Mother Nature's Son

"Mother Nature's Son" was written mostly by Paul while the guys were at the ashram. "It was inspired by a lecture given by the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi while the Beatles were in India. The same lecture inspired Lennon's unreleased song 'Child of Nature', the tune of which he later re-used for 'Jealous Guy'." 

This one's short and sweet, and the lyrics are simple. The nature theme and inspiration is very obvious. I think it was probably refreshing for Paul (and John, who contributed "a few words" according to Wikipedia) to write such a straightforward song. There aren't any innuendos or references to drugs or sex, just nature (at least, as far as I can tell). It's not my favorite--I'm definitely into the innuendos and references, being a lyrics person--but it's relaxing and sweet on the ears nonetheless. :)

That's all for today... See you here tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 158

Yer Blues

"Yer Blues" was written by John in India. It's a very bluesy number, and the lyrics explore Lennon's battles with depression. From Wikipedia:

Lennon said in a Rolling Stone interview that he used the humorous title as something of a defense mechanism, so that if anyone criticized the song, he could write it off as a parody. The lyrics are extremely suicidal, and include references to Bob Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man" as well as cosmology, and were possibly reflective of Lennon's well-documented battles with his psychological demons.

To me, that seems to mark a deep insecurity--the kind he talks about in many of his songs--about not only his work, but about himself and his relationships as well. In addition, its blues vibe bears a "similarity to much of Lennon's early solo output... and marks a retreat from Lennon's concern with studio experimentation that marked such songs as 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever'." We'll see more of that as we move away from The Beatles as a cohesive unit and start to explore each Beatle's solo career. 

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

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 157

Birthday

Today's song is "Birthday", which was based around a guitar riff that Paul thought up. All of the Beatles participated in the creation and recording of the song; George's wife Pattie and Yoko Ono also contributed on backing vocals and handclaps. According to Wikipedia: 

The song is an example of the Beatles' return to more traditional rock and roll form, although their music had increased in complexity and it had developed more of its own characteristic style by this point... The song is among McCartney's most intense vocal performances given the range in which he sings during the blues run.

As far as birthday-themed songs go, it's definitely not the worst. The guitar riff is probably my favorite part; it's reminiscent of the old-style rock-and-roll Beatles songs, which, though they're in no way my favorite thing in the world, are still fun to listen to now and then. :P I think the guys would agree; Paul and Ringo performed "Birthday" for Ringo's 70th birthday party in July 2010.

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

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Heard It Tally: 38

Songs Completed: 156

Julia

Today we hear John's ballad to his mother, "Julia". He's the only Beatle to perform on this track, making "Julia" the only song to feature only Lennon. Also, he uses a finger-picking style of guitar known as "Travis-picking" that he'd learned from musician Donovan while in India. 

According to Wikipedia:

"Julia" was written for John's mother, Julia Lennon (1914–1958), who was knocked down and killed by a car driven by a drunk off-duty police officer when John was 17 years old. It was also written for his future wife Yoko Ono, whose first name, which literally means "child of the sea" in Japanese, is echoed in the lyric "Oceanchild, calls me."

The long, drawn-out "Julia" in each chorus is like a slow wave rolling in the ocean (in keeping with the theme of the song). The lyrics present themselves, in bits and pieces, as almost a love song to the sea itself--to John, his mother and Yoko were probably as hugely important to his life as the ocean, making it a fitting metaphor. The factoid that interested me the most was where he got the opening lines: 

The line "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it just to reach you" was a slight alteration from Kahlil Gibran's "Sand and Foam" (1926) in which the original verse reads, "Half of what I say is meaningless, but I say it so that the other half may reach you".

Overall, I find it a very soothing song--the perfect lullaby. 

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

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 155

I Will

"I Will" is a sweet little love song by Paul McCartney. According to Wikipedia, "This quiet song required 67 takes, and George Harrison did not play (during The Beatles sessions, The Beatles often recorded in separate studios)." That's a lot of takes for a song that clocks in at 1:48. 

