Carrying that Weight with The Beatles (Fab Four W/O) Nov 12 '05    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line It's over two months late but it's finally finished!! What can an eighteen year old kid like myself say about The Beatles that y'all haven't heard before? Absolutely nothing ... that's why I'm not even going to cover their entire history. Ever since their arrival in the early 60s, they have been loved and praised by many people. Even today, they remain one of the most beloved rock bands of all time. When alexdg1 announced that he was setting up a write off where we listed our top 20 Beatles songs, I had to join, but with school in the way, it took a while for me to complete it. Now after two months of work, I have finally finished my list. They're not in any paticular order, but I basically list the name, the reason why I like it, and a lyric sample. Let's get things started, shall we? 1. Help! This one is a personal favorite of mine; not one of their deepest, but a fun little tune about helping someone when they're down and out. According to the Beatles Anthology miniseries, John Lennon wrote the lyrics of the song to express his stress coming from the quick success of The Beatles in the early years of the group. Lennon and McCartney give us some excellent harmony exchanges, while Harrison's great guitar licks combined with McCartney's rhythmic bass line and Ringo's powerful drums all make this song a bona fide classic. "When I was younger so much younger than today, I never needed anybody's help in anyway, But now these days are gone I'm not so self assured, Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors Help me if you can, I'm feeling down And I do appreciate you being around, Help me get my feet back on the ground, Won't you please, please help me?" 2. All You Need is Love This upbeat and positive song was written for and first performed on "Our World", the first ever live global television link. Broadcast to 26 countries and watched by 350 million people, the program was broadcast via satellite on June 25, 1967. The BBC had commissioned The Beatles to write a song for the UK's contribution to the program, a song with a simple message that would be understood by viewers of all nationalities, and this was the result. A song about peace, love, and understanding, it extended the message that he had first tried to put across in "The Word", and would later be expanded on in other Lennon solo songs, such as "Give Peace a Chance", "Power to the People", and his most famous song, "Imagine". "There's nothing you can do that can't be done Nothing you can sing that can't be sung Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game It's easy Nothing you can make that can't be made No one you can save that can't be saved Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time It's easy All you need is love All you need is love All you need is love, love Love is all you need" 3. Revolution / Revolution 1 Whether it be the fast paced regular version released as a single or the bluesy "1" version released on their self-titled double album, this is still a great song. Like many of the songs written by Lennon, this one expresses his ideals of peace and love. The song starts off with a distorted guitar riff from Harrison and thumping drums from Ringo, leading to Lennon singing about his dislike for a violent socialist revolution. The bands presence is strong throughout the song; Paul's bass compliments the distorted guitar supplied by Harrison very well. One noticeable difference between the two versions is the "count me out in" line included in the "1" version (quoted below); Beatles' folklore is that Lennon was undecided about how he wanted to end the line and tried both variations. The eventually decided to go with "count me out" but it's still a great song either way. As for "Revolution 9", well... I'm just not a big fan of it... at ALL. "You say you want a revolution Well you know we all want to change the world You tell me that it's evolution Well you know We all want to change the world But when you talk about destruction Don't you know that you can count me out, in" 4. Helter Skelter This is another well-known song, not just because of its greatness, but because of its later connection to Charles Manson. McCartney wrote this in an attempt to outdo The Who's 'latest single' (most likely "I Can See For Miles") after a newspaper review called it the loudest, wildest song ever recorded. The song opens abruptly with a loud, repeated, distorted guitar chord. McCartney then screams the introductory lyric and the full band joins in as the refrain is introduced. The tone of the song is aggressive and frightening but this is contrasted by the lyrics, which describe using a helter skelter, an amusement park ride with a slide built in a spiral around a high tower, in a children's playground. Charles Manson interpreted this as a prophecy of a future race war, but I don't really see it. Its one of the harder songs from the Beatles, and a intense one, from the opening riff to Ringo's screams of "I GOT BLISTERS ON MY FINGERS!" at the end. "When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride Till I get to the bottom and I see you again Do you, don't you want me to love you I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer" 5. A Day in the Life Maybe it's just me, but if you wanna talk about The Beatles best songs, you simply HAVE to mention this song somewhere along the line. The song starts off with some acoustic guitar chords, leading into some pounding piano chords, and then into Lennon's vocals. His voice is at its best here, as he sings about a normal day in life, using influences from events that affected him at the time. The first verse refers obliquely to the death of Tara Browne, young heir to the Guinness fortune, whom the Beatles knew socially. The second verse