takes one and two, McCartney can be heard repeating the phrase "Plastic soul, man, plastic soul". He later revealed that the phrase, which the Beatles later adapted for the title of their album Rubber Soul, was used by black musicians to describe Mick Jagger.

Not sure if that's a compliment or a statement of fact. :P

That's it for today... See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 50

Songs Completed: 201

Album Summary: Let It Be

I have to say it (and I'm sure it's been said plenty of times before): Let It Be was not an impressive Beatles album. The fact that it was compiled from "leftover" Beatles songs, from before Abbey Road was even recorded, really shows. I now fully understand and agree with the majority of Beatles critics and fans who consider Abbey Road to be the official "final" Beatles album; the alternative is trying to swallow Let It Be as a goodbye, and it just doesn't work.

That's not to say that there weren't any noteworthy songs on this one. My favorite was "Across the Universe", a very well-written song, and I also enjoyed "Get Back" and "Let It Be" a great deal. Maybe the issue I had with the album as a whole was that it felt unfinished and raw, for whatever multitude of reasons there no doubt were. 

To be honest, I'm glad Let It Be exists. It feels like an encore performance--the band has already performed its best, having saved it for last, and they've exited the stage, only to come back and play one or two more songs. Those extra songs are never the most popular, but they're well-received and the crowd always cheers and almost always leaves happy. With The Beatles' break-up forefront in the fans' minds, Let It Be might have provided a therapeutic service: perhaps audiences would have been even more distraught over the break-up if The Beatles had left off at Abbey Road, definitely one of their all-time best albums. In that way, Let It Be tapers off the career of the greatest band of all time.

Although Let It Be is officially the unofficial end, I'm nowhere near done with this adventure. We still have to catch up with all the singles we've missed along the way (including the wonderful "Hey Jude", among others), so stay tuned. :)

Get Back

"Get Back" is the final song on Let It Be and the first Beatles song to credit another artist at the Beatles' request--the credit is officially "The Beatles with Billy Preston". Additionally, Wikipedia notes that "'Get Back' was the Beatles' first single release in true stereo in the US."

Also from Wikipedia:

The Beatles performed "Get Back" (along with other songs from the album) as part of the "The Beatles Rooftop Performance" which took place on the roof of Apple Studios in Savile Row, London on 30 January 1969. "Get Back" was performed in full three times. During the third, which marked the end of the rooftop performance, The Beatles were interrupted by the police who had received complaints from office workers nearby. After the police spoke to Mal Evans, he turned off Lennon and Harrison's amplifiers only for Harrison to switch them back on, insisting that they finish the song. It was during this period that McCartney ad-libbed, "You've been playing on the roofs again, and that's no good, and you know your Mummy doesn't like that...she gets angry...she's gonna have you arrested! Get back!"

The song has an interesting history, especially when compared to its fellow tracks on Let It Be. For a song purportedly about going home (generally a very positive idea), that history wasn't always happy: "John Lennon in 1980 claimed that 'there's some underlying thing about Yoko in there', claiming that McCartney looked at Yoko Ono in the studio every time he sang 'Get back to where you once belonged.'" 

Also, personally, I'm not so sure about the second verse, about Loretta Martin, who "thought she was a woman, but she was another man." I can't decide if this character's sexual ambiguity is meant to be positive or negative, or if by telling Loretta to "get back to where you once belonged" the singer's gently recommending a reconnection with the people Loretta loves, or commanding Loretta to "get back" to being a woman, to being "normal". It's a very strange and uncertain verse for me. The fact that Loretta has both a woman's name and a man's name makes the character even more interesting--which is pretty good considering the length of the verse is only a few lines. 

That's it for now... Album summary coming up. :)

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Heard It Tally: 50

Songs Completed: 200

For You Blue

"For You Blue" is a George Harrison composition which features John Lennon on "lap steel guitar using a shotgun shell as a bottleneck." Also, apparently the title of the song was "an error in writing and the title was actually meant to be 'For You Blues'." The quiet line spoken by Lennon in the beginning is "Queen says no to pot-smoking FBI members," an introduction added by Spector.

Although it's not my favorite Harrison song, "For You Blue" nonetheless holds a certain charm. It's a bluesy kind of song, and a love song (as all the best blues songs are), and if George excelled at anything, it was writing love songs (and playing bass). :) For those reasons, I'm a fan of this one. I particularly enjoyed the laughing lines that George says. He seems to be having fun.

