Hidden References in Popular Beatles Songs

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  • Опубліковано 4 тра 2024
  • The Beatles made history, but they didn't sing about it much. Even when they did, usually it was an oblique reference to a current event - something that for them was contemporary, but which has since gone into the history books.
    In this way, larger historical currents did make their way into the band's lyrics - albeit often metaphorically, or as quick one-liners. Here's a sampling of the rare and subtle ways the Beatles commented on the world at large, and its past.
    To Read about more Beatles songs referencing historical events, go here:
    www.ranker.com/list/historica...
    Be sure to subscribe to the Weird History Newsletter: www.ranker.com/newsletters/we...
    #beatles #lyrics #weirdhistory
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 235

  • @laladoopsy
    @laladoopsy 10 днів тому +40

    Seriously? You say no one thinks of The Beatles as being a political band? Revolution, Blackbird, Piggies, Get Back, Taxman, to name some. The reason The Beatles were so revered was that they did a whole lot of different themes and topics within theur very short time as a band.

    • @timthegem
      @timthegem 10 днів тому +2

      This is the age of "alternate facts". A lot of people rip on Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon for their political jokes while claiming that Johnny Carson was never political, even though his nightly monologues had more political jokes than Kimmel and Fallon combined.

    • @RavensSoTired4081
      @RavensSoTired4081 10 днів тому

      Lmao piggies is about cops
      Go sit down somewhere

    • @12thMandalorian
      @12thMandalorian 8 днів тому

      next they will tell me that The Smiths are a political band.

    • @jeffconquest3350
      @jeffconquest3350 8 днів тому

      @@timthegem You are correct, Johnny Carson was very political, but his observations/jokes were much more evenly distributed at both political parties where most current hosts are much more slanted to their side of the aisle and choose to ignore opportunities to joke about their side.

    • @chrisbarnett5303
      @chrisbarnett5303 7 днів тому

      Insane how much variety and so much innovation they had in only 7 years as a band

  • @NASCARFAN93100
    @NASCARFAN93100 10 днів тому +31

    The Beatles will forever be the GOAT

    • @Me4-gc8qs
      @Me4-gc8qs 10 днів тому +2

      hahah too funny, needed that. None of the Beatless could even tune Brian Mays guitar.

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres 10 днів тому +8

      ​​@@Me4-gc8qsDiferent bands, diferent styles... but I bet 'Queen' members liked 'The Beatles'...

    • @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman
      @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman 10 днів тому +2

      Different time period

    • @ziggysawdust5407
      @ziggysawdust5407 10 днів тому +2

      ​@@Me4-gc8qshahaha, too funny. Brian May couldn't string Jimmy Page's shoes!

    • @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman
      @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman 10 днів тому

      @ziggysawdust5407 I beg to differ. May is a way more versatile guitarist. Page, though, wrote more epic tunes (or stole them, rather).

  • @chrisclarke4665
    @chrisclarke4665 10 днів тому +9

    You're completely wrong about "I would love to turn you on". Both John and Paul have directly specified that lyric was there to jab at the BBC for its censorship of sexually explicit lyricism. Any direct interpretation of Leary's phrasing of the term is non intentional or coincidental since the context is directly sexual and not necessarily a hippie motif. The Beatles faded out that line with instrumentals to trick the BBC from censoring/vetoing the song on the radio. The Beatles did this again on "Because". Because the world Is round, it turns me on. The double meaning would be enough to trick further censorship of their material. John was furious that "I am the Walrus" was vetoed from having radio play because it featured the word "knickers".

  • @tombruner9634
    @tombruner9634 10 днів тому +16

    I know that there are a lot of Beatles fans who did not grow up with the Beatles in real time, but as one who did grow up with the Beatles I can tell you that at the time there was nothing "secret" about the Beatles political leanings or commentary. I think that it's possible that the reason was the FCC's Equal Time rule, which required broadcasters to grant equal time to differing viewpoints and in music it was generally better to be a bit subtle to avoid causing a scene. I'm guessing that since the political bands that you mentioned are relatively modern, but you left off acts roughly contemporaneous with the Beatles like Country Joe and the Fish. Yes, somehow we knew that I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin-To-Die (1967) was a protest song. Puff The Magic Dragon (1963), s by Peter, Paul, and Mary, was based on a poem that had nothing to do with the gunship of the same name and was not presented as a protest song, but was hijacked to serve as such. You had to be clever if you wanted to protest in those days because of that "lying son-of-a-bitch Johnson."