Although George is missing on this track, the other guys make up for his absence; Ringo's bongos in particular give "I Will" a sound that I would call cute or even adorable. The lyrics give me the impression that the singer hasn't yet met his love, but he's willing to wait a long time. It's just a great song, something I can definitely imagine hearing at a wedding or on a mixed CD/playlist for your significant other. 

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 154

Why Don't We Do It in the Road?

Today's ode to odd places to have sex is "Why Don't We Do It in the Road?". It was written by McCartney, whose "increasingly raucous" vocals provide the perfect bluesy note to this two-line song. He was apparently inspired to write it after seeing two monkeys mating in the street while in India, saying, "And I thought ... that's how simple the act of procreation is ... We have horrendous problems with it, and yet animals don't."

Paul made this one with Ringo while John and George were busy doing other songs. Lennon was a bit miffed that he wasn't included in the recording or production. I was reading the Wikipedia entry on this song and the guys seem particularly vehement about this one; it was a great big he-said-he-said sort of thing, with both parties attempting to paint the other as the bad guy and crying foul. It's a good reminder that even musical geniuses can be petty and childish. :P

My own opinion of this one is positive; it's extremely simple, but with soulful musical and vocal aspects that lend it a unique quality. Overall a fun song, though probably not worth the guys arguing over. :P

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

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 153

Don't Pass Me By

"Don't Pass Me By" was Ringo Starr's first solo work. The song includes some interesting instrument choices, such as a sleigh bell and a violin (played by Jack Fallon), which, coupled with the (of course) drum-heavy back beat produce a completely unique-sounding piece. 

The lyrics talk about a man who's sitting around, waiting for his lady to get home and wondering if her absence means she doesn't love him anymore. He finally learns she's been in a fender-bender and that she's "lost her hair" (British slang meaning she's very worried or anxious), and that she'll be home soon. However, as Wikipedia mentions:

The line "I'm sorry that I doubted you, I was so unfair, You were in a car crash and you lost your hair" is cited by proponents of the Paul is Dead urban legend as a clue to McCartney's fate; the line "you lost your hair" is claimed to be a reference to "When I'm Sixty-Four", which McCartney wrote.

I suppose there's an alternative interpretation for just about any line. :P

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

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 152

Rocky Raccoon

Today we meet the infamous "Rocky Raccoon", who went to avenge himself on his girl's lover, got himself shot, and found a drunk doctor and a Bible in the process. It was written by Paul, with help from John and musician Donovan, while they were in India. According to Wikipedia, "'Rocky Raccoon' was the last Beatle[s] song to feature John Lennon's harmonica playing."

I have fond memories of this song from college; my friends and I would sit around with a guitar (and sometimes, if we were lucky, even a drum set) and sing various songs, from The Beatles to Radiohead to The White Stripes. I like to think that's how the Beatles prefer many of their songs to be enjoyed--in a low-key gathering with friends. 

Something about this song really attracts me; I think it's the interesting combination of hearing a Western-style song about a love triangle coming from The Beatles. It seems like even John was surprised by the left-field "Rocky Raccoon". From Wikipedia:

In Mojo magazine in October, 2008, McCartney acknowledged that the style of the song is a pastiche, saying, "I was basically spoofing the folksinger." Lennon attributed the song to Paul, saying "Couldn't you guess? Would I have gone to all that trouble about Gideon's Bible and all that stuff?

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

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 151

Piggies

Today's song is "Piggies", George Harrison's Animal Farm-esque commentary on class and corporate greed. It pairs a Baroque-style harpsichord and string quartet with more modern lyrics, producing a rather satirical atmosphere in the song. Music critic Ian MacDonald was not a fan of the song, calling it "dreadful" and "an embarrassing blot on (Harrison's) discography." "Piggies", among other songs from The White Album, was unfortunately also used as inspiration for the grisly murders committed by Charles Manson's "family". 