That's it for now. See you tomorrow as I wrap up Let It Be with my 200th song (!) and hit up the Past Masters for all the singles we've missed along the way. :)

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 199

The Long and Winding Road

Paul McCartney's ballad, "The Long and Winding Road", "became The Beatles' 20th and last number-one song in the United States on 23 May 1970, and was the last single released by the quartet." A beautiful and melancholy song, it nonetheless has a somewhat litigious reputation:

While the released version of the song was very successful, the post-production modifications to the song by producer Phil Spector angered McCartney to the point that when he made his case in court for breaking up The Beatles as a legal entity, McCartney cited the treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" as one of six reasons for doing so.

The version I listened to was the 2009 stereo remaster, which fits the description for the low-key version that McCartney preferred rather than the Spector-ized version he hated. Since I trust Paul's judgment when it comes to his songs, and after listening to both versions, I much prefer the original. 

Another important and much-discussed aspect of the song is John's poor bass playing. According to Wikipedia, "Lennon, who played bass only occasionally, made several mistakes on the recording. Some writers, such as Ian MacDonald, have postulated that the disenchanted Lennon's ragged bass playing was purposeful." MacDonald also said that John's bass was "'atrocious' to the point of sabotage". I wouldn't doubt that, considering the tension and backhanded dealings between the guys at the time. 

My thoughts on the matter are that things must have been truly terrible for John to betray his own musicianship in order to hurt Paul in any way he could. The morose lyrics of "The Long and Winding Road", begging for reconciliation, must not have spoken to John--he sent a very clear message of his thoughts on the matter.

That's all for today... see you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 198

One After 909

Today we hear the "One After 909". It was written as early as 1957 by Lennon with help from McCartney, and definitely sounds like one of their earlier songs. It's much more rock-and-roll, both musically and lyrically.

According to John, the number 9 held a special significance to him. 

In his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon explained, "That was something I wrote when I was about seventeen. I lived at 9 Newcastle Road. I was born on the ninth of October, the ninth month [sic]. It's just a number that follows me around, but, numerologically, apparently I'm a number six or a three or something, but it's all part of nine."

Paul was also fond of the song, saying that although it wasn't a great song, it held many fond memories for him of writing music with John, specifically their attempts to write more "bluesy" songs. At the end of the song, we can hear John jokingly singing a couple of lines, a variation on the classic Irish song "Danny Boy": "Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling." 

As I've mentioned many times before, I'm not a huge fan of early Beatles, but this song--written by the "early" Beatles and performed by the "later" Beatles, is pretty entertaining. We get the fun lyrics and the excellent musicianship. A perfect combination.

That's all for today... see you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 197

I've Got a Feeling

"I've Got a Feeling" was performed by The Beatles during their rooftop concert, and according to Wikipedia:

It is a combination of three unfinished songs: Paul McCartney's "I've Got a Feeling", and John Lennon's "Everybody Had a Hard Year" from the White Album sessions (where it was demoed as "Everyone Had a Hard Year") and "Watching Rainbows."

From Paul's perspective, it was a very good year--he eventually married his girlfriend, Linda Eastman, "the girl he had always been looking for". For John, however, it was not one of his better years. 

While McCartney's song was very optimistic, Lennon actually had a hard year—he divorced his wife, Cynthia Powell, his girlfriend Yoko Ono had a miscarriage, he was arrested for drug possession, and had grown deeply unhappy in the Beatles.

Musically, the song is fun, combining the three unfinished songs with smooth ease. The lyrics represent the duality of Lennon/McCartney at the time--McCartney's lyrics are cheerfully honest and open, while John's are somewhat more negative and esoteric. It's intriguing and I enjoyed listening to it. :)

That's it for now. See you tomorrow. 

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 196

Maggie Mae

Today we meet the dirty, no good "Maggie Mae", which was The Beatles' version of a traditional Liverpudlian (love that word) folk song about a prostitute who robs a sailor. According to Wikipedia, "it has been the informal anthem of the city of Liverpool for about 180 years."

