SLY JABS | Paul McCartney Too many people John Lennon DISS reaction

[@mgonzales56]

Actually, the Ram LP came out in May of 1971, and John's Imagine LP came out in Sept of 1971. So John responded to Paul's song, not the other way around. I figured this was the case, because I remember John's album had a snapshot of him holding a pig the way Paul was holding the ram. So it was actually Paul that was angry at the other three, mainly because they voted against his in-laws representing The Beatles. The others wanted Allen Klein. Years later Klein showed himself to be what Paul always suspected, a sleeze bucket, and John actually did admit Paul was right. If he had admitted this in 1970, The Beatles might never have broken up.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Paul had the right to be angry since he was the only one who wanted to keep going with the Beatles and the only one who try to save their songs

[@julessabio]

@@eziospaghettiauditore8369 and there's been an interview of John some months before RAM where John talked badly not only of Paul and his new album, but also of Linda's family. John was quite nasty with the Eastmans in that interview.

[@yes2day100]

And John wrote the first nasty song lyric - 'I Found Out' in The Plastic Ono Band that came out before Ram. In that song he wrote (when exposing hypocrisy): "I've seen religion from Jesus to Paul." In interviews about the album, he said a lot of horrible things about Paul including that Paul was a "meglomaniac." And the Allen Klein debacle was much more than who was going to be manager. They pulled a bunch of nasty tricks on him with the business after Klein came in. They tried to screw up the release of his solo album, 'McCartney', too.

[@mgonzales56]

@@yes2day100 John was upset because the other three didn't like Yoko.

[@rickkoehnlein4629]

How can you sleep, Jonny boy, listen

[@craigproctor9560]

Here today the song Paul McCartney wrote about John Lennon just after he died will make you cry

[@B.R.0101]

And it's a beautiful song, a truly piece of art!

[@YN97WA]

I've heard it thousands of times and it still brings tears to my eyes.

[@donw804]

When this album came out, I never thought of this song as a criticism of John. In fact, it wasn't until many years later that this became known to me. That said, this is a good song on a very, very good album. Always enjoy your thoughts Harri.

[@glenndespres5317]

Same here! I only just found out via Harri’s reaction to How Do You Sleep, which I did know about. I will always love this song!

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Because it's not just about John is also about the pedantic critics that's why I can relate to this song about anyone who's just a jerk "Don't let them tell you what you want to be" Edit: spelling

[@ronalddobis6782]

Ram came out before Imagine. John heard this and thought it was a dig at him. He responded with How Do You Sleep. He even included a postcard with Imagine that had a picture of him holding a pig by the ears as a play on the Ram album cover.

[@carmelovillena6174]

its actually a dig to john

[@danduntz9112]

As Ringo has said many times, they were all brothers and brothers sometimes fight, but they’re still brothers. John also echoed that on the Dick Cavett show.

[@chrisalan3307]

its hard to hate someone that you don't love

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@chrisalan3307 what about a rapist or murderer? I get what you mean and I'm not targeting you but I just hear that line thrown around a lot

[@chrisalan3307]

@@eziospaghettiauditore8369 pedant

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@chrisalan3307 my guy I'm serious I think it's just a throwaway phrase that people don't think whether it actually applies or not

[@mikeyaureliush9017]

@@chrisalan3307 Leave out your useless insults, the fact is that Ezio is RIGHT, that's all that really matters.

[@supasoulproductions]

Don't worry. They were able to mend fences before John's death.

[@despinakollas]

As an afterthought Harri, Paul played all the instruments on this album. This is one of his BEST solo albums! It’s a MUST LISTEN.

[@mgonzales56]

I've listened to these two songs and albums countless times over the years since they were released, and I have never given it a second thought about the meaning behind them. All I know is I've always loved both songs, and enjoy them without any sad feelings. I love The Beatles and all their music.

[@briandonovan1584]

You must understand that the Beatles' breakup was over the management of the Beatles. John and the others were sold on this jerk named Alan Klein who wanted a huge percentage of THE BEATLES. Paul had to sue The Beatles to fight Klein off. Plus John was strung out on heroin and deeply insulted their incredible producer, George Martin in person. George Martin finally saw John shortly before John died. John asked him why he hadn't heard from him. Martin said he thought John hated him because of what he had said in this same period. John had no memory of it and told George he was not himself when he said such terrible things about good people. By about 1972 or so John said openly that Paul was right all along and they should have listened to him. Paul also regrets his own defensive jabs at John. John died a friend of Paul's and George Martin's and that is a really nice thing. Sorry for the length of my comment but the story is really important. Context really matters in this whole story. Love ya, Harri. Keep it up. Cheers.