Less alarmingly, Harrison wrote an additional verse that was not included in the recording (but which he added to the song during performances in the 1990s):

Yeah, everywhere there's lots of piggies
Playing piggy pranks
And you can see them on their trotters
Down at piggy banks
Paying piggy thanks
To thee, pig brother

I wish this verse had been included in the recorded version, because "pig brother" is just hilarious and great. :P Other than that, I'm not overly fond of the song. I  enjoy satire as much as the next person, but "Piggies" just seemed awkward to me, in a way I can't really explain. Guess I'll have to side with MacDonald on this one.

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

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 150

Blackbird

"Blackbird" is one of the most famous Paul songs (along with "Yesterday"). Paul wrote and performed the song, although it's credited to John as well. McCartney said it was partially inspired by the Civil Rights struggle in the U.S. at the time (1968).

So, I was doing explanations, and I actually just remembered why I'd written Blackbird... I was in Scotland playing on my guitar, and I remembered this whole idea of "you were only waiting for this moment to arise" was about, you know, the black people's struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism of a blackbird. It's not really about a blackbird whose wings are broken, you know, it's a bit more symbolic.

(Interview with KCRW's Chris Douridas, May 25, 2002)

On the surface, the song is very simple; it has repeating lyrics, features Paul on vocals, acoustic guitar, and metronome, and includes chirping birds in the background. However, the structure of the song is irregular and I'm sure if I were to try and learn the strumming pattern, my brain (and fingers) would hurt--I am just a beginner, but it still seems quite complicated to me. :P

That's it for this one... See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 37

Songs Completed: 149

I'm So Tired

"I'm So Tired" is today's song, and it was written by John Lennon while at the ashram in India. According to Wikipedia: 

Lennon wrote the song at a Transcendental Meditation camp when he could not sleep...Yoko Ono, and was plagued by insomnia that inspired the song. Lennon later said of it: "One of my favourite tracks. I just like the sound of it, and I sing it well". After three weeks of constant meditation and lectures, Lennon missed his soon-to-be wife,

This song is also one of the "clues" utilized by the "Paul is dead" conspiracy theorists. At the end of the song, John seems to mumble incoherently. Apparently, when played backwards, this mumbling seems to say, "Paul is a dead man. Miss him, miss him, miss him." 

Conspiracy theories aside, I like this song. It reminds me of "I'm Only Sleeping", which was similarly about John's problems with insomnia (which I also often experience). I particularly enjoyed these lines: "Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette / And curse Sir Walter Raleigh / He was such a stupid git." Sir Walter Raleigh, as I learned, was a 16th-century nobleman credited with increasing the popularity of tobacco in England. :P

That's all for today! See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 36

Songs Completed: 148

Martha My Dear

Today's song is "Martha My Dear", which was written by Paul and reportedly inspired by his girlfriend, Jane Asher, who broke off their engagement in mid-1968 (apparently after finding Paul with another woman--his next girlfriend, Francie Schwartz). However, Wikipedia also says, "The title "Martha My Dear" was inspired by McCartney's Old English Sheepdog, also named Martha." 

Since this song (sort of) marks the end of Paul and Jane, at least musically, I'm going to post a bit of what Wikipedia says about their relationship, since it's rather interesting:

The Asher house was also a place of intellectual stimulation for McCartney... According to Cynthia Lennon, McCartney was "as proud as a peacock" to have Jane as a girlfriend, and saw her as "a great prize."

However, Marianne Faithfull remembered McCartney and Asher "never getting on very well," and described one evening at Cavendish Avenue when McCartney wanted a window to be open and Asher wanted it shut. McCartney would repeatedly get up and open the window and then Asher would get up and close it, although neither of them made any comment about it during the whole evening.

Asher has consistently refused publicly to discuss McCartney or her time with him, and has maintained her position on the matter to this day. On this basis, she is described by the Beatles' 1968 biographer Hunter Davies as the only major Beatles associate not to have published her recollections.