alluded to his recent role as Sgt. Gripweed in the Richard Lester film "How I Won the War". After a minute and a half, a 20-piece orchestra begins playing, growing louder and more dramatic. As it hits its climax, the tempo of the song changes and McCartney takes over. He sings the middle section, talking about a normal day in which his character rushes to work but falls into a dream (this section is quoted below). The orchestra comes back and brings in Lennon's vocals yet again, only to come back yet again after Lennon's final verse and end the song with a crescendo. Featuring impressionistic lyrics, innovative production techniques and a complex arrangement including a cacophonous, partially-improvised orchestral crescendo, "A Day in the Life" is not only one of the Beatles' best works, but one of the most ambitious, influential, and groundbreaking works in pop music history. "Woke up, fell out of bed, Dragged a comb across my head Found my way downstairs and drank a cup, And looking up I noticed I was late Found my coat and grabbed my hat Made the bus in seconds flat Found my way upstairs and had a smoke, Somebody spoke and I went into a dream Ahhh.... Ahhh...." 6. Don't Let Me Down I personally feel this song is one of the Beatles most underrated cuts. It was recorded in 1969 for the "Get Back" album When Phil Spector transformed "Get Back" into "Let It Be", it was dropped from the line up, but it was released as a single. Why it was dropped is beyond me, it's a great song. In November of 2003, the song was remastered for the revamped version of "Let It Be", known as and "Let It Be... Naked". The harmonies on this soulful cut are very well done, as Lennon screams on the chorus, and you can see his passion when he does that. Written by John Lennon, it is a powerful love song which is most likely about Yoko Ono. While one of the lesser known songs by The Beatles, I still believe it's one of their best efforts. "I'm in love for the first time Don't you know it's gonna last? It's a love that lasts forever It's a love that has no past Don't let me down Don't let me down Don't let me down Don't let me down" 7. In My Life This here is one of the greatest love songs ever written. This mellow classic finds Lennon singing about the places he's been and the people he's met, but assuring his woman that no matter how much he cares about the "people and things that went before", he exclaims that he is in love with her now. The soft guitar melody is one that you can't help but love and just adds to the greatness of this track. It's simple, but it's still awesome. "There are places I remember All my life, though some have changed Some forever, not for better Some are gone, and some remain All these places have their moments With lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life, I loved them all But of all these friends and lovers, There is no one compares with you And these memories lose their meaning When I think of love as something new Though I know I'll never lose affection For people and things that went before I know I'll often stop and think about them In my life, I love you more" 8. Hey Jude This one, which happens to be a favorite among many people, is one of the Beatles' longest songs, at nearly eight minutes, and it became the Beatles' best-selling single. The song, originally titled "Hey Jules", was written by McCartney to comfort Lennon's son Julian when John and his first wife, Cynthia Powell, were getting divorced. Lennon also thought the song was about him, as he had just begun his relationship with Yoko Ono. McCartney also related to the song, as he had just broken up with Jane Asher and was about to start seeing Linda Eastman. One of the more interesting things about this song is McCartney's dissatisfaction with the line the line "The movement you need is on your shoulder". Lennon was strongly opposed to the idea of drastically altering the song, especially the aforementioned line, considering it marvelously avant-garde. In the end, he didn't change the line, and I'm glad he didn't. "So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin, You're waiting for someone to perform with. And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do, The movement you need is on your shoulder. Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better. Remember to let her under your skin, Then you'll begin to make it better Better, better, better, better, better, ahhh!" 9. We Can Work It Out This is another one of my favorites that I believe is underrated. John wrote the words and music to the "middle eight," while Paul wrote the words and music to the eight-bar verse/chorus, inspired by his relationship with Jane Asher. As Mike remarked in his entry into this write-off, it's the perfect example of just how different their writing songwriting styles were. In his lyrics, Paul doesn't try to argue the merits of his case, but simply pleads with his woman to see things his way because he believes he is right and she is wrong. Lennon's sixteen-bar bridge contrasts with Paul's optimism, impatiently stating that she needs to see it his way, cause "there's no time for fussing and fighting". Lennon's middle shifts focus from McCartney's concrete reality to a philosophical perspective in B minor, illustrating this with a waltz. It all comes together perfectly, with Lennon and McCartney meeting more closely in a single song only in the previously mentioned "A Day In The Life". "Try to see it my way, Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong. While you see it your way there's a chance that we might fall apart before too long. We can work it out, we can work it out. Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend. I have always thought that it's a crime, So I will ask you once again" 10. Come Together This one originally started out as a song for Timothy Leary's failed gubernatorial campaign in California against Ronald Reagan, one which promptly ended when Leary was arrested for possession of marijuana. The song's title stemmed from Leary's slogan, which was "Come together, join the party". After Leary's arrest, Lennon transformed the anthem into a track with digs at McCartney and Harrison interspersed alongside tales of his Bagism movement with Yoko Ono. Aside from the vocals, Lennon played rhythm guitar and tambourine. The bluesy guitar riff and the song's opening lyric "Here come ol' flattop", were both borrowed from "You Can't Catch Me", a song by Chuck Berry, and Lennon ended up being sued for it by Morris Levy, Berry's music publisher. As for the rest of the band, McCartney played bass and the electric piano, Harrison lead guitar, and Starr drums and maracas. It's gritty but bluesy track. "He roller-coaster he got early warning He got muddy water he one mojo filter He say "One and one and one is three" Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see Come together Right now Over me" 11. Yesterday This particular song is reportedly the most covered song in history. The only member of the band playing on this one is McCartney, who is backed by string quartet. This is an acoustic ballad about a lost love due to your own mistakes, something that I and many others can relate to. The somber lyrics are direct and fit the reflective melancholic melody perfectly, evocating nostalgia for 'the one that got away'. McCartney managed not to overplay the sentimental lyric, singing the tune sympathetically instead of singing with self pity. "Yesterday, Love was such an easy game to play Now I need a place to hide away Oh, I believe in yesterday Why she had to go I don't know, she wouldn't say I said something wrong Now I long for yesterday" 12. Julia In my eyes, this song was Lennon's approach to McCartney's simplistic acoustic numbers, such as the song mentioned above. This one, off of their infamous self-titled double album, is about Lennon's mother, who sent him to live with his aunt when he was young, and was killed in an accident just as they were re-establishing their relationship. As I mentioned, it is simply Lennon playing his acoustic guitar. He sings softly in this track and comes off very well and, almost haunting at one point. "Half of what I say is meaningless But I say it just to reach you, Julia Julia, Julia, ocean child, calls me So I sing a song of love, Julia" 13. The Long and Winding Road This sad pop ballad, included on the "Let It Be" album released after their subsequent break up, became their last Number 1 song in the United States on June 13, 1970. While the released version of the song was very successful, the post-production modifications to the song by producer Phil Spector extremely angered McCartney. Spector remixed the song using 18 violins, four violas, four cellos, three trumpets, three trombones, two guitars, and a choir of 14 women. The orchestra was scored and conducted by Richard Hewson, who would later work with McCartney on his album, Thrillington. McCartney was so pissed off, when he made his case in court for breaking up the Beatles as a legal entity, he cited the treatment of "The Long and Winding Road" as one of six reasons for doing so. When McCartney released his own version of Let It Be in 2003, "Let It Be... Naked", he included a demo version of the song closer to his original intention, with no strings or other added instruments. I particularly like both versions but I like the "Let It Be... Naked" version more; I have to be in a certain mood to listen to the other version. "Many times I've been alone And many times I've cried Anyway you'll never know The many ways I've tried And still they lead me back To the long, winding road You left me waiting here A long, long time ago Don't keep me standing here Lead me to you door" 14. Eleanor Rigby This one is probably top five for me when it comes to Beatles songs. Fans of emcee Talib Kweli will recognize this as the basis for his song "Lonely People", which was sadly cut from the final release of his 2004 album "The Beautiful Struggle". Lyrically, the song is about the loneliness of old age. Instead of having the band play their instruments, McCartney used a string octet of studio musicians, composed of four violins, two cellos, and two violas all working off a score written by producer George Martin. For the most part, the instruments serve as two string quartets with two instruments playing each part in the quartet. To this day, it remains one of the Beatles' most recognizable songs. "Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name Nobody came Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave No one was saved All the lonely people Where do they all come from? All the lonely people Where do they all belong?" 15. The Ballad of John and Yoko Here's another one of the Beatles most underrated cuts. For this song, Lennon was on lead vocal, and played lead guitar and acoustic guitar, while McCartney sang harmony vocals and played bass, drums, piano, and maracas. Lennon had a sudden inspiration for the song and dropped by McCartney's, suggesting the two of them knock it out in the studio without waiting for the other Beatles (Harrison was on a vacation, and Starr was filming a movie). The song basically describes Lennon's experiences with his wife Yoko Ono, and how the media criticized every single thing they did. The chorus, which is quoted below, is one of my favorites of any song, rock n' roll or other wise: "Christ, you know it ain't easy You know how hard it can be The way things are going, They're gonna crucify me" 16. Here Comes the Sun This one comes from the Beatles' magnum opus, "Abbey Road", which was also the last album they recorded together as a band. This optimistic number was written by George Harrison when he was happily away from all the troubles he had to deal with at that