The Beatles Lyrics, Hunter Davies (2014)
I guess we will never have enough of the Beatles. This time around a book to analyse the lyrical content of each song composed by them album by album from 1962 (Love me do/PS I love you) to 1969 (Abbey Road).
The obvious loophole in these type of publications is that they may be guilty of over analysing and interpreting things as the author wants to see it. The author, however, claims to have spent enough time to know what goes through the Beatles' minds. Roughly, I would divide the songs onto 3 eras- the early years, the studio years and the beginning of the end...
I realised from the outset that the best way to appreciate this book is to simultaneously search the songs on Youtube as the authors analyses song by song, album by album over the years.
Invariably, the lyrics of the songs are reflective of things that happen around their daily lives. The early post-Hamburg stage was the time they would do (write) anything just to be noticed. They were running around performing around the globe to screaming teenagers whose voices buried their melody and songs. In spite of their hectic schedules, they still managed to write a few songs here and there. (And everywhere - on receipts, bits of envelopes and letters!) In fact, these memorobilias are collectors items and are regular features at Christy's.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney have distinctive ways of writing song. Paul goes more for melody whilst John is particularly fastidious about lyrics. The early era comprised lovey-dovey songs. Their respective love lives became a nidus for their creativity.
I guess we will never have enough of the Beatles. This time around a book to analyse the lyrical content of each song composed by them album by album from 1962 (Love me do/PS I love you) to 1969 (Abbey Road).The obvious loophole in these type of publications is that they may be guilty of over analysing and interpreting things as the author wants to see it. The author, however, claims to have spent enough time to know what goes through the Beatles' minds. Roughly, I would divide the songs onto 3 eras- the early years, the studio years and the beginning of the end...
I realised from the outset that the best way to appreciate this book is to simultaneously search the songs on Youtube as the authors analyses song by song, album by album over the years.
Invariably, the lyrics of the songs are reflective of things that happen around their daily lives. The early post-Hamburg stage was the time they would do (write) anything just to be noticed. They were running around performing around the globe to screaming teenagers whose voices buried their melody and songs. In spite of their hectic schedules, they still managed to write a few songs here and there. (And everywhere - on receipts, bits of envelopes and letters!) In fact, these memorobilias are collectors items and are regular features at Christy's.
John Lennon and Paul McCartney have distinctive ways of writing song. Paul goes more for melody whilst John is particularly fastidious about lyrics. The early era comprised lovey-dovey songs. Their respective love lives became a nidus for their creativity.
Something as mundane as paper reporting of a depressed teenager running away from her house can metamorphose into a hit song. A Melanie Coe's disappearance was described beautifully from the side of Melanie and her parents. The lyrics mirror the emotions that went through their mind on the said day of event. (She is leaving home)
George Harrison, being the younger of the pioneer three lived in the shadow of the two only to blossom later. Their entanglement with Indian culture enriched their songs, music and lyrics wise. With the help of psychedelic drugs and Eastern mysticism, their songs suddenly started sounding so profound and light years ahead of their time. Hinduism, with its pacifistic outlook to life and symbiotic nature with environment, is just a platform to build your lyrics of a song to sound exotic and different.
Compared to the acts who were in vogue during their time, the Beatles were considered decent and mild mannered. Their songs were clean, they were well dressed - suit and tie; but the band wanted to let it all out but restrained, unlike Rolling Stones.
To different people, the lyrics of Beatles' songs denote different things; to the young it may be about joy, fun, love and its intricacies, the the older it could be about deeper meanings of purpose of life. Even Charles Manson interpreted it as a call to justify his hideous activities. Their stint with Maharishi and the mysticism of Indian philosophy immensely enriched their songs especially in Harrison's composition as evidenced by his works in the post-Beatles years.
To different people, the lyrics of Beatles' songs denote different things; to the young it may be about joy, fun, love and its intricacies, the the older it could be about deeper meanings of purpose of life. Even Charles Manson interpreted it as a call to justify his hideous activities. Their stint with Maharishi and the mysticism of Indian philosophy immensely enriched their songs especially in Harrison's composition as evidenced by his works in the post-Beatles years.
Life becomes more difficult as time went on; internal problems mounted and their ego bloated. Yoko's entry was not seen as a welcoming move to the rest of the group. Despite their squabbles, they still managed to churn out gems of songs in the White Album and Abbey Road Album.
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