[@HarriBestReactions]

No need for an apology.Your contribution was great

[@chrisalan3307]

there was more going on - john getting more turned on by the plastic ono group and disapproving of pauls insistence on limiting georges contributions

[@hellsjamfleas]

@@chrisalan3307 It's not wrong, but there are several narratives about this time. John is responsible for a large amount of the narrative that it was because of Paul, because he gave extensive interviews during the breakup and through the 70s, especially the early 70s when things were still raw and he thought Allen Klein was great. Paul on the other hand barely spoke to the media from the late sixties onwards and if asked he would refuse to give comments or talk about the Beatles. There are a few interviews that slipped through but Paul's version of events wasn't substantially given until Many Year From Now in the 90s. Since then there have been more balanced books and analysis of what happened, most notable is probably Peter Doggett's'You Never Give Me Your Money', which throws plenty of blame on all the Beatles but refuted much of the blame previous writings had placed on Paul. Books before then pretty much took Lennon's account on face value that Paul annoyed everyone. Where as now more of a focus is placed on Klein and John's actions, with more analysis of how drug abuse, stresses of fame and personal issues were impacting their behaviour. So in summery I think the main post is closer to where current understanding is rather than what was initially stated to the public.

[@debjorgo]

@@chrisalan3307 John was worse about wanting to do George songs. They actually got into a heated fight during Jan '69 causing George to quit the Beatles. John said let's get Eric Clapton to take George's place.

[@chrisalan3307]

@@debjorgo i know that but his fight w paul about it at the very very end is taped

[@louisdellavalle2159]

Glad you could acknowledge how good the songs are musically

[@vKarl7]

Thanks for reacting to this! The whole album it’s on is one of Paul’s very best. The outtakes were also excellent & many were released on Red Rose Speedway.

[@debbiechang5781]

I think this came from pain. The end of the Beatles was like a death. I remember reading an interview with Linda in which she said that Paul really struggled for a year or so. This came before “How do You Sleep?”, so maybe John was responding to it. It was a sad time for them but they all went on to do amazing things as solo artists and they mended friendships in fairly short order. “Party lines” is a reference to phones of that time. Great reaction as usual 😂 There’s a Paul McCartney song I would love to see on your channel. It’s called “Mull of Kintyre” and it makes me think of my dad because it has bagpipes and my dad loved bagpipes. It’s a lovely song with a great video if you happen to come across it. Please 🥲

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Oh yeah, Mull of Kintyre was a monster hit! (Except in America, where the DJ's didn't understand it and played the B-side instead.)

[@danielolson5378]

I love Mull of Kintyre!

[@tommessner3502]

He did Mull of Kintyre

[@debbiechang5781]

Yes he did, after I requested it. I was very happy that he drew attention to this beautiful song

[@michaelmelling9333]

This a a good one that I haven't heard in decades. "Uncle Albert" is also worth a listen, too.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

That one and backseat of my car proves that McCartney is the master of dynamic medleys

[@patticrichton1135]

Paul is my favorite Beatle too, always has been since I first laid eyes on him and heard him sing back in December of 63 when I was 16

[@thesilvershining]

His voice made me love him. Heavenly!

[@angelaculbertson196]

It doesn’t matter that they were jabbing one another. It’s ALWAYS about the music...and the music is freaking GREAT! They got over it and left us with 3 catalogs of AWESOME music! I LOVE THE BEATLES!!!

[@rhyschomps]

Your reactions are great man. I really really recommend reacting to “free as a bird” and “real love” and maybe even watching videos explaining the story behind these two songs/ doing your own research.

[@realemetic1]

Oh yeah....John came from beyond the grave to dethrone my favorite Beatles song (Paperback Writer) with "Real Love". And I'm a PAUL supporter!

[@markamos1911]

Others have mentioned Paul's "Here Today", another to check is George's 1981 tribute to John "All Those Years Ago". Great song, made all the more interesting in that it has Ringo on drums and Paul (along with Linda McCartney and Denny Laine) on backing vocals. All three surviving Beatles within weeks of John's death. The first time Paul and George (and one of the few times) recorded together since 1970. You should also try Ringo's "Early 1970", released that year as the b-side to "It Don't Come Easy", it expresses his view on The Beatles break-up, with John, Paul and George each getting a verse about them. While people talk about how John and Paul had made peace with each other by the time of John's assassination, had he lived into '81, they would have been at war again. Apple (The Beatles company not the computers) were suing Capitol Records for underpayment of royalties, they were in the early stages, and in the documents being exchanged, George, Ringo and Yoko discovered that when Paul signed with Capitol as a solo artist in 1976, Capitol agreed to pay Paul a higher royalty rate on American BEATLES records than John, George and Ringo were getting. Can you imagine John's reaction had he known that Paul was earning more from The Beatles than he was?! He would have found that out a couple of months after his death, in documents disclosed by Capitol in February 1981. George, Ringo and Yoko spent much of the '80s suing Capitol and Paul. Things got so bad that Paul refused to attend when The Beatles were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 because George, Ringo and Yoko would be there.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Paul is certainly more subtle but also more complex and experimental with his melody Nearly every song is a three-part medley on this album

[@hw343434]

And where did Paul get this idea for “three part medleys” from? JOHN LENNON=“Happiness is a Warm Gun”

[@marascusbomm]

BTW - first line is "Piss Off Cake" according to Paul, not "Piece Of Cake" as I used to think. And Paul was definitely taking a swipe at John & his ilk.