Although this song is about a break-up, it's really a lovely song. The music hall-style piano and brass instruments throughout really add something to the track, a kind of old-timey feeling, which is enhanced by the use of an old-fashioned name like Martha. 

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

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Heard It Tally: 36

Songs Completed: 147

Happiness Is a Warm Gun

"Happiness Is a Warm Gun" was written primarily by John Lennon. However, the guys considered it one of the few "Beatles" songs on The White Album because they had to work closely together in order to successfully perform the "challenging rhythmic and meter issues" in the song. Also, according to Wikipedia, "this is one of the few examples of polyrhythm in The Beatles' repertoire", as it changes many times over the course of the song.

Wikipedia gives us a blurb about the inspiration for "Happiness": 

According to Lennon, the title came from the cover of a gun magazine that producer George Martin showed him: "I think he showed me a cover of a magazine that said 'Happiness Is a Warm Gun.' It was a gun magazine. I just thought it was a fantastic, insane thing to say. A warm gun means you just shot something." The reference, whether or not intermediately from the magazine, was one of many 1960s riffs on Charles M. Schulz's culturally popular saying, Happiness is a Warm Puppy, which began in the Peanuts comic strip and became a widely sold book.

Other interpretations involve Lennon's growing attachment to Yoko Ono, or his involvement with heroin at the time. Also, the first verse was apparently inspired by an acid trip. So there's that. :P

I really like this song; it's definitely got that psychedelic vibe we learned from Sgt. Pepper, and the various tempo changes are wonderful and musically challenging, both to play and to hear/follow. :)

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

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Heard It Tally: 36

Songs Completed: 146

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" was written and sung by George Harrison, and featured the lead guitar of Eric Clapton. Clapton was at first reluctant to play for the track; "he said, 'Nobody ever plays on the Beatles' records'—but Harrison convinced him and Clapton's solo was recorded that evening." The song is highly-ranked on several lists, including "#135 on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time", #7 on their list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time, and #10 on their list of The Beatles 100 Greatest Songs."

This song, more than any other, is probably the one that really represents George Harrison as an artist. It was played during the Concert for George, which took place a year after his death from cancer in 2001. Among those who played the song were Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne, and George's son (and doppelganger), Dhani Harrison.

I love this song. It has this great floating melody with a rock-solid beat behind it, and the lyrics are stunning. Vying for my favor with the original is the version from Across the Universe by Martin Luther McCoy, which is slower, with a heart-wrenching guitar solo. Both original and cover are among my favorite songs. 

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 36

Songs Completed: 145

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

Today's story-song is "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill". The song, written by John Lennon about one of the visitors to the ashram in India, is the only Beatles song to feature a female lead singer. Yoko Ono sang lead for one line of the song ("Not when he looked so fierce") and Maureen Starkey, Ringo's wife at the time, also accompanied on vocals.

If you want a more detailed glimpse at the inspiration for the song, check out the Wikipedia page. The short version:

Lennon later told his version of the story in a Playboy interview, stating that: "‘Bungalow Bill’ was written about a guy in Maharishi's meditation camp who took a short break to go shoot a few poor tigers, and then came back to commune with God. There used to be a character called Jungle Jim, and I combined him with Buffalo Bill. It's sort of a teenage social-comment song and a bit of a joke."

I'm a fan of this song--it's a criticism of tiger-killing (among other things), and I happen to be rather fond of tigers. Honestly, "Bungalow Bill" really reminds me of "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (or the other way around). The two songs share similarities like having a wider cast of singers (or simply more layered voices, so that it sounds like many people singing), and featuring a variety of instruments and tempos that provide segments, or chapters almost, to the songs. They're both excellent songs, whether or not you agree that they're similar. :)

That's it! See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 35

Songs Completed: 144

Wild Honey Pie

Today's oddball song is "Wild Honey Pie", which featured Paul as the only performer (John and Ringo were working on other songs for the album and George was on holiday). The song references another White Album track, "Honey Pie" (which we'll be covering in a couple of weeks). 

