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