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

There's a famous Linda McCartney photo of John and Paul from 1968 in the Abbey Road studio where they're sitting in chairs right next to each other, Paul is writing something, and John is looking on. They've both got big grins on their faces. Paul said recently that that one photo always reassured him during times when the press was playing up the animosity between them and Paul found himself wondering whether they had ever really been friends.

[@1974dormouse]

Paul started it all, but ended it when he called John. 👍🏼

[@proactivelifewithljc4000]

Great.....vocals & accompaniments shifted with various styles!

[@despinakollas]

John was the bigger wounded soul. Both lost mothers at a very young age. Paul chose to make a positive impression in his life because of this, and John chose the martyr road. In either instance, both were justified. But as you surmised, Paul was always the gentler of the two. Peace my friend. 🙏🏼

[@hw343434]

Paul had a father. John didn’t. That’s like a world of difference

[@jmelio1]

'Piece of Cake" is what Paul was saying in the beginning...lol....this also an awesome album!!

[@chetcarman3530]

Pirce of cake refers to John & Yoko at cake inside a bag at a "Press Conference" to annoy journos' not understanding Yoko's conceptual art.

[@thewordsofficial7161]

Also Piece Of sounds like Piss Off

[@dafmor]

@@thewordsofficial7161 Language, Timothy! ;)

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

@@thewordsofficial7161 Yeah, Paul was into those double entendres. In his song "With a Little Luck," I'm pretty sure in the very first line he's not singing "luck."

[@barryshepherd1533]

I always thought it was Piss off cake

[@michaelnorman3393]

From a VERY underrated album. Probably one of my top 3, or 4 Paul post Beatles efforts! Great reaction Harri!! 💕 Btw, i had always heard that the weight loss was due to a macrobiotic diet, that he and Yoko had become fond of. Obviously i may not be correct about that. Cheers!

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

I've read that for a time in 1967 John became dangerously thin because he was basically eating LSD for his three meals a day. There are some photos of him looking that way from around the time Sgt. Pepper was released.

[@keymack2477]

Thank you for your reaction to this Beatles Battle! Fortunately the pair made up prior to John's passing in 1980. Peace!

[@johnandrews3151]

In the mid-70's, John Lennon publicly commented that he thought some of Paul McCartney's love songs were kind of "silly". Paul's response came in a song that hit #1 in the USA for five unconsecutive weeks in 1975! Paul McCartney & Wings/Silly Love Songs.

[@melaniesmith2917]

You should do the "make up" songs too, to balance it out. Paul's "Dear Friend" " Some People Never Know" and John's "I Know (i Know) and to me "(Just Like) Starting Over". Paul , i think , has written songs for John, or at least inserted subtle references to John in a few songs.

[@MrDavidReads]

If I had to pick 2 "make up" songs, they'd be "I Know (I Know)" and "Let Me Roll It".

[@debjorgo]

"Dear Friend, Are you a fool, or is it true?" But it was written during Ram too. Before How Do You Sleep.

[@papercup2517]

I've forgotten where I heard it, but John apparently said he believed Paul had really written Hey Jude - all but the first verse, which was clearly directed towards Julian's distress at his parents' break-up - for John re his new relationship with Yoko, encouraging him to 'go out and get her', etc... which, if true, kind of dismantles the idea that Paul was 'against Yoko' from the start. It's possible Paul never admitted to it being anything other than a song of encouragement for Julian, out of sensitivity to Cynthia's feelings.

[@debjorgo]

@@papercup2517 John finished that quote by saying something like "but it turns out it was about him and his".

[@papercup2517]

@@debjorgo Interesting - thanks! I hadn't heard - or had heard and promptly forgot - that bit... So, was John suggesting the song was really about Paul and Linda's relationship? Of course a song, lie a poem or piece of abstract art, can have many layers of meaning. Here, there may have been no single person/couple etc the advice was intended to be directed at, but simply that many changes in relationships going on at the time served as accumulated inspiration for a story of encouragement in times of uncertainty and change, directed at whoever thought they could use it. Apparently the millions of people, all over the world, who love this song, have found some sort of comfort and inspiration in its typically Beatlesque ambiguity.

[@davidbrown6039]

Paul also did a song called "Dear Friend" which was a kind of response to How do you sleep.

[@titusho2]

Paul's voice here is pure Beatles..beautiful and sweet.

[@rethink62]

This song was 1st not a reply Great haunting tune Love the jam

[@stuartharrison165]

I've listened to Ram hundreds of times over 49 yrs . The solo at the end on TMP is wild , sounds like Paul letting go .

[@andythrush3341]

Great guitar work, production, and vocals. Just what you expect from a Beatle! What ever their issues were they knew that their was always love between them. Sometimes you just can't live/work with those you love. Families are complex and the four of them were brothers through and through. I've lost siblings and when one of them dies a piece of you dies with them. I'm sure Ringo and Paul feel that loss all the time. All You Need is 💘. Thanks Hari! Always look forward to your posts!!