The song is simple and brief; the only lyrics are "Honey pie" and "I love you, honey pie". McCartney experimented with multitracking to create layers of his own harmonies. In my opinion, "Wild Honey Pie" is less a song and more a piece of experimental audio artwork. It's not really the singalong kind, and although short it's got so much going on that it almost forces you to listen. I like it. :)

That's all for today. See you back here tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 34

Songs Completed: 143

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Today I'm listening to "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da". Wikipedia says that 

Paul McCartney wrote the song around the time that highlife and reggae were beginning to become popular in Britain. The tag line "ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bra" was an expression that Nigerian conga player Jimmy Scott-Emuakpor, an acquaintance of McCartney, used.

(I'd never thought I'd hear The Beatles use the word "brah", a word more common to a frat house these days, but there it is.) John Lennon reportedly hated this song, labeling it "Paul's granny shit." The guys had some trouble recording it, and John actually stormed out, only to come back later, high, and "played the opening chords much louder and faster than before. He claimed that was how the song should be played, and that is the version they ended up using". Also, during the last verse, Paul mistakenly switches Molly and Desmond, saying that "Molly lets the children lend a hand / Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face". They guys liked it so much that they left it that way. 

This song definitely puts me in mind of reggae. However, because of the names Molly and Desmond, my very first thought was that this song is some kind of story about an Irish couple. Anyone familiar with Dublin will probably understand; Molly Malone, the "tart with the cart", is a famous Irish character and even has her own statue downtown. Overall, I like this song, and while it's not my favorite, it's certainly catchy. :)

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

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Heard It Tally: 34

Songs Completed: 142

Glass Onion

Today's song is "Glass Onion". It was written and sung by John, and was the first White Album track to have Ringo back on drums. A "glass onion" is British slang for a monocle. According to Wikipedia: 

The song refers to several earlier Beatles' songs, including "Strawberry Fields Forever," "I Am the Walrus," "Lady Madonna," "The Fool on the Hill," and "Fixing a Hole." There are also subtle, passing references to "There's a Place," "I'm Looking Through You," and "Within You Without You." The song also refers to the "Cast Iron Shore," a coastal area of south Liverpool, known to local people as "The Cazzy."

There's one line that I'm sure caused all kinds of ruckus: "Well here's another clue for you all / The walrus was Paul." John apparently wrote this in reference to the "Paul is dead" conspiracy theory that was gaining popularity at the time (and still boasts some supporters today).

I like this one--I didn't catch all the allusions the first time around, but it was fun to learn about them. :) 

That's it for now. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 34

Songs Completed: 141

Dear Prudence

Today we meet "Dear Prudence", which was written by Lennon (and, as always, credited to both him and McCartney). This is the second song from The White Album which featured Paul on drums (since Ringo was gone). 

John was inspired to write "Dear Prudence" while the guys were in India, studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. With them were actress Mia Farrow and her sister, Prudence Farrow. Prudence reportedly meditated for 23 hours a day, so John was asked to encourage her to socialize more. He ended up writing the song, which Prudence didn't hear until much later, once the Beatles were leaving the ashram. "According to Farrow, 'I was flattered. It was a beautiful thing to have done'."

I love this song. It's simple and yet beautiful. It seems like a great wake-up song, actually, since it starts off so gently and asks Prudence (and, in turn, the listener) to "greet the brand-new day". It's quite lovely. :) Still, I hadn't heard the original before today. I was familiar with the song, though, because of Across the Universe.

That's all for now! See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 34

Songs Completed: 140

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Today we start The Beatles' ninth studio album, The Beatles (also more popularly known as The White Album). It was the first the guys had created after the death of their manager, Brian Epstein, and marked a period of conflict and discord within the group. Ringo quit the group entirely for a short time, leaving Paul to play drums on a couple of tracks. 