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron 10 днів тому +12

    Anyone who missed the clever references of the Fab Four doesn’t deserve them!

  • @Me4-gc8qs
    @Me4-gc8qs 10 днів тому +10

    Anyone older than 12 knows how political the Beatles were...

    • @Beatleslover3
      @Beatleslover3 9 днів тому +1

      Exactly, what is this guy on about.

  • @dugsbassplace
    @dugsbassplace 10 днів тому +23

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps....genius.

  • @vrijheidradio
    @vrijheidradio 10 днів тому +10

    My favorite Beatles' song is Tomorrow never knows

  • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
    @IsaacTuduriLlabres 10 днів тому +14

    My favorite Beatles' song is
    'A Day in the Life'...
    I know it's a weird choice,
    but I love that song...
    The second is 'Strawberry Fields Forever'...
    I also love 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds'...

    • @leiaorgana5491
      @leiaorgana5491 10 днів тому +1

      Some of my favorites are: Strawberry Fields, In My Life, Something, Yesterday

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres 10 днів тому

      @@leiaorgana5491 👍🏻

    • @milascave2
      @milascave2 2 дні тому

      None of those measure up to the sweetly melodic beats of "Revolution number nine."

  • @ClintMcCollum
    @ClintMcCollum 10 днів тому +7

    "Hey Bulldog" from Yellow Submarine album

  • @drowsy7921
    @drowsy7921 10 днів тому +10

    Stuff like this is why I adore the Beatles. There's a lot more to their songs than meets the eye.

  • @lp-xl9ld
    @lp-xl9ld 10 днів тому +5

    A certain radio station in Philadelphia would play "TaxMan" every April 15th during the time I lived there, and I'm sure many radio stations elsewhere did (still do?) also

  • @angelae4412
    @angelae4412 10 днів тому +7

    Now that's a bit more like the Michael Swaim I know and love!

    • @LukeRosenlieb
      @LukeRosenlieb 10 днів тому

      Is it really Michael Swaim?

    • @misterhat5823
      @misterhat5823 10 днів тому

      @@LukeRosenlieb No. The narrators troll said it's AI. The narrator trolls are always right...

  • @jons.6216
    @jons.6216 10 днів тому +2

    On a side note - the cover of "She's Leaving Home" by singer Lana Cantrell is pretty phenomenal!

  • @eltronics
    @eltronics 10 днів тому +2

    Great informative video. Is there a Part 2?

  • @alejandroberman
    @alejandroberman 10 днів тому +22

    where's the other guy voice? the one that sounds like the cool neighbor we all want to have

  • @missywink1504
    @missywink1504 10 днів тому +2

    After the end of Strawberry Fields, there's a brief track of music where John utters, 'Cranberry Sauce.'

    • @markkalfahs1047
      @markkalfahs1047 9 днів тому +1

      ...I thought it was, "I...buried...Paul," further fueling those death rumors of McCartney back then...🤷

    • @missywink1504
      @missywink1504 8 днів тому +1

      @@markkalfahs1047 That was the rumor, however, he actually says, ‘Cran . . . berry . . . sauce . . . ‘

  • @angeldquintas
    @angeldquintas 3 дні тому +1

    George Harrison actually was the one who asked John to change the lyrics from “Maharishi” to “Sexy Sadie” out of respect for the Maharishi. He didn’t “chicken out” 😒

  • @poppinpatty2507
    @poppinpatty2507 10 днів тому +1

    I love the Beatles! My favorite Beatles song is Lucy in the sky with Rocky raccoon, those crazy dudes really knew where it was at🍄💫⚡️🤯

  • @markkalfahs1047
    @markkalfahs1047 11 годин тому

    ...two of my favorite "hidden sneaks": (1) during the chorus of Paperback Writer, they sing Frérè Jacques...(2) in A Day in the Life, at around 2:18, you can hear an alarm clock go off...