[@HarriBestReactions]

Well said and thanx for the kind words at the end✌🏾

[@davidfisher8821]

John also thought Paul’s Dear Boy was about him as well, but it was about Linda’s first husband, so John was really riled up for no reason over that one.

[@alansmith1989]

There was also the `Beetles Fucking` back cover on the `McCartney` Album from 1970.

[@julessabio]

@@alansmith1989 It's not in "McCartney". Actually it is in "Ram"

[@davidfisher8821]

Also check out John’s humorous take on the Ram cover shot of Paul holding a Ram by the horns. In early pressings of Imagine, Lennon included a postcard of Himself holding a pig by the ears!

[@teib757]

You should listen to "Here today". Its a conversation between John and paul that they never got to have

[@hungfao]

'Piece of cake' is what he said at the beginning. This is the song that prompted John to do 'How Do You Sleep' as a rebuttal. He claims to have detected several instances of digs at Yoko and himself on the album. This album has Paul springing into action to release a more produced product after getting eviscerated by the critics for 'McCartney'. It is a goofy, fun, and melodically clever album. Worth a listen or two. If I put on a Paul album, this is likely to be the one I pick. They allegedly had songs where they telegraphed forgiveness to each other too. One of the earlier ones 'Let Me Roll It' off of 'Band On The Run' sounds like Paul imitating John in voice and musical style. It's kind of remarkable.

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Sometimes it seems that the McCartney/Laine song "No Words" is another message to John. The song goes, "You want to give your love away and end up giving nothing," which recalls John's lyric from "How?" which was "How can I give love when I just don't know how to give?" Then the song continues, "You say that love is everything and what we need the most of," which resonates with all sorts of Lennon lyrics including "The Word," "All You Need Is Love," and "Because." Later on the song goes, "You want to turn your head away, and someone's thinking of you/I wish you'd see, it's only me, I love you." That strongly resembles a story Paul told after John's death. He said his fondest memory of John was how sometimes when they were in the middle of an argument John would suddenly look at Paul, lower his glasses, and say "It's only me." That seems really significant as a Paul statement to John even though the song was a collaboration with Denny Laine.

[@yes2day100]

You should listen to 'Some People Never Know' by Paul which is a response to How do you Sleep, and John's response to that 'I Know (I Know).' These songs were their apologies to each other. When John writes about Paul he often uses words that are lines or titles from Paul's song. Like 'yesterday' and 'another day' and several others.

[@GrouchyMarx]

There's a movie you might enjoy called "Birth of the Beatles" (1979) a Dick Clark production about there early years starting before Brian Epstein and Ringo joined in, and just before the first trip to Hamburg. It gives a sense of those early years with the rough goings and good times. Playing the two squabble songs between John and Paul reminded me of this movie, of their cool and rough times together, and their reconciliations later in life. There was flak between Paul and George too, but they reconciled as well. A good drama with look-alike actors and good music. ✌️😎

[@bobbyscott5162]

The Best selling Paul McCartney and Wings song of all time is a song that is little known in the USA. It is a song by the British-American rock band Wings written by Paul McCartney and Denny Laine. The song was written in tribute to the Kintyre peninsula in Scotland and its headland, the Mull of Kintyre, where McCartney has owned High Park Farm since 1966. The song interpolates the Scottish traditional folk melody “Auld Lang Syne” The single was Wings' biggest hit in Britain and is one of the best selling singles of all time in the United Kingdom, where it became the 1977 Christmas number one and was the first single to sell over two million copies nationwide. It is a beautiful song I think you would enjoy reacting to.

[@thesilvershining]

That song was one people wanted for the new national anthem :)

[@craigproctor9560]

Paul McCartney next album he would write another song to John Lennon this time it was hart falt song called dear friend. Released in 1972 you should all so listen to here today recorded and released in 1982 as a loving tribute to John Lennon

[@damonhines8187]

Hi, Harri, just thought of John's 'Give Peace A Chance' -(Plastic Ono Band), a wonderful bit of ad-hoc musical/political/spiritual theater recorded in a hotel room in Montreal, May 31st or June 1st, '69, and released a month later. Some of the people in the room and singing along were Timothy Leary, Alan Ginsberg, Petula Clark, and Tommy Smothers of the Smothers Brothers TV variety show, who also played guitar. A great clip, tune, and a document/artifact of a potent and resonant moment in history. When 'McCartney' and 'Ram' came out, I loved them, and listened to them at a friend's house, later the saxophonist in our first band, his next younger brother our drummer.

[@lorrainemiller688]

This song was always a commentary on society, for me. But, that is the power of a poet, multiple messages for multiple audiences. Still have my original Ram Album-- it's fifty years old now!

[@michelepaccione8806]

First line: “Piss off, yeah...” which he then turned to “piece of cake” later in the song. He’s on record saying piss off yeah became piece of cake. He does this kind of wordplay a lot...most recently “fuh you,” which can be interpreted as “for you” or “f*ck you.”