A quote from Wikipedia gives us more details as to the songwriting of The White Album:

Although most of the songs on any given Beatles album are usually credited to the Lennon–McCartney songwriting team, that description is often misleading, and rarely more so than on The Beatles. With this album, each of the four band members began to showcase the range and depth of his individual songwriting talents, and to display styles that would be carried over to his eventual solo career. Indeed, some songs that the individual Beatles were working on during this period eventually were released on solo albums.

The Beatles themselves, Paul in particular, cite this album as being the beginning of the end, as it were. From Wikipedia: "Despite the album's official title, which emphasised group identity, studio efforts on The Beatles captured the work of four increasingly individualised artists who frequently found themselves at odds." As I mentioned above, Ringo quit the band for about two weeks, finally returning after the other three begged. George Martin found himself losing control over the guys, and recording engineer Geoff Emerick refused to continue working with them, despite having been with them since Revolver. The presence of girlfriends (like Yoko Ono and McCartney's girlfriend, Francie Schwartz) no doubt added to the contention, since previously the band's recording sessions were intensely private. Ringo and George would duck in and out over the next couple of years, and finally:

McCartney's public departure in 1970 would mark the formal end of the band's ensemble. He described the sessions for The Beatles as a turning point for the group. Up to this point, he observed, "The world was a problem, but we weren't. You know, that was the best thing about The Beatles, until we started to break up, like during the White Album and stuff. Even the studio got a bit tense then."

I think it's necessary to talk about the disharmony The Beatles were experiencing during the creation of this album, since it no doubt had an impact. With that, we'll start the first song.

"Back in the U.S.S.R.", primarily written by Paul, is one of the two songs from this album to feature Paul on drums, as Ringo had walked out of the recording session, declaring he'd quit. The lyrics are sung from a different point of view--namely that of an inhabitant of the old Soviet Union (the U.S.S.R.). It was partially inspired by the Beach Boys' "California Girls" and "Georgia on My Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. "The title was inspired in part by the I'm Backing Britain campaign that had been endorsed by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson. It has been suggested that McCartney twisted that into "I'm back in (backin') the U.S.S.R."

I have mixed feelings about this one. For years, I had it on my mp3 player, but I would skip it more often than not. It's a catchy song, but it's possible that what turns me off about it is it's reminiscent of The Beatles' early rock-and-roll days, of which I'm less than fond. I much prefer the later albums (as you can tell by my recent album summaries), so "Back in the U.S.S.R." is relegated to a lower spot on my favorites list.

That's all for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 34

Songs Completed: 139

Album Summary: Magical Mystery Tour

Magical Mystery Tour has been a fantastic album--almost as great as Sgt. Pepper in my mind. We went through several more classic Beatles songs (including "I Am the Walrus", "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Penny Lane", and today's "All You Need Is Love"), and I got to hear plenty of new (to me) songs that I loved.

MMT seemed to me like the perfect follow-up album to Sgt. Pepper. It continued on the psychedelic path its forerunner had established, but still took an offshoot route. Although it didn't seem to have the same kind of "journey" vibe, it still had more of that than previous albums, which I quite enjoyed. Overall, this is probably my second-favorite album so far. :)

See you tomorrow for a new song and a new album!

All You Need Is Love

Today we finish Magical Mystery Tour with one of the most recognizable Beatles songs: "All You Need Is Love". It was written by John Lennon. 

The Beatles were asked to come up with a song containing a simple message to be understood by all nationalities. "It was an inspired song and they really wanted to give the world a message," said Brian Epstein. "The nice thing about it is that it cannot be misinterpreted. It is a clear message saying that love is everything."

During the last refrain which fades out gradually, the Beatles were accompanied by friends and family (including Mick Jagger and Keith Moon), who helped sing and clap their hands.

There's just something so pleasant, so warm and fuzzy, so reassuring and smile-inducing about this song. It was wonderful to come home to this particular song after a tough day, because I went from stressed and grumpy to cheerful and singing loudly. :P I especially like how the song ends with the guys singing, "She loves you, yeah yeah yeah". Kind of tops it off right.

That's all for the song--stay tuned for the album summary!

