Behind the Beatles' Lyrics

The Beatles were inspired by many things over the years. They wrote personal songs, for example, about memories of loved and lost ones. So, there were four members of the Beatles who came from Liverpool, England.

John Winston Lennon was born on October the 9th 1940 at Oxford Street Maternity Hospital. His father was a sailor called Alfred and his mother was named Julia. John wrote song Julia as a tribute to her. He was raised by his Aunt Mimi and Uncle George. He died on December 8th 1980 after being shot by Mark Chapman outside his home in New York, USA. One of Johh’s most famous compositions is All You Need Is Love. This song was written in 1967 after the Beatles were approached by the BBC to write a song for a global television project. The Beatles knew the one thing that could be understood in any language was love. It was John Lennon who came up with the idea and lyrics.

Across the Universe was originally written by John Lennon in 1968 when John and his wife Cynthia were going through lots of ups and downs. Yoko Ono had already entered the scene and this led John to ‘having pools of sorrow and waves of joy’ at the same time. Across the Universe was one of Lennon’s favourites. It features Guru Dev, the guru of the Maharishi, who was meditating with the Beatles during their stay in India.

James Paul McCartney was born on June the 18th, 1942 at Walton hospital. Paul’s father, Jim, was a factory worker and his mother Mary was a nurse. His father played in a band. Two of the songs that Paul wrote for the Beatles were about his family, When I’m 64 for Jim and Let It Be for Mary.

One morning McCartney woke up with the tune for Yesterday in his head. He jumped out of bed and played it instantly on his piano. Because of the way that Paul had dreamt up the song he was very concerned that it may have been a tune that he had heard previously and had got subconsciously into his head. Paul spent the next month driving people mad by asking them if they had heard the tune to Yesterday before. The original title of the song was going to be “scrambled eggs’ and contained the lyrics “Scrambled eggs, oh you’ve got such lovely legs”.

Richard Starkey (Ringo Starr) was born at 9 Madryn Street on the 7th of July 1940. His father was also called Richard and his mother was named Elsie. Ringo wrote two songs for the Beatles: Don’t Pass Me By and Octopus’s Garden.

Octopus’s Garden was inspired by a holiday in Sardinia. Ringo was on a boat trip in which octopus was served for lunch. Ringo didn’t like the idea of eating it. Then the captain of the boat told him all the good things about octopuses and how they live. He mentioned that the animals would act a bit like magpies and horde anything shiny, and thus make an Octopus’s garden. Ringo loved this idea, and the thought of being under the sea and away from everything.

George Harrison was born at 12 Arnold Grove on the 25th of February 1943. His dad was a bus driver called Harold and his mum was called Louise. He died of cancer on the 29th of November 2001. Of all the Beatles George was the one with the biggest history of philosophy and religion. George enjoyed writing songs but was held back by the quality of the Lennon McCartney compositions. Nevertheless, he still managed to record great songs such as Something and While My Guitar Gently Weeps.

At the time of writing While My Guitar Gently Weeps, George was inspired by the principles of chance as described in the Chinese book ‘I Ching’. He picked a book that was on his parents’ book shelf and decided to write a song based upon what he saw. And what he saw by chance were the words ‘gently weeps’.

I. Read the quotes from the songs that were mentioned in the article. Match the titles of the songs (1–6) with the quotes (A–E). One title is extra.

1. All You Need Is Love 2. Across the Universe 3. Let It Be 4 Yesterday 5. Octopus’s Garden 6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

A. Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love. There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done. Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung. B. We would be warm below the storm. In our little hideaway beneath the waves C. With every mistake we must surely be learning. Still my guitar gently weeps D. Love was such an easy game to play, Now I need a place to hide away, Oh, I believe in yesterday. E. Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting thorough my open mind

Keys: 1. A; 2. E; 3. extra; 4. D; 5. B; 6. C

II. Read the article again and match the titles of the songs (1–6) with the information about these songs (A–F).

1. All You Need Is Love 2. Across the Universe 3. Let It Be 4 Yesterday 5. Octopus’s Garden 6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps

A. First, this song had a different title. B. This song was written when the author had problems with his wife. C. This song is about one thing which is common for all people in the world. D. The author of this song was impressed by Chinese philosophy. E. This song was inspired by a story which was told at lunch. F. This song was devoted to Mary.

Keys: 1. C; 2. B; 3. F; 4. A; 5. E; 6. D