[@calibrax]

Sometimes he can be blunt though. One of his b-sides was Big Boys Bickering, which was about politicians and had the line "Big boys bickering, f*cking it up for everyone..."

[@jamescostigan3721]

In my opinion, Paul's excellent "Let Me Roll It" from the "Band on the Run" album is a conciliatory message to John. It is performed in John's style with the "bathroom echo" vocal and very bare instrumentation (bass, electric guitar, drums and organ) similar to the sound of John's "Plastic Ono Band" album, and a guitar riff reminiscent of John's "Cold Turkey" (John liked Paul's riff so much that he sort of imitated it on his song "Beef Jerky" from his "Walls & Bridges" album). Paul even throws in a little Lennon-esque primal scream at the fade-out. The lyrics, in my mind, answer John in "How Do You Sleep": "You gave me something, I understand You gave me loving in the palm of my hand. I can't tell you how I feel, my heart is like a wheel Let me roll it to you."

[@YN97WA]

In retrospect, their brilliance as song writers was punctuated in the musical tennis match following the Beatles' break up. It just adds to the legend of Lennon and McCartney.

[@TheDivayenta]

Check out the Mike Douglas show from the 60’s when John and Yoko were co- hosts and Chuck Berry ( John’s idol) was the musical guest. Watch John and Chuck jam out as Yoko wrecks everything with her bizarre noises and bangs a drum. The sound tech had to cut her mic. Then you’ll see how crazy she made the Beatles.

[@Ottonio]

It's about a woman. "She's waiting for me ..." [5:53] he sings in the end. And you broke that relationship with her in two, and now she is with me... A kind of "You're going to loose that girl"- Beatles song. Paul wasn't pissed off of his friend John. He knew him his whole life, and he knew that John was this way.

[@doncourtreporter]

Thank you again, Sir Harri. The highlight of my day is to check in on my favorite channel. Your reactions demonstrate your knowledge and love for your subject matter. Wow.

[@WHOMEWHOYOU]

Hey thanks Harri that explains much that I didn't catch onto back in those days.

[@benlewisd62]

My favorite channel right here

[@HarriBestReactions]

🙏🏽🙏🏽Bless you brother

[@deborahpaley21]

RAM!!!!!! My desert island top 3 since 1971 (I'm 68). Brilliant LP

[@B.R.0101]

I do love this song!! But Too Many People talks about people who lose their lives and times, those people who want a break in life and they lose the precious moment of life (You took your lucky break and broke it in two)... That's because Paul McCartney went through a terrible period (during this Ram album, again) after The Beatles when he was trying to do his best! And he gave an advise to give your heart to some lovely girl or wife, just to give your love, because it helps to have 'someone' who's 'waiting for you', doing your things when 'she's waiting for me', as the line said... And so on... ('Three Legs' song was about John...)

[@B.R.0101]

PS: the title actually means that those losy people don't want the whole life but just a peace of cake...

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Brilliant message applies to anyone not just about John

[@thesound-chameleonman3580]

A classic song. I actually have a rare signed personal letter by Paul McCartney! and Ringo too! sadly haven't got John Lennon's or George Harrison's.

[@royhollyfield8066]

Listen "Here Today" by Paul after John died to see how much Paul loved John, a song that very few people have ever heard...my favorite

[@rebelpunx88]

I prefer the subtle way, because it makes the song more universal and relatable to people, you can apply it to your own situations, unlike John's, when you listen to it its blatantly obvious it's about Paul

[@mackssboo]

One song that you react is this one from Ringo's 1973 album..the song is "I'm the Greatest" is a song written by English musician John Lennon that was released as the opening track of the 1973 album Ringo by Ringo Starr. With Starr, Lennon and George Harrison appearing on the track, it marks the only time that three former Beatles recorded together between the band's break-up in 1970..... Ringo Starr - vocals, drums, percussion John Lennon - piano, backing vocal George Harrison - electric guitars, slide guitar Billy Preston - organ, electric piano Klaus Voormann - bass

[@tinypurplefishesrunlaughin8052]

Yeah It don’t come easy when you’re Ringo, I think there was a SNL skit about a possible Beatles reunion making Ringo the laugh line, “ No respect “ ( in a Rodney Dangerfield voice) but it was funny unlike today’s SNL.

[@arthurcassuli]

All songs in this álbum are amazing!! You should react to it fully

[@gailg2327]

💙🙏Great observations!

[@JayKFilmz]

You should listen to the whole album .its fantastic .

[@yohannbiimu]

I've seen the film clips of the other three having to put up with Yoko screaming "JOOOHN! JOOOOOOOOOOOHN!!!" while they were trying to rehearse a number. It's beyond cringy, and John just sat there pretending that everything was fine while the others were exasperated. Paul was also getting under everyone's skin too, with his endless retakes and other idiosyncrasies, so the breakup wasn't just about Yoko, but she WAS becoming a thorn in their sides.