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Heard It Tally: 33

Songs Completed: 138

Baby, You're a Rich Man

Today's song is "Baby, You're a Rich Man". It was originally written for the Yellow Submarine film. According to Wikipedia: 

Two song fragments were combined to create "Baby, You're a Rich Man". The verses from "One of the Beautiful People" by John Lennon were combined with Paul McCartney's previously unaccompanied "Baby, you're a rich man …" chorus. Two songs were combined in a similar fashion to make "A Day in the Life", and "I've Got a Feeling".

It's an interesting song, with a fantastically odd, galumphing beat and vocals that alternate between high and just plain loud. The lyrics are sufficiently strange as well; the titular "Baby, you're a rich man" is just off-setting enough to fully capture whatever attention wasn't gotten with the music itself. I like it. :)

That's all for now. See you tomorrow.

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Heard It Tally: 32

Songs Completed: 137

Penny Lane

"Penny Lane" was written by Paul, and was voted #449 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Inspired by the name of a street in the part of Liverpool where John and Paul were from, "Penny Lane" describes a suburban paradise, filled with endearingly strange locals. 

Wikipedia tells us more about the strangeness of the song's lyrics:

Lyrically there are several ambiguous and surreal images. The song is seemingly narrated on a fine summer day ("beneath the blue suburban skies"), yet at the same time it is raining ("the fireman rushes in from the pouring rain") and approaching winter ("selling poppies from a tray" implies Remembrance Day, 11 November). Ian MacDonald has stated: "Seemingly naturalistic, the lyric scene is actually kaleidoscopic. As well as raining and shining at the same time, it is simultaneously summer and winter."

Somehow, "Penny Lane", despite its seemingly contradictory imagery, reminds me of my own hometown. There are odd characters and popular hangouts, people and places full of memories. Even with its slight psychedelic feel, at the same time it's comfortably familiar--much like many people's hometowns, I'm sure. 

That's it for today. See you tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 32

Songs Completed: 136

Strawberry Fields Forever

Today's unforgettable song is "Strawberry Fields Forever". John wrote the song, inspired by his "memories of playing in the garden of a Salvation Army house named 'Strawberry Field' near his childhood home." The song itself has had quite an impact; there's even a Strawberry Fields memorial in Central Park, where vigils are held for various events--Lennon's birthday, his and George's dates of death, and even September 11, 2001.

I love this song. I'm a lyrics person, and although Lennon, fueled by increasing drug use, his disintegrating marriage to Cynthia, and the stress of fame, purposefully made the lyrics to "Strawberry Fields Forever" as obscure as he could, I can still relate to them. I think those are the best lyrics--the ones that the artist makes sure very few people (if anyone) can understand the way he (or she) meant them, yet are still open to interpretation. 

John wrote the lyrics to describe the way he was feeling at a given point in time (he labeled it "psycho-analysis set to music") and even translated parts of the song later in his life, but I can apply the lyrics to my own life and gain what I would argue is an equally valid interpretation of the song. It's pretty much the same with any song, and the fundamental reason most songs are popular--they're applicable to the listener.

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

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Heard It Tally: 31

Songs Completed: 135

Hello, Goodbye

"Hello, Goodbye", the Beatles song I hear probably the most often, was written McCartney (but with the usual Lennon/McCartney credits). Paul was apparently inspired to write it after this incident:

Alistair Taylor, who worked for the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, had asked McCartney how he wrote his songs, and McCartney took him into his dining room to give him a demonstration on his harmonium. He asked Taylor to shout the opposite of whatever he sang as he played the instrument—black and white, yes and no, stop and go, hello and goodbye. Taylor later said, "I wonder whether Paul really made up that song as he went along or whether it was running through his head already."