  • @catholicactionbibleonlyist1813
    @catholicactionbibleonlyist1813 10 днів тому +2

    I love hello goodbye

  • @markbragg885
    @markbragg885 10 днів тому +1

    He blow his mind out in a car is about Mark Bowland, who crashed against a tree ...

    • @JordosGarage
      @JordosGarage 10 днів тому +1

      You mean Marc Bolan? He died 10 years after the song was released

  • @nicholasmesa3588
    @nicholasmesa3588 8 днів тому

    Must be where they originated the phrase . . . " I've got a hole in me pocket. Well, half a hole, I gave the other half to Jeremy." 😅😂😅

  • @xtheunknown4662
    @xtheunknown4662 10 днів тому +1

    This narrator is really Tom Blank fucking with you guys. 😅

  • @auntvesuvi3872
    @auntvesuvi3872 9 днів тому

    Thanks for this! 🍓

  • @mr.g1758
    @mr.g1758 10 днів тому +1

    "He blew his mind out in a car" is not referring to Brown. Someone much closer.

  • @julianaylor4351
    @julianaylor4351 10 днів тому

    The great pity about that ' holes in Blackburn Lancashire ' line, is that the UK's is roads are currently peppered with potholes, due to several bad winters and under investment in road mending....some things never change.
    Edward Heath was later a PM in the 1970s. His party the Conservatives, supported lower taxes on the rich. It's in the lyrics. Margeret Thatcher's later Conservative government in the 1980s, reduced the top rate to around 40%. A little history of British politics and tax laws in the 60s. A state of affairs that is also referenced in the Kinks Sunny Afternoon, where Ray Davies complains that ' the taxman's taken all my dough ' which is slang for money, in the opening line, to the song.
    I'm a Beatles fan born in 1961 and a fan since 1963.

  • @markbragg885
    @markbragg885 10 днів тому +2

    Imagine is about Anarchy

  • @negativeindustrial
    @negativeindustrial 10 днів тому +2

    Oh boy! Rage For The Machine! Or is it Rage On Behalf Of The Machine?

  • @THE-X-Force
    @THE-X-Force 10 днів тому

    Actually good and interesting historical info for a change.

  • @tjnaples
    @tjnaples 9 днів тому

    Maybe see if the Honest Trailers guy is available when the main narrator isn’t?

  • @Mateo-gp6uu
    @Mateo-gp6uu 10 днів тому +5

    hurray

  • @bangdollarsign
    @bangdollarsign 10 днів тому

    There seems to be conflicting reports of the meaning of the 4000 holes, I have always understood that was taken from a newspaper article in relation that money that was spent to determine the number of holes in the roof of Albert Hall, 4000. Another quote I just found was in reference to the holes of the 4000 girls that filled hall during a concert, considering the times, I guess that was 4000 screaming mouth-holes.

  • @Millieshin-yj5mb
    @Millieshin-yj5mb 10 днів тому

    I don't know what the fascination is with the Beatles. I stopped listening to them after they split up. Yeah, I was teen in the 60's. They were new and exciting back then. We never had anything like them.

  • @jdmdt3328
    @jdmdt3328 10 днів тому

    You should all do a video about the show LIVE PD, since you all did one about COPS not to long ago

  • @MagdaleneDivine
    @MagdaleneDivine 10 днів тому

    FAVORITE EPISODE EVER

  • @mostly_insane2291
    @mostly_insane2291 10 днів тому

    Norwegian Wood. My favorite Beatles song

  • @tremorsfan
    @tremorsfan 10 днів тому +4

    If you play "Maybe I'm Amazed" backwards you can hear a really ripping recipe for lentil soup.

  • @fmatta
    @fmatta 10 днів тому

    Always number 1 for me: Here Comes The Sun

  • @neekomarina2782
    @neekomarina2782 10 днів тому

    i see new beatles content, i click and watch

  • @laurabriggs-od2jb
    @laurabriggs-od2jb 10 днів тому +2

    Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl.