[@jnagarya519]

McCartney was a control freak who could drive the others up a wall. During the "White Album" sessions Ringo walked. George walked. There were MANY causes for the break-up. Allen Klein central.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@jnagarya519 John was lazy and unfaithful so of course McCartney pushing them to make any music after Sergeant Pepper would be seeing as being "a control freak" George and Ringo both left because of John being verbally abusive. John was the one who immediately suggested replacing George with Eric Clapton when he left the first time during White Album sessions. Who's paying you for this baseless slander that is easily unproven upon minimal Google research?

[@debjorgo]

They did 99 takes of George's Not Guilty, and they still didn't think it was good enough for the White Album. 99 takes. I think that's the record number, by far, of takes for a Beatles. song. They did quite a few takes of All Things Must Pass to, until George withdrew it from consideration.

[@MrDavidReads]

@@eziospaghettiauditore8369 George left the band once - during the Get Back sessions. Ringo left during the White Album sessions. From what I understand though, it does seem that John was the catalyst for George's exit.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@MrDavidReads you're right I mixed it up. It was during the get back session It shouldn't be hard to go to Google for where John mocks him with a song as he is leaving and immediately suggests getting Clapton

[@robertsaul234]

Opening line is " Piece of cake". You have to remember John's was a response to this song so he wasn't gonna be "subtle".The back of the Ram album cover has a photo of two Beetles fncking...not so subtle. "Isn't it a Pity" and "Run of the Mill" by George, and "Back Off Boogaloo" by Ringo are directed at Paul.

[@debjorgo]

Take a closer look at the photo. That's two beetles making love.

[@robertsaul234]

@@debjorgo lol

[@barbsmith5465]

First line..... Too many people going underground. Too many reaching for a piece of cake.

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thats not the first line Barb...the very first line he sang..the intro

[@barbsmith5465]

The intro was Piss Off Cake.

[@39thala]

The first line in the song that you are asking about is, "Piece of cake" (Similar to the sound of 'Piss off cake" a veiled jab at John). Actually, John's song "How Do You Sleep" was a reply to this song by McCartney, Not the other way around. "Too Many People" was recorded November 1970. John's "How Do You Sleep" didn't start being recorded until May 26 - July 5, 1971. John pointed out after the release of McCartney's "Ram" album that there were several parts in that song that were were directed at him. Paul even admitted that the line "Too Many people preaching practices" and "You took your lucky break and broke it in two" was a dig at John. Incidentally that line was originally written as "Yoko took your lucky break and broke it in two" but Paul revised it before recording the song.

[@mlong1958]

Paul's Silly Love Songs is a reply to John saying something about how many silly love songs that Paul was writing at the time.

[@PaintedCavern]

It was a pretty huge hit too, I remember. Great song.

[@LeChaunce]

@@PaintedCavern Probably Paul's best bass line.

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

A real study in how many separate melodies you can lay over the same set of chords. (The bass line being one of the melodies.)

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

It's such a dynamic and layered Melody too

[@accam6734]

The first line is "piece of cake," referencing John's "eating chocolate cake in the bath" line in "The Ballad of John & Yoko." His line, "Too many people never sleep in late" could be referring to John & Yoko's bed-ins, or Johns song, "I'm Only Sleeping." The 'lucky break' line is the only really hard insult in this song. It's too bad John went overboard in his response, but, not surprising, when he realized Paul was attacking him.

[@BadgersInTheAttic]

It's "eating chocolate cake in a bag," in reference to his "bag in," with Yoko. Hence, the next line, "The newspapers said, she's gone to his head."

[@accam6734]

@@BadgersInTheAttic I stand corrected. But it still could be what Paul is referencing.

[@BadgersInTheAttic]

@@accam6734 Yes, quite possibly. I was mostly being pedantic. 😁

[@sandrotavini8838]

he did on the album " wild life " a beautiful song called " dear friend" ......a nice song about lennon you need to listen

[@grendog02]

So many references to John.'Sharing party lines ' Drugs maybe

[@chrisalan3307]

they were all speed freaks that line was petty

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

Not an explicit reference to John that's why I like this song it applies to anyone dealing with bullies

[@artiewithers6980]

There is a comment below about Paul’s song “Dear Friend” from the first Wings album. That song and John’s “How Do You Sleep” speak to each other.

[@davidwhite8220]

"So good musically". So true. In those days, McCartney just had music flowing out of him. He is (or sadly was) the melody master. (And John was the mood master.)

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

How is mood communicated in music in any way except melody and lyrics?

[@davidwhite8220]

@@eziospaghettiauditore8369 Style and overall sound, as in I Am the Walrus and Come Together.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@davidwhite8220 "style and overall sound" So McCartney? "Overall sound" is Melody Studio Effects and lyrics which of this song alone demonstrates McCartney is a master of "Style" includes all of the above Come together is great because of Paul's Innovative bass work and Ringo's drumming

[@davidwhite8220]

The main point I would like to convey is that Lennon's best songs (as usually regarded) are more remarkable for mood than for melody and chords, whereas as with McCartney it is usually the opposite. There are exceptions, of course. Lennon's chord progression on You're Gonna Lose That Girl is quite impressive (without being jarring), and his melody on Norwegian Wood is fairly unique. And some of McCartney's best songs (as usually regarded) have a pretty strong mood, like Let It Be and Eleanor Rgiby.