I hear this song quite often at my place of employment; I wouldn't say it gets old, per se, but I've heard it so often now that I can sing every word. I feel the same way about it as I did the first time--the call-and-response theme makes the song fun to sing along with, and it's just generally a catchy song. :)

That's all! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 30

Songs Completed: 134

I Am the Walrus

Today we finally hear "I Am the Walrus", one of The Beatles' greatest and most popular songs. From Wikipedia:

Lennon composed the song by combining three songs he had been working on. When he learned that a teacher at his old primary school was having his students analyse Beatles' lyrics, he added a verse of nonsense words. ...The walrus is a reference to the walrus in Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the Carpenter" (from the book Through the Looking-Glass). Lennon expressed dismay upon belatedly realising that the walrus was a villain in the poem.

Similar to the poem "Jabberwocky", also by Lewis Carroll, "I Am the Walrus" utilizes nonsense words and phrases--although it does use actual English words, unlike Carroll's poem. After John wrote the song, he reportedly remarked to a friend, Peter Shotton, "Let the f***ers work that one out." 

Although it's a bit long, I can't resist pasting what Wikipedia shares about Lennon's writing process regarding the song. So, enjoy:

Lennon explained much of the song to Playboy in 1980:

• "The first line was written on one acid trip one weekend. The second line was written on the next acid trip the next weekend, and it was filled in after I met Yoko... I'd seen Allen Ginsberg and some other people who liked Dylan and Jesus going on about Hare Krishna. It was Ginsberg, in particular, I was referring to. The words "Element'ry penguin" meant that it's naïve to just go around chanting Hare Krishna or putting all your faith in one idol. In those days I was writing obscurely, a la Dylan."
• "It never dawned on me that Lewis Carroll was commenting on the capitalist system. I never went into that bit about what he really meant, like people are doing with the Beatles' work. Later, I went back and looked at it and realized that the walrus was the bad guy in the story and the carpenter was the good guy. I thought, Oh, shit, I picked the wrong guy. I should have said, 'I am the carpenter.' But that wouldn't have been the same, would it? [Sings, laughing] 'I am the carpenter....'"

Personally, I really enjoy this song. I even enjoy the Bono version in Across the Universe, and I'm not a Bono fan even in the slightest. :P The lyrics are wonderfully random and weird, and the music is engaging. There is so much more to read about the background of both this song and John's inspiration in creating it, so I encourage you to explore on your own. :)

That's all for today. See you here tomorrow!

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Heard It Tally: 29

Songs Completed: 133

Your Mother Should Know

Today's song is "Your Mother Should Know", which was written by Paul specifically for the MMT film. In this segment of the film, the guys, sporting white tuxedos, walk down a grand staircase. "John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr are wearing red carnations, while McCartney's is black. The carnation difference contributed to the 'Paul is dead' controversy."

My first reaction to this song is that it's the best and most subtle "yo mama" joke ever--your mother's very old, etc. Other than that amusing theory, I'm fairly neutral about this one. The lyrics are repetitive, but the music is pretty good and reminds me of just such an old hit song. 

That's all! See you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 28

Songs Completed: 132

Blue Jay Way

Today's personally relevant song is "Blue Jay Way". George Harrison wrote it to keep himself awake while waiting for a friend to show up at his house on Blue Jay Way, in the Hollywood Hills. In that respect, it's a very literal song. :P

I really like this one. It's very soothing, and despite the lyrics warning the friends to hurry before the singer falls asleep, the song itself has a rather soporific effect. Basically George, in order to keep himself awake, wrote the perfect lullaby. 

That's all for today. I'll see you tomorrow. :)

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Heard It Tally: 28

Songs Completed: 131

Flying

Today we have the instrumental "Flying", the first song to be written by, and credited to, all four of the Beatles. Although there is some singing, it's minimal--basically just some la-la-la's. The focus of the song is really on the music itself. John, Paul, George and Ringo used various instruments and effects for "Flying", such as the "mellotron, guitar, bass, maracas, drums, and tape loops overdubs."

This one's pretty relaxing. It really does give you the feeling you're flying (in the film, which we'll see more about later, "the music is accompanied... by color-altered images of landscape in Iceland taken from an aeroplane". 

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

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Heard It Tally: 28

Songs Completed: 130