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage 10 днів тому +6

    _John Lennon has left the chat_
    I wish he hadn't. RIP.

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres 10 днів тому +1

      Mark David Chapman solicited conditional freedom numerous times, but for now, it has been denied...

    • @Me4-gc8qs
      @Me4-gc8qs 10 днів тому

      He was never here. Only chat he did was a private chat with Ono

  • @joannryan5929
    @joannryan5929 9 днів тому

    Got to Get You Into My Life was about Paul's affinity for pot

  • @ArcherSuh4721
    @ArcherSuh4721 10 днів тому

    Reporter: "Time Magazine recently wrote up an article putting down pop music. They described Day Tripper as being about a prostitute and Norwegian Wood being about a lesbian. What was your thinking behind these songs?"
    Paul McCartney: "We were just trying to write songs about prostitutes and lesbians, that's all."
    😂😂😂😂😂

  • @demedawalker7169
    @demedawalker7169 9 днів тому

    What about Blackbird? that was very political.

  • @ronm6585
    @ronm6585 10 днів тому +1

    Thanks.

  • @fromulus
    @fromulus 10 днів тому +1

    Tay Zonday actually is very political, I see him in the comments of politically-themed videos all the time, he's quite intelligent.

    • @triple_gem_shining
      @triple_gem_shining 10 днів тому

      He thinks he is. Hes a dweeb

    • @Zachary3D
      @Zachary3D 10 днів тому

      Really?
      All he does is make generic comments that could apply to anything...

    • @BonShula
      @BonShula 10 днів тому

      Of course he is. He watches Destiny

  • @Lynzae
    @Lynzae 10 днів тому +2

    Yesterday, Hey Jude, and Let It Be, that's just my top 3. It's hard to pick a very favorite because there's so many good ones.

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner 10 днів тому +2

    A+ video!
    Fascinating topic and video!

  • @istaphobe
    @istaphobe 10 днів тому +3

    We need a video to tell us the Beatles were political and news referencing?
    I kinda thought that was REALLY obvious.

  • @kennywaynebearhead
    @kennywaynebearhead 9 днів тому

    0/10 on the “other” fella doing the narration again. It’s not that he’s bad as much as it is that the HMFIC who was giving the lowdown prior is just. so. damn. great.

  • @brandoncovert6182
    @brandoncovert6182 10 днів тому

    Elinor Rigbee

  • @ivzbonete138
    @ivzbonete138 10 днів тому

    Where is the original narrator? I can’t do this I swear!

  • @user-wh8mg4gh8d
    @user-wh8mg4gh8d 10 днів тому

    I've always loved the Beatles better than the Stones UGH

  • @Patrick-hm4eg
    @Patrick-hm4eg 10 днів тому

    One guy took Beatles lyrics and warped them. The guy was Charles Manson.

  • @shawnnewell4541
    @shawnnewell4541 10 днів тому

    I thought it was Revolution #9 not #1?

    • @CatherineLee-kt8ky
      @CatherineLee-kt8ky 10 днів тому +1

      Revolution #9 just repeats the phrase 'Number 9, number 9...'

    • @Tylerboyd2001
      @Tylerboyd2001 4 дні тому

      There is Revolution, Revolution 1, and Revolution 9

  • @Lkydo8165
    @Lkydo8165 9 днів тому

    I don't understand why you keep going to the other narrator the original one is definitely the best he has the right voice for the videos this one is definitely nasally it makes it to where I don't even want to watch the videos that he narrates

  • @coled0666
    @coled0666 10 днів тому

    Something

  • @CappyLarou
    @CappyLarou 10 днів тому

    90%?!?!?!!!!!!! What the hell's the point of working if you only keep 10% of your money? That is insane and I hope to God not still true

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron 10 днів тому

    Give Ireland Back to the Irish. ☘️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🥁

  • @gp2917
    @gp2917 10 днів тому

    I love Paul, but that mustache… Got

  • @ferociousgumby
    @ferociousgumby 9 днів тому

    I buried Paul.