[@bobcorbin3294]

On the back cover there's a not-so-subtle reference of two insects(beetles) screwing one another. And somewhere there's a picture of John holding a pig by the ears spoofing Paul holding the Sheep, but this song mainly makes me think of being a teenager and the excellent playing on this album.

[@alexandradenardo1543]

You should react to Here Today, Paul's song about Johns death. Also Dear Friend was Paul's response to How Do You Sleep. Its good and very emotional.

[@robertsaul234]

"Some people can sleep at nighttime..." Some People Never Know was a response as well.

[@mackssboo]

Nice review,,thank you

[@pablomets]

Too many people came out first and then John responded with How do you sleep? I think it all ended with Paul’s Dear Friend.

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Yeah, Dear Friend kind of gets overlooked at times. "Does it really mean so much to you?/Are you afraid, or is it true?"

[@randyranson84]

Ram is in keeping with the Beatles repertoire.

[@mdengler61]

Harri, John and Paul are both genius. Both are great songs. Having said this, beyond Paul's subtle lyrics listen to the instrumentals, Paul played every every instrument on Ram, arranged it, produced it etc.. and this song, no band, no studio musicians just Paul, if this was a jab at John this was bigger than the lyrics (listen to the ripping guitar solo). John was not capable of this and surely knew it. John famously said in an live interview when asked if he was worried about any Beatle after their split. His response was he worried about George and Ringo. When asked what about Paul his response was "why would I worry about Paul", the response wasn't a jab, it's meaning was what a stupid question, you are talking about Paul McCartney. They were brothers, John was a genius, he knew Paul would become the HUGE icon he is, even beyond the Beatles. John's genius is his poetic songs, often compared to Bob Dylan. Don't feel sad about the jabs, they were brothers, they loved each other, brothers fight, make up, fight, make up. Listen I have two biological brothers and a life long best friend brother. We have our spats, take our jabs, but nobody else better try it on my brothers. Make sense?

[@sakke877]

You should listen to The whole ram album every sing is great

[@taylorfremont]

Agreed. This is actually my favorite album of all time. I feel like Paul really got to come into his own on this album. This album, I think, is in the list of albums that really birthed "chamber pop."

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Ram has been called the first alternative rock album. It got bad reviews in 1971 because it was so "out there," but it was ahead of its time.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

It's my favorite album and it's the only one of the Beatles work that continues to experiment with sound it created the alternative Indie pop sound

[@hw343434]

Great album, but it definitely has fillers. “Another Day” as a single is not the mark of a great album. But most of it is very good. Certainly Paul’s best solo album, after “Band on the Run” imo

[@thesilvershining]

Ram has a forever special place in my heart. It was definitely ahead of its time and I love every song on it!

[@eddieparrino]

I don't know if anyone commented on it yet after 2 years but the first line he sings is "Piece of cake" piece of ca-a-a-a-a-a-a-ke

[@noracola5285]

Uh - Uh - Too many people going underground Too many reaching for a piece of cake. Too many people pulled and pushed around Too many waiting for that lucky break. That was your first mistake You took your lucky break and broke it in two. Now what can be done for you? You broke it in two. Too many people sharing party lines Too many people ever sleeping late. Too many people paying parking fines Too many hungry people losing weight. That was your first mistake You took your lucky break and broke it in two. Now what can be done for you? You broke it in two. Mm-mm-uh-uh. Uh! Too many people preaching practices Don't let 'em tell you what you wanna be. Too many people holding back This is crazy, and baby, it's not like me. That was your last mistake I find my love awake and waiting to be. Now what can be done for you? She's waiting for me - yeah

[@buddyneher9359]

I think he means the intro line, which I have always heard as "this (dis) again...."

[@Kos0818]

“Piss off, cake!” As in piece of cake. Paul says there were only a couple lines directed at John but you can tie almost every line to a jab at John

[@drdr76]

As a teenager when this came out I really related to "too many people preaching practices, don't let'em tell you what you want to be". One of the things that makes some art so great, is that it can mean different things to different people, depending on their current situation in life.

[@ArniePorter]

Good one Harri. Love your Beatles reactions and commentary. This song comes off what I believe is Paul’s greatest solo album Ram. It would be great if you would review some more songs from it. Thanks

[@robertsaul234]

Another great McCartney diss track (from Rubber Soul) is "I'm Looking Through You".

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

A lot of his songs in '65 and '66 were "complaint" songs to Jane Asher, probably including that one.

[@robertsaul234]

@@Fool3SufferingFools supposedly, Jane had returned home early from a film shoot to find Paul in bed with another. They had a big fight and this song was the result.

[@CBGB_1977]

You should listen to “Here Today “. A song Sir Paul wrote for John after his shocking death. How much he loved and missed John has inspired many songs, but that one is the best. He says everything in it.

[@BeastZzGhostZz]

"Piece of cake" in the beginning and in the middle is also a dig at john. Paul has said it was a direct dig and that they actually say: piss off cake, meaning Piss off!