Wikipedia also mentions that "the performance, which trails off after just 39 seconds and was obviously tongue-in-cheek, is truncated" and that it was clearly meant as merely a warm-up for the recording session. Luckily for us, it was included on Let It Be (though not its Spector-less sister, Let It Be... Naked) and we get to enjoy The Beatles singing with great accents. :P

As a traveler, I'm a huge fan of local songs, from "Rocky Road to Dublin" to Cajun music and everything in between. :) So, "Maggie Mae" really sparks my interest. It reminds me of my time in Dublin and, though I've never been to Liverpool, I imagine it's just as lovely and fascinating. :)

That's it for today... see you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 195

Let It Be

"Let It Be" is one of The Beatles' most famous and well-loved songs, and was the last single released before McCartney officially left the group (Lennon, as Wikipedia mentions, had already left the band at that point).

McCartney was inspired to write the song after having a dream about his mother, who passed away from cancer when Paul was 14. In his dream, she said to him, "It will be all right, just let it be." He later said he found the dream very comforting and reassuring, a feeling he channeled into the song very well in my opinion. 

While Rolling Stone ranked "Let It Be" at number 8 on its list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", "Ian MacDonald had a dissenting opinion, writing that the song 'achieved a popularity well out of proportion to its artistic weight' and that it was ''Hey Jude', without the musical and emotional release.'" John Lennon also commented on the song, with his usual disdain for Paul's work:

That's Paul. What can you say? Nothing to do with the Beatles. It could've been Wings. I don't know what he's thinking when he writes "Let It Be". I think it was inspired by "Bridge over Troubled Waters" [sic]. That's my feeling, although I have nothing to go on. I know that he wanted to write a "Bridge over Troubled Waters".

[He was mistaken, however, as "Bridge over Troubled Water" was released almost a full year after "Let It Be". Perhaps Simon & Garfunkel were inspired by McCartney rather than the other way around.]

I find "Let It Be" very relaxing, though I don't relate to its religious overtones or absorb them on a personal level. Also, I of course really enjoyed the version from Across the Universe, which was sung by Carol Woods and Timothy T Mitchum. The church choir singing in the background was, I think, a fitting substitute for the organ in the original version. 

That's all for today! See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 49

Songs Completed: 194

Dig It

"Dig It" is one of a kind; it's one of the few Beatles songs to be credited to all four Beatles, and I'm positive it's the only one to mention all of these characters and entities: "the FBI, and the CIA, and the BBC, B.B. King, Doris Day, Matt Busby". 

There are at least four versions of "Dig It". The version from Let It Be was only 51 seconds long, while the version I heard on YouTube was 4 minutes 20 seconds (including the joking quote at the end, "That was 'Can You Dig It?' by Georgie Wood, and now we'd like to do 'Hark, the Angels Come'."). The full version clocks in at a sizable 8:20, while the "jam" version is a lengthy 15:05. So, really, there is a version of "Dig It" to fit into anyone's busy (or empty) schedule. :P

This one leaves with me with a strong sense of its superfluousness. It's interesting in a fleeting way, but it's not saying anything, nor is it accomplishing any musical feat. Many people, myself included, believe that songs and music don't need a purpose beyond their own existence, much like art. "Dig It" is just one of those songs that give me the impression it's not doing anything but existing--whether that's positive or negative, I'm not sure. 

That's it for now. See you tomorrow. 

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Heard It Tally: 48

Songs Completed: 193

I Me Mine

Today's song is "I Me Mine", a song that has the distinction of being the last new song recorded by The Beatles (until 1994--which I don't really think should count). Harrison's ode/lament to the ego has a Hindu context, consistent with his Indian inspiration and spirituality:

For example, the Bhagavad Gita 2:71-72 can be translated as "They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of "I", "me" and "mine" to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state. Attain to this, and pass from death to immortality." Perhaps subconsciously, the song also reflects Harrison's reaction to the clashes of egos in the Beatles' painful closing days as a group.

The song's musical patterns coincide with its lyrical stylings. For the verses, George sings in a high octave and the music keeps a slower, waltzing pace. Then, for the "chorus", the repetitions of "I me-me mine", the guitar comes in more heavily and the vocals are harsher and louder. This duality is a vital aspect of the idea behind the song itself--everyone has to battle their ego in some way and for some goal, whether it's for spiritual or simply self-improvement reasons. I like this song; I'm generally fond of George's compositions, and this one seems both personal and universal in a way that attracts even me, an avowed secular being. :P

That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 48

Songs Completed: 192

Across the Universe

Today we travel "Across the Universe" for Halloween. John Lennon, after Cynthia Lennon's incessant talking, was first inspired by a line that came to him through his irritation: "words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup". Wikipedia gives us some background on a particular line in the song:

The flavour of the song was heavily influenced by Lennon's and the Beatles' interest in Transcendental Meditation in late 1967 – early 1968, when the song was composed. Based on this he added the mantra "Jai guru deva om" (Sanskrit: जय गुरुदेव ॐ) to the piece, which became the link to the chorus. The Sanskrit phrase is a sentence fragment whose words could have many meanings. Literally it approximates as "glory to the shining remover of darkness".