time (he had been arrested for cannabis possession, he had his tonsils out, and he had temporarily quit the band). Harrison sang lead vocals, and played a light acoustic guitar, which remains the overall base of the music. McCartney sang backing vocals, and played bass guitar and handclaps, while Starr played drums and handclaps. Some unknown studio musicians took care of the rest of the instruments, such as violas, cellos, piccolos, flutes, and others. Both of these songs are excellent, and show just how much Harrison had excelled in the songwriting department. Alongside "Something", which was from the same album, it is Harrison's most well-known Beatles' contribution "Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right" 17. While My Guitar Gently Weeps Another Harrison-penned classic, this one was composed with a solo acoustic guitar and a mellotron. He was inspired to write this after reading I Ching, which he said was "based on the Eastern concept that everything is relative to everything else, as opposed to the Western view that things are merely coincidental." Taking this idea of relativity to his parent's home in North England, Harrison committed to write a song based on the first words he saw upon opening a random book. Those first words were "gently weeps", and he immediately began the song. Eric Clapton played lead guitar on the album version of the song with a Gibson Les Paul guitar. The lyrics on this one are some of the best Harrison's ever written. "I look at the world and I notice it's turning While my guitar gently weeps With every mistake we must surely be learning Still my guitar gently weeps I don't know how you were diverted You were perverted too I don't know how you were inverted No one alerted you" 18. Let It Be The song was written as a tribute by McCartney after he had a dream about his mother, Mary, who died when he was fourteen. Paul played the piano, John played a remarkable bass-line, and George added two of his best guitar solos. Ringo's drumming was augmented by echo effects added by Phil Spector. The lyrics are very optimistic, basically saying that in times of trouble, you can always expect things to work themselves out, so any problem you have, just let it be. A very uplifting song, and one of my personal favorites. "And when the night is cloudy, There is still a light that shines on me, Shine on until tomorrow, let it be I wake up to the sound of music Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be Let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be" 19. Maxwell's Silver Hammer A dark comedy vaudevillian-style song , "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is about medical student named Maxwell Edison, who uses his silver hammer to murder three different people: his girlfriend Joan for no apparent reason, then his medical teacher for punishing him because he "played the fool", and finally the judge who sentences him for the previous murders. According to McCartney, the phrase 'Maxwell's silver hammer' epitomizes the downfalls of life; it was his analogy for something that goes wrong for someone out of the blue. Paul's light piano melody, which dominates the song along with his bass guitar, is contrasted by his dark, descriptive lyrics. "BANG! BANG! Maxwell's silver hammer Came down upon her head CLANG! CLANG! Maxwell's silver hammer Made sure that she was dead" 20. Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End Out of all the songs I've mentioned thus far, these combined probably make my favorite Beatles composition of all time. These three songs, which were the final three songs on "Abbey Road", weave together to make what perhaps might be the biggest finish an album has ever had... EVER. It starts off with the piano ballad "Golden Slumbers", which I can only describe as 'beautiful'. Based on a 17th century poem by Thomas Dekker, Paul sings a lullaby, as he plays his piano, while Ringo plays the drums, accompanied by an orchestra, a horn section in the second verse. Paul's voice carries so much emotion here, especially on the second verse. This song segues into the anthemic "Carry That Weight". Backed by the orchestra and horn section still, all four Beatles harmonize together to sing the chorus line: "Boy, you gotta carry that weight / carry that weight a long time". This was one of the few songs to feature harmony vocals from all four Beatles. Also, the middle bridge featuring brass instruments, electric guitar and vocals reprises the beginning of "You Never Give Me Your Money", a song that appeared on "Abbey Road" earlier, but with different lyrics. The ending also reprises the guitar motif from the end of that track. This particular suite, as well as the whole album, comes to a close with "The End". Composed by McCartney, it was the final song recorded by all four Beatles at once. After a short sung statement from Paul, we get what I believe to be the only drum solo from Ringo Starr in the entire Beatles catalogue. After the solo, McCartney, Harrison, and Lennon perform three different extensive guitar solos, while they all sing the phrase "Love you" precisely twenty four times. At the 1:30 mark, the all other instruments except the piano drop, and the Beatles deliver their final line; one of the most poignant lyrics in history, The Beatles go out with a positive and touching message: "And in the end, / the love you take / is equal to the love you make". The song then rounds out with a guitar solo and all four members vocally harmonizing the melody. These three songs combine to create a fittingly grandiose finish to the career of one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands in history. And that's it. I apologize for the long entry, but I appreciate that you stuck through it all! Peace Related Reviews: The Beatles - Abbey Road John Lennon: Imagine OST

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