[@mariaportengen2959]

I think Ram is a great album from Paul. The title is very today. One of Paul's best albums. Enjoy the music.

[@waynekasmar4401]

A recent KZbin video 'Why Paul McCartney's RAM is the first Indie Pop album' makes the case quite well for what your saying.

[@eziospaghettiauditore8369]

@@waynekasmar4401 that video turned me on for Ram. Until then I thought John was the only creative one

[@teib757]

The first line was : Piss off cake (piece of cake)

[@MikeGreenwood51]

Too Many People Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney 'Piece of cake! Uh - Uh - Too many people going underground Too many reaching for a piece of cake. Too many people pulled and pushed around Too many waiting for that lucky break. That was your first mistake You took your lucky break and broke it in two'.

[@michelle88960]

Very first line is 'Piece of Cake.' Sounds distorted as his voice cracks.

[@HarriBestReactions]

Thanx Michelle

[@juancarlosgonzalezmartinez8793]

man you should react to the songs George and Paul wrote for John. "When We Was Fab" from George and "Here Today" from Paul..... regards!!!

[@cathyortiz1280]

Play John's "All I Want Is Some Truth!" Blatant but dang, if it doesn't hot the nail on the head about how most of us feel about politicians!

[@ym61]

Paul’s “Let Me Roll it” was in response to “How Do You Sleep?” That pretty much ended the back and forth

[@peterthefox2076]

I love Paul how he still makes good music. Paul is my favourite Beatle to. And he was really the musician because he could play every instrument. Not the trumpet 🤣

[@Fool3SufferingFools]

Trumpet was the first instrument he learned, but he traded it in for a guitar because he couldn't sing while trumpeting!

[@peterthefox2076]

@@Fool3SufferingFools he got the trompet but couldn't play on it. And the singing was also one of the things.

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

#420... #Happy420 everybody!!!!! Everybody must get stoned!!!

[@nelgstuart3442]

RAM is one of the best works of Paul and Linda McCartney, in my opinion. I think these lyrics, Paul was referring to Lennon choosing Yoko over the Beatles. "Too many people pulled and pushed around Too many waiting for that lucky break. That was your first mistake You took your lucky break and broke it in two".

[@obbor4]

The one throwing the counter punch has to hit back harder than the one who fired the first shot. It's the "law of the west."

[@greg1030]

1965: @ 2021: “What the world needs now is trees, more trees It’s the main thing that will beat back climate change What the world needs now is less people and more trees No, not just for Greg but for everyone…………”

[@alanr4447a]

The big "rift" between Paul and John came about after, in 1969, the Beatles as a group voted to accept Rolling Stones' manager Allen Klein as _their_ new manager (before it came out just how shady he was), over Paul's objections (as he wanted his new in-laws, Lee and John Eastman, to represent _him)._ Then, in 1970, with the Beatles broken up, Paul decided he _really_ didn't want to continue being represented by Klein, although the Eastmans advised him that the only way to sever contractual ties with Klein was to sue to end Paul's partnership in Apple by suing the other ex-Beatles. After agonizing over this till the end of the year, Paul finally sued the other Beatles to end ties. Thus, in early 1971 a lot of "dirty laundry" was aired between Paul and the other Beatles in court, with ensuing animosity flying all around. (In Paul's defense, in the years shortly thereafter the other Beatles found out, as did the Stones, just what a nasty piece of business Klein really was!)

[@drmorqWarrenProject]

'Let me roll it' from the album 'Band on the run'... is another dig at John... and a pretty cool song..

[@kelleysweat6516]

According to the notes online by Simon Delorme, the opening is "This song, eh eh."

[@sonoftherabbitpeople4737]

The Paul album after Imagine was Wild Life. Look at Animal Park for Paul's response. Not a great album, Wings' first and it struggles. Wings would eventually get it together and blow all of the other solo Beatles offerings away.

[@hw343434]

Wings had just one great album “Band on the Run.” Other than that, they didn’t blow anybody away

[@sonoftherabbitpeople4737]

@@hw343434 I was speaking in comparison to other solo Beatle offerings. George's All Things Must Pass was brilliant, Ringo's Ringo album was very fun, but John never really hit his stride as a solo artist IMO. As far as Paul's solo albums, check out Venus and Mars and one I think most everyone missed, Back to the Egg.

[@hw343434]

@@sonoftherabbitpeople4737 “Plastic Ono Band”, “Imagine” & “Double Fantasy” (his songs) are where John most hit his solo stride, in 3 different ways

[@thesilvershining]

@@sonoftherabbitpeople4737 Only John and Macca are well-known to the general public nowadays. Nobody listens to All things Must Pass unless they were a huge Beatles fan. It was good the first time through but it didn’t leave a huge lasting impression on me. I knew and loved Wings before I knew about the Beatles (80’s child)

[@stephenqualtrough7322]

Paul has jus admitted that Dear Friend from Wings Wild Life is about John Lennon. Paul's reply song to How Do You Sleep ?