John was most proud of the lyrics in "Across the Universe", saying, "It's one of the best lyrics I've written. In fact, it could be the best. It's good poetry, or whatever you call it, without chewin' it. See, the ones I like are the ones that stand as words, without melody. They don't have to have any melody, like a poem, you can read them."

Interestingly, "Across the Universe" is the first song to be purposefully beamed into space.

I'm a fan of the song, though I like various covers more than the original. In particular, I find Rufus Wainwright's version to be rather fantastic. :)

That's all for today... see you tomorrow. 

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Heard It Tally: 48

Songs Completed: 191

Dig a Pony

"Dig a Pony" was written by John (who considered it a "piece of garbage") and was the penultimate song performed during the Beatles' rooftop concert. It consists of various randomly-chosen words and phrases, like the titular "dig a pony", and was originally called "All I Want Is You". Lennon reportedly wrote it about Yoko Ono, who at the time was soon to be his wife. 

The song "begins with a false start, with Ringo Starr yelling "Hold it!" to halt the other band members because he was holding a cigarette and had only one drum stick in his hand." (This factoid makes me laugh. :P ) My first reaction to "Dig a Pony" was neutral, bordering on negative. However, as the song progressed and I read the lyrics (to figure out what John was saying), I grew more fond of it. 

The lyrics are undoubtedly weird, which is what makes them interesting and entertaining, and the music combined with the way John sings the chorus reminds me of nothing more than Joe Cocker's version of "A Little Help from My Friends". Overall, not too bad of a song, despite Lennon's animosity for it (he was admittedly and openly less than fond of many of his works, though, so it should be taken with a grain of salt). 

That's all for today! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 47

Songs Completed: 190

Two of Us

Let It Be was The Beatles' ninth and final studio album, and yet most consider Abbey Road to be The Beatles' final album. Wikipedia explains the simple reason:

Most of Let It Be was recorded in January 1969, before the recording and release of the album Abbey Road. For this reason some critics and fans, such as Mark Lewisohn, argue that Abbey Road should be considered the group's final album and Let It Be the penultimate.

I happen to agree, so I've summarized Abbey Road in the mindset that it was the end for the guys as a band. Let It Be was originally supposed to be released in 1969 before Abbey Road, but it was put on hold since the guys weren't pleased with how it sounded. After Phil Spector was asked to come around and shape it up (an extremely controversial and not-at-all-unanimous decision by the Beatles), it was finally released in 1970, after The Beatles had already broken up. 

The album also served as the soundtrack for the 1970 film of the same name, a documentary about the Beatles recording and rehearsing in January 1969; it featured their unannounced rooftop concert that was their last "public" performance, which ended with a joke from John.

The rooftop performance closed with the song "Get Back", and afterwards Lennon said, "I'd like to say 'thank you' on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we passed the audition."

However, due to the tensions within the group at the time, the documentary "has frequently been referred to as a documentary intended to show the making of an album but instead showing 'the break-up of a band'."

Let It Be starts with today's song, "Two of Us". Wikipedia states:

The song was originally titled "On Our Way Home". McCartney claimed it was dedicated to his wife-to-be Linda Eastman, though the lyrics (e.g.: "you and I have memories/longer than road that stretches out ahead" or "you and me chasing papers/getting nowhere") sounded to author Ian MacDonald like they were actually addressing Lennon.

So, I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, "Two of Us" sounds like it could've been included on the Juno soundtrack. The bad news is that personally, I'm surprised this song passed muster in the Abbey Road studio. It feels clunky and out-of-tune, and it goes on much too long--probably because I'd like it to be over sooner rather than later. The harmonizing might be the worst part--no doubt an effect of the acrimonious relationship between John and Paul at the time. 

Too bad to start the album this way, but hopefully tomorrow will be better! See you then. :)

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Heard It Tally: 47

Songs Completed: 189