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

Album Summary: Abbey Road

Abbey Road, with its many magnificent medleys, has been an interesting and bittersweet journey. It's technically the last album by The Beatles (as The Beatles, together) and its eclectic yet cohesive track listing lulls the audience into a false sense of security. 

At this point in time, the Beatles were putting on a show for the world, meanwhile knowing it was virtually over for them. There was the odd hope here or there that the group could be salvaged--and their business dealings reflected that delusion, scheduling them for more releases and recording sessions. However, deep down everyone in the know knew that it was over. 

Abbey Road was born in that uncertain atmosphere, starting with the biographical unity of "Come Together" and charming the listener with some of the best Harrison works of his career ("Something" and "Here Comes the Sun") and drawing the audience deeply into the music with an entrancing 8-song medley. This album also contains what may be my personal favorite: "Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight", which I can listen to over and over without tiring of the lyrics or the tune.

In short, Abbey Road was a fitting send-off for the greatest band of the age. (This may be confusing, since we're about to start the next (and final) Beatles album, Let It Be, but we're about to clear that up. :) )

Her Majesty

Sorry for the skipped song... very busy and exhausting day yesterday. Here it is!

"Her Majesty" is a quick little song that was added onto the end of Abbey Road due to Paul's fondness for it. Since it wasn't included in the original track listing, it's considered one of the first examples of a hidden track in rock music--a trick that everyone does nowadays. 

As we know already, it was supposed to be placed between "Mean Mr. Mustard" and "Polythene Pam", which is why the notes at the beginning and end correspond with the end and beginning notes of those two songs (respectively). "Her Majesty" is the shortest Beatles song at 23 seconds, and it's one of the three Beatles songs that reference, but not name, Queen Elizabeth II (the other two are "Penny Lane" and "Mean Mr. Mustard").

I think this song is pretty cute; I think it's probably required for any British artist to mention the queen at least once, and this might be the best one of them all. :P

That's it for "Her Majesty", now for the album summary!

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Heard It Tally: 47

Songs Completed: 188

Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End

Today we've reached the titular song of this blog, and even better--it's a triple song day! "Golden Slumbers", "Carry That Weight", and "The End" technically count as three songs (they're listed separately on the album), but the first two were recorded as a single song and, much like Chris Farley and David Spade, are better together. Also, "Carry That Weight" segues so effortlessly into "The End", a couplet, that it would be a shame to leave it out.

Although Lennon was absent during the first recording session due to his car accident, he was present for subsequent sessions. This medley features all four Beatles' voices on the tracks--a true rarity at this point and achieved through overdubbing--as well as individual solos for each person and their instrument/voice. "Carry That Weight" reprises the riff from "You Never Give Me Your Money", but instead of talking about money, it talks about pillows and invitations. 

The lyrics of "Carry That Weight" clearly refer to the Beatles themselves; Wikipedia gives us some slightly differing angles:

Music critic Ian MacDonald interpreted the lyric as an acknowledgment by the group that nothing they would do as individual artists would equal what they had achieved together, and they would always carry the weight of their Beatle past. McCartney said the song was about the Beatles' business difficulties and the atmosphere at Apple at the time. In the film Imagine: John Lennon, Lennon says that McCartney was "singing about all of us."

Personally, this might be my favorite Beatles song. The lyrics are astounding and Paul's voice is incredible, particularly in the beginning when he belts out "Golden slumbers fill your eyes / smiles awake you when you rise" (I still can't decide if it's "awake" or "await"). There's really nothing about this medley that I don't love--from the amazing crescendos that blow my mind every time, to the killer guitar solo near the end that precedes that thought-provoking couplet written by McCartney.

Although this medley was intended to close Abbey Road, "Her Majesty was tacked onto the end; McCartney enjoyed it there, so there it remained. We'll listen to that one tomorrow, and that'll be curtains for the album. See you then.

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Heard It Tally: 45 - 46 - 47

Songs Completed: 185 -186 - 187

She Came in Through the Bathroom Window

"She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" was written by Paul McCartney. He was inspired by the Apple Scruffs, a term coined by George Harrison for the "dedicated fans who hung around outside the Abbey Road studio and the homes of the Beatles". 

One of these fans, generally girls, was Jessica Samuels, who gave her account of the time she and a few others broke into McCartney's home at St John's Wood. McCartney wasn't home at the time, so they propped a ladder up to the bathroom window and Samuels climbed in and let the others in by the front door. They ended up stealing several photographs, but other than that, the break-in seems to have been mostly good-natured. 

Of course, this could've been a made-up story; Mike Pinder, the former keyboard player of BirminghamR&B band The Moody Blues, claims the incident actually happened to him and that when he related the story to Paul McCartney, Paul proceeded to strum a tune on his guitar and sing, "She came in through the bathroom window". Wherever the inspiration for the song truly lies, chances are a groupie really did sneak into a musician's home through a bathroom window. :P

I really enjoy this song. The melody is catchy, and the lyrics are interesting and amusing, if somewhat nonsensical at times. Although this song wasn't featured in the film Across the Universe, it was referenced when the character Prudence introduces herself to the other characters by sneaking into their flat. When Sadie asks, "Where'd she come from?", Jude replies, "She came in through the bathroom window."

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

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Heard It Tally: 44

Songs Completed: 184