Hey Jude, what does that song mean?

March 30, 2003 3:23 PM

Hey Jude, what does that song mean? The Beatles Discography lets you look up almost any Beatles song, and find out about its history and meaning. According to this, one of my favorite Beatles songs, "Paperback Writer," was written after Paul's aunt challenged him to write a song that wasn't about love. And "She's Leaving Home," another favorite, was based on a newspaper article about a runaway 17-year-old girl. and supposedly was attacked in the U.S. as being somehow pro-abortion. I always wondered if there was a real "Polyethene Pam," but I had no idea her name was really Pat, and that she ate plastic. Fascinating stuff.
posted by GaelFC (25 comments total)

[This is much more than good.]

I now have to find a copy of Sean Connery singing "In my Life"!
posted by ?! at 3:28 PM on March 30, 2003

Very cool site.

I just noticed that the right click (and text highlighting) is disabled, which totally bugs, but a great resource anyway.
posted by eyeballkid at 3:48 PM on March 30, 2003

I am surprised this has not been posted in the 3+ years of MetaFilter. I am certainly not complaining even if it has been! Thanks, GaelFC. You're one of the good ones.

??? I just thought of "Octopus's Garden", later...

[VEP]
posted by jaronson at 3:52 PM on March 30, 2003

Maxwell's Silver Hammer was "Paul's cheerful song about a homicidal maniac". I remember being really upset by that song the first time I heard it. Great link, GaelFC - I can't wait to dig up the dirt on all of my favorite tracks.
posted by iconomy at 4:25 PM on March 30, 2003

Hey,.. a great site!! Thanks!!!
posted by danger at 4:34 PM on March 30, 2003

This is really great!

Thanks!
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 5:05 PM on March 30, 2003

Cool link... Should help me waste some more time that should be devoted to my term paper.
posted by synecdoche at 5:47 PM on March 30, 2003

best site ever sdfsadfdas
posted by mcsweetie at 6:51 PM on March 30, 2003

Is this something you have to have a stereo to appreciate?

Seriously, though, what a great site... just spent over an hour reading through the history of Every. Single. Song.
posted by thatweirdguy2 at 6:59 PM on March 30, 2003

How timely. Went to see a movie tonight, and they were playing songs from the White Album before the film started, so I looked up several of them. I was disappointed that there was no listing for "Bungalow Bill", but otherwise found the site pretty interesting. Thanks.
posted by MrBaliHai at 7:27 PM on March 30, 2003

MrBaliHai: Remember, the actual title is "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill". Try "C"
posted by ?! at 7:42 PM on March 30, 2003

Coincidentally, The Beatles Anthology DVD set is released tomorrow. 5 DVDs with the entire 8 episode Anthology series, and an extra dvd of 81-minutes of never before seen footage, including the casual jams and recording sessions of the Threetles' "Free as a bird" and "Real Love".
posted by aki at 8:14 PM on March 30, 2003

Wow!
Great link!
Thanks!
posted by Espoo2 at 8:20 PM on March 30, 2003

I read the first entry (Across The Universe) and gave up. The text claims that the Beatles met Maharishi's teacher. The guru in question died in 1953. Hmmm.
posted by kozad at 8:24 PM on March 30, 2003

man, I coulda used this when I hosted a Beatles radio show.
posted by Vidiot at 8:43 PM on March 30, 2003

kozad, i found some of the facts to be a bit suspect as well. like helter skelter, they say that manson killed sharon tate "to stop the racial conflict that was 'coming down fast'. but i seem to remember reading that charlie was in fact trying to start a racial conflict with the murders.

great site nonetheless.
posted by goddam at 8:46 PM on March 30, 2003

Geat link Gael'er, can I put in a plug for your blog, which has been one of my favorite reads since the last millennium...?

I was disappointed in the short shrift given the song "Rocky Raccoon", so I Googled up another source and discovered the song's connection to the accident that spawned the Paul Is Dead urban legend. (Nitpickers might want to check Marcos' write-ups of "Across the Universe" and "Helter Skelter".) Second-sourcing never hurts.
posted by wendell at 11:38 PM on March 30, 2003

Thanks Gael, cool resource. And I second wendell's plug for your wonderful website!
posted by madamjujujive at 11:56 PM on March 30, 2003

Is it just me, or is this site not 100% complete? I mean, it's awesome, but not all songs seem to be there. Like Besame Mucho.
posted by MrAnonymous at 12:06 AM on March 31, 2003

Besame Mucho?
Besame Mucho?!?
Is she any relation to SheilaE..... oh, nevermind.
I'll deal with Mr. Anony Mouse later.

I'm just glad the Discography site DOESN'T go beyond the Beatles, even to coverage of the Ex-Beatles. I mean, does ANYBODY want to hear the story behind "Silly Love Songs"?
posted by wendell at 2:27 AM on March 31, 2003

does ANYBODY want to hear the story behind "Silly Love Songs"?

And what's wrong with that? I'd like to know. Well here I go again.
posted by turaho at 3:46 AM on March 31, 2003

Excellent.
posted by 111 at 6:52 AM on March 31, 2003

About the song "I'm a Loser":

Lennon later said that "Part of me suspects I'm a loser and part of me thinks I'm God almighty."

This was the very last time that John played his harmonica on record (because he thought he was turning it into a gimmick).

Great tidbit. I never thought of John Lennon as an angst-ridden manic depressive before.
posted by son_of_minya at 11:00 AM on March 31, 2003

My band has been working on adding "In My Life" to our repetoire. Our keyboard player has been struggling a bit with the piano break in the middle - she'll be happy to hear that "George Martin overdubbed the middle-eight ... by recording it at half speed, then playing it back at double speed. " Cheater!
posted by tdismukes at 11:36 AM on March 31, 2003

I've been enjoying this site all day while listening through all of my Beatles mp3s. Thanks, Gael.
posted by Dick Paris at 11:52 AM on March 31, 2003