Hidden References in Popular Beatles Songs

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...
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#beatles #lyrics #weirdhistory

[@laladoopsy]

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]

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]

Lmao piggies is about cops Go sit down somewhere

[@12thMandalorian]

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

[@jeffconquest3350]

@@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]

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

[@NASCARFAN93100]

The Beatles will forever be the GOAT

[@Me4-gc8qs]

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

[@IsaacTuduriLlabres]

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

[@iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman]

Different time period

[@ziggysawdust5407]

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

[@iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman]

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

[@chrisclarke4665]

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]

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]

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

[@Me4-gc8qs]

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

[@Beatleslover3]

Exactly, what is this guy on about.

[@dugsbassplace]

While My Guitar Gently Weeps....genius.

[@Me4-gc8qs]

Come together! right now!

[@IsaacTuduriLlabres]

​@@Me4-gc8qs Over me!

[@misterhat5823]

While my anus swiftly leaks... genius

[@THE-X-Force]

@@Me4-gc8qs Over me ..

[@vrijheidradio]

My favorite Beatles' song is Tomorrow never knows

[@IsaacTuduriLlabres]

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]

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

[@IsaacTuduriLlabres]

@@leiaorgana5491 👍🏻

[@milascave2]

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

[@ClintMcCollum]

"Hey Bulldog" from Yellow Submarine album

[@drowsy7921]

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

[@lp-xl9ld]

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]

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

[@LukeRosenlieb]

Is it really Michael Swaim?

[@misterhat5823]

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

[@jons.6216]

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

[@eltronics]

Great informative video. Is there a Part 2?

[@alejandroberman]

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

[@TravReviewsAThing]

Who gives a fuck? Weirdo

[@missywink1504]

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

[@markkalfahs1047]

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

[@missywink1504]

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

[@angeldquintas]

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]

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]

...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]

I love hello goodbye

[@markbragg885]

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

[@JordosGarage]

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

[@nicholasmesa3588]

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]

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

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🍓

[@mr.g1758]

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

[@julianaylor4351]

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]

Imagine is about Anarchy

[@negativeindustrial]

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

[@THE-X-Force]

Actually good and interesting historical info for a change.

[@tjnaples]

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

[@Mateo-gp6uu]

hurray

[@bangdollarsign]

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]

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]

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

[@MagdaleneDivine]

FAVORITE EPISODE EVER

[@mostly_insane2291]

Norwegian Wood. My favorite Beatles song

[@tremorsfan]

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

[@kolbymiller3173]

Doh

[@demonicusa.k.a.theblindguy3929]

Thanks for the comment which gave me the biggest laugh of the day.

[@fmatta]

Always number 1 for me: Here Comes The Sun

[@neekomarina2782]

i see new beatles content, i click and watch

[@laurabriggs-od2jb]

Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl.

[@BigTimeRushFan2112]

but she changes from day to day...

[@NewMessage]

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

[@IsaacTuduriLlabres]

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

[@Me4-gc8qs]

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

[@joannryan5929]

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

[@ArcherSuh4721]

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]

What about Blackbird? that was very political.

[@ronm6585]

Thanks.

[@fromulus]

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]

He thinks he is. Hes a dweeb

[@Zachary3D]

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

[@BonShula]

Of course he is. He watches Destiny

[@Lynzae]

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]

A+ video! Fascinating topic and video!

[@istaphobe]

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

[@kennywaynebearhead]

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]

Elinor Rigbee

[@ivzbonete138]

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

[@user-wh8mg4gh8d]

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

[@Patrick-hm4eg]

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

[@shawnnewell4541]

I thought it was Revolution #9 not #1?

[@CatherineLee-kt8ky]

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

[@Tylerboyd2001]

There is Revolution, Revolution 1, and Revolution 9

[@Lkydo8165]

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]

Something

[@CappyLarou]

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]

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

[@gp2917]

I love Paul, but that mustache… Got

[@ferociousgumby]

I buried Paul.

[@jasontassey373]

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

[@Saint_nobody]

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

[@shanemotown295]

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

[@kandipiatkowski8589]

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

[@triple_gem_shining]

Yea we all know

[@catherinespencer-mills1928]

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

[@kevincruise3521]

Glad you're back

[@mckitten-tk1nj]

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

[@istaphobe]

Lot of conjecture here.

[@revalesq]

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

[@none-js4kr]

RiGhT???

[@davidlancaster8152]

Cute but superficial.

[@Megadebt]

Oh god not this guy again

[@LukeRosenlieb]

He’s fine.

[@krystalayala8451]

😂😂😂😂😂 i said the same thing

[@kylerose3174]

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]

Oh god not this comment AGAIN

[@erickmiranda3600]

OOHH BROTHER

[@btetschner]

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]

Pointless comment again 😂😂😂 just for a 🏆

[@btetschner]

@@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]

😂😂😂 pathetic. You have a sad life

[@MYKe1217]

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]

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]

Riiigghhht

[@TheStickCollector]

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

[@btetschner]

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]

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

[@woodenpuppet7568]

No they didn't

[@Me4-gc8qs]

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

[@nickc247]

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

[@bigmoneymandan360]

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]

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

[@bigmoneymandan360]

@@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]

Sigh...

[@mikarri7199]

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

[@Taragoola]

No.

[@misterhat5823]

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

[@Nonstop664]

Pretty much

[@Tylerboyd2001]

Nope, but they are far from overrated.

[@lucrativesoundsent.1274]

Narrator Jr!!! Yay!! 😀👍

[@OathTaker3]

I never liked John,🤔.

[@kimberlyweaver1285]

Boo

[@Autumnh141983]

Great job Narrator! I enjoy your videos.

[@darwonka]

SWAIM!

[@stevedavis2149]

Love this narrator ❤

[@amishdeniro]

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

[@Borella309]

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]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

[@skully0078]

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]

Who is this narrator? No dice. Ciao

[@kawanajanell]

Happy to hear this voiceover guy! 😊❤

[@btetschner]

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

[@Hesiodzz]

This dude aint got it.