  • @jasontassey373
    @jasontassey373 10 днів тому +2

    Swaim... love you on college humor and ign. The hate is unnecessary

  • @Saint_nobody
    @Saint_nobody 10 днів тому +1

    All time favorite Beatles song, *I want you (she's so heavy)* . That tune is proto doom metal awesomeness.

  • @shanemotown295
    @shanemotown295 10 днів тому +1

    BRING BACK OUR FAVORITE! I appreciate he’s helping. But we need our champion. I’ll like it when I like it!

  • @kandipiatkowski8589
    @kandipiatkowski8589 10 днів тому

    Imagine has some pretty interesting lyrics....politically.

  • @catherinespencer-mills1928
    @catherinespencer-mills1928 10 днів тому

    Rain .. maybe not political, maybe a gentle nudge at silly people, but the musicality.....

  • @kevincruise3521
    @kevincruise3521 10 днів тому +5

    Glad you're back

  • @mckitten-tk1nj
    @mckitten-tk1nj 10 днів тому

    Love everything about this video. The narrator, The Beatles, songs and the references. everything.

  • @istaphobe
    @istaphobe 10 днів тому +2

    Lot of conjecture here.

  • @revalesq
    @revalesq 9 днів тому

    Helter skelter despite the history. Cheesy pop bands aren't my thing.

  • @none-js4kr
    @none-js4kr 9 днів тому

    RiGhT???

  • @davidlancaster8152
    @davidlancaster8152 10 днів тому +1

    Cute but superficial.

  • @Megadebt
    @Megadebt 10 днів тому +139

    Oh god not this guy again

    • @LukeRosenlieb
      @LukeRosenlieb 10 днів тому +23

      He’s fine.

    • @krystalayala8451
      @krystalayala8451 10 днів тому +8

      😂😂😂😂😂 i said the same thing

    • @kylerose3174
      @kylerose3174 10 днів тому +18

      Some cola drinkers love Coke and refuse Pepsi. Some cola drinkers love Pepsi and refuse Coke. Both these kinds of people are often rude and mean when dealing with servers or people of different opinion. (Vocal Minority)
      Most cola drinkers don’t care if it’s Coke or Pepsi, and these people don’t say anything rude or mean to anyone about this topic because it’s pointless. (Silent Majority)
      Keep up the good work new guy!

    • @chava4809
      @chava4809 10 днів тому +22

      Oh god not this comment AGAIN

    • @erickmiranda3600
      @erickmiranda3600 10 днів тому +2

      OOHH BROTHER

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner 10 днів тому +2

    Eating ANOTHER Weird History meal!
    Eating HAMBURGER HELPER POTATOES STROGANOFF*†...while watching this Weird History video!
    Both The Beatles and Hamburger Helper have put out hit songs!
    * From the Weird History Food video "The White-Gloved History of Hamburger Helper"
    † Have it in one of the containers that look like those used for Hello Fresh.

    • @Dave-bj3pq
      @Dave-bj3pq 10 днів тому

      Pointless comment again 😂😂😂 just for a 🏆

    • @btetschner
      @btetschner 10 днів тому

      @@Dave-bj3pq When everyone around you leaves you (for all the right reasons), they are going to bring up your loser routines like talking about trophies and pretending you aren't a total dependent.

    • @Dave-bj3pq
      @Dave-bj3pq 10 днів тому

      😂😂😂 pathetic. You have a sad life

  • @MYKe1217
    @MYKe1217 10 днів тому

    lol you don’t need to dive deep to find political commentary in Beatles music especially when fucking John Lennon, one of pop culture’s most famous social activists, is one of the chief song writers. Are you just that oblivious?

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner 10 днів тому

    3:49 Speaking of melancholy...I am watching the Kirsten Dunst films Power of the Dog and Melancholia on her birthday on April 30th.
    It is also the birthday of both directors of the films (Lars Von Trier and Jane Campion).

  • @kirbymarchbarcena
    @kirbymarchbarcena 10 днів тому

    Riiigghhht

  • @TheStickCollector
    @TheStickCollector 10 днів тому +1

    I know of Eleanor Rigby, so i suppose there's that

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner 10 днів тому

    I am going to watch the videos:
    x Shocking Facts About John Lennon's Death (1st recommendation)
    x What Was the Original Woodstock Really Like (2nd recommendation, second time watching)
    x Pink Floyd Recorded An Album That Was Too Weird For Them
    x Great White & The Station Nightclub Fire Tragedy
    x ---TIMELINE 1974---

  • @Sheepish89
    @Sheepish89 8 днів тому

    No offense intended towards the new guy but... I miss the original narrator :(

  • @woodenpuppet7568
    @woodenpuppet7568 10 днів тому

    No they didn't

  • @Me4-gc8qs
    @Me4-gc8qs 10 днів тому

    My fav Beatles song. Keep Passing The Open Windows. Oh that's Queen, a real band.

  • @nickc247
    @nickc247 10 днів тому

    Who doesn't think the Beatles made political music?!? 😄

    • @bigmoneymandan360
      @bigmoneymandan360 3 дні тому

      Someone who doesn't know who the Beatles are and or just what their songs sound like... Which is over half the world lol

    • @nickc247
      @nickc247 3 дні тому

      @@bigmoneymandan360 If that's the case, that person shouldn't be commenting on them.

    • @bigmoneymandan360
      @bigmoneymandan360 2 дні тому

      @@nickc247 well thankfully I'm not one of those people. I actually play Beatles and play three instruments and you would be surprised how many people have no idea who the Beatles are or maybe they know a song if they heard it but wouldn't know the Beatles wrote it. Like my dad was born in 1934 but he always called John Lennon a communist because of his song "imagine" he thought he was preaching for socialism 😂😂 which it may be about socialism when he wrote it but it's just a good song today that's well written I mean not much more to say.

  • @CappyLarou
    @CappyLarou 10 днів тому

    Sigh...

  • @mikarri7199
    @mikarri7199 10 днів тому +9

    Am I the only one who thinks the Beatles are overrated?

    • @Taragoola
      @Taragoola 10 днів тому +1

      No.

    • @misterhat5823
      @misterhat5823 10 днів тому +2

      Nope. I think they were awful as far as musical ability.

    • @Nonstop664
      @Nonstop664 10 днів тому

      Pretty much

    • @Tylerboyd2001
      @Tylerboyd2001 4 дні тому

      Nope, but they are far from overrated.

  • @lucrativesoundsent.1274
    @lucrativesoundsent.1274 10 днів тому +6

    Narrator Jr!!! Yay!! 😀👍

  • @OathTaker3
    @OathTaker3 10 днів тому

    I never liked John,🤔.

  • @kimberlyweaver1285
    @kimberlyweaver1285 10 днів тому

    Boo

  • @Autumnh141983
    @Autumnh141983 10 днів тому +2

    Great job Narrator! I enjoy your videos.

  • @darwonka
    @darwonka 10 днів тому +3

    SWAIM!

  • @stevedavis2149
    @stevedavis2149 10 днів тому +5

    Love this narrator ❤

  • @amishdeniro
    @amishdeniro 10 днів тому +3

    This newer narrator is doing a great job. Great episode. 👍👍

  • @Borella309
    @Borella309 10 днів тому

    Why do you show video footage of a colored girl when talking about Melanie Coe, when Melanie Coe was a white girl? Is this some weird race game you are trying to play - if so it's in very poor taste.

  • @GMCLabs
    @GMCLabs 10 днів тому

    Lucy in the
    Sky with
    Diamonds

  • @skully0078
    @skully0078 10 днів тому

    I'm not the biggest fan of the Beatles, I'm just here on this one to how many whiners there are about the guy delivering the message.
    Hey new guy, you're doing just fine!

  • @campfiretunes8598
    @campfiretunes8598 10 днів тому +5

    Who is this narrator? No dice. Ciao

  • @kawanajanell
    @kawanajanell 10 днів тому +1

    Happy to hear this voiceover guy! 😊❤

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner 10 днів тому

    5:00 In the romantic action-adventure comedy film Ghosted, the CIA operative is called "The Taxman."

  • @Hesiodzz
    @Hesiodzz 9 днів тому

    This dude aint got it.