The Beatles "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"

[@alanshepherd4304]

I was ten years old in 1963 when I heard my first Beatles song, I'm 70 next month 😱 and I doubt that a day in my life has gone by without listening to a Beatles song. Still supreme, still unsurpassed!!😁🇬🇧

[@GodlessFiend]

Did you get a chance to watch them on the Ed Sullivan show? I wasn’t born in the 60s, I was born in 91 and am curious

[@alanshepherd4304]

@@GodlessFiend In a way yes, not live but a recording much later on British TV!!😁🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@oldeskoolnana7543]

I saw them on Ed Sullivan every time they were on. I was 5 when I discovered them. I'm 65 now & will never forget my 45's.❤❤

[@juanita6479]

By choosing songs from different albums you are discovering their different and astonishing styles. These lads never disappoint!!

[@jnagarya519]

Better to listen to all their recordings in order of release beginning with their first. Failure to do that and one misses the astonishing evolution.

[@juanita6479]

@@jnagarya519 Sure you're right. In any case the music of these guys is still being heard 60 years later and the effect, whether it's the first time or not, is still stunning, and another 60 will pass and someone will probably say something similar.

[@jnagarya519]

@@juanita6479 I'm not speaking to first or how many times one listens to their music. I'm speaking to what one is missing by relying on others who also haven't done that to tell you what half dozen random songs to listen to. "The Beatles" issued sinles and LPs. They didn't issue a song here or there out of context without regard to its context.

[@juanita6479]

@@jnagarya519 Yeah, I'm sure Luke knows very well who The Beatles were, as well as the rest of the world, but commonly reaction channels do it the same way. Take care!!!

[@jnagarya519]

@@juanita6479 It isn't about "who The Beatles were". It is about the continuing misconception about "Lucy in the Sky" being "psychedelic" -- and thus a drug song. If it were about LSD John would have said so. Instead he stated the fact, even years later, that the song was inspired by a drawing by his son Julian, who had a classmate named Lucy, and he drew her "in the sky" with "diamonds" (stars). In addition, John wrote like that as a child. Was "I Am the Walrus" a drug song? No: as a child his favorite book was _Alice in Wonderland_ and around the time that song was released he commented that the fans were always trying to "figure out" the "meaning" of random whatevers in their music, so he figured he'd throw in some nonsense for them to figure out. That had nothing to do with drugs or "psychedelia". .

[@ericanderson8886]

Can't go wrong with The Beatles, every song is a new exploration.

[@Metalphysicalpodcast]

Lucy was a friend of Julian (John's son). Lucy passed away and Julian drew a picture of Lucy in the sky. The idea for the song came from that.

[@LeeCopus]

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green, toweri g over you head was Pauls, so was Newspaper taxi appear on the shore waiting to take you away. The rest was Johns. Saw Johns interview.

[@TheDivayenta]

Actually, John said that his son , Julian, made a drawing of a girl flying in the sky which he entitled, “ Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds”. John had the sound engineers record his voice at a higher pitch than he normally sang for that more ethereal effect. Nice to see a Beatles reaction and subbed!

[@patticrichton1135]

It was Julian's friend and schoolmate, Lucy O'Donnell ( married name Vodden).

[@kenchristie9214]

Geoff Emerick used a slight flange effect on John's voice. The flanging is heavier on George's guitar. The best example of flanging is the drumming on Itchycoo Park by The Small Faces. Geoff's interview with Australia's ABC on the making of Sgt Pepper's is on KZbin. Just type "Geoff Emerick Interview". A must for any Beatle fan. Also there is another excellent video by Beatles tribute band, The Analogues, titled "Sgt. Pepper's In Concert".

[@barbaradee5191]

That is one of the Beatles total BS stories which they were famous for and evidently enjoyed telling The song is about (lysergic acid diethylamide) .... a hallucinogenic drug ....commonly called LSD How stupid does on have to be to believe the Beatles BS story? BTW a yellow submarine is not about a sub but a barbiturate capsule which are usually yellow,

[@TheDivayenta]

@@barbaradee5191 sounds like you did a lot of drugs , Sis. Lots of residual rage, too- calling nice people “ stupid”. You must be real fun to be around. I’m from that era and I’ll take John’s word for it.

[@kenchristie9214]

@@barbaradee5191 According to John's best friend Pete Shotton, Yellow Submarine is about The Beatles' first LSD experience. An EMI exec in a limo came to John's Kensington home to pick up John and his wife Cynthia and Pete and his wife Helen. Whilst in John's home, the exec put some LSD into each one's drink. On the way to the car Cynthia looked back at the house and said that it looked like a yellow submarine. John started skipping with Cynthia in hand singing "We all live in a yellow submarine." When the song was being played on the radio a DJ noticed a voice (could have been George) saying Paul is dead. This is when the Paul is dead conspiracy started.

[@dobythedog]

Rarely do I see a Beatles reactioner that I can see really appreciates the magic. You really do appreciate the Beatles. It's great to see your genuine reaction. I just wish I could hear them for the first time like you.

[@rhondarees9488]

Back when it was originally released, you can just imagine how incredible all of these more "psychedelic" sounds were like hearing it in another era. It surprised, delighted, and really intrigued us - all at the very same time !! So glad that you've enjoyed it now too!

[@teresakoslosky3053]

Classic Fire!! One of my favorite John songs!!!! They all said it was about LSD but it was actually a picture that John’s son Julian painted at school and brought home and told his dad that it was a picture of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds!He loved it and made it into a classic Beatles song!!❤❤❤❤

[@RIbigDave]

It's about both it's not by accident they added the diamonds to the end to make it LSD. Great song

[@johng.8517]

LSD? John said no but the lyrics sure sound like an LSD trip to me.

[@tallex.carafeli]

thanks to the beatles for getting me to know what even is a kaleidoscope

[@aeschynanthus_sp]

I first heard this song either on Finnish radio where the best Beatles songs were voted by the public (it was done with postcards at that time) or in the animated film Yellow Submarine. The section with this song is psychedelic even with the standards of the film. Fun fact: The fossil hominin Lucy (Australopithecus afarensis) got her name from this song. It was played a lot at the site.

[@mikenaykki2173]

Greatest LP of all time changes everything in the Pop n Rock world again! 👍👍😎

[@user-zt8qj8hs2k]

Lucyinthe Skywith Diamonds

[@johnandrews3151]

John Lennon was friends with Elton John after the Beatles broke up. They did two songs together. On one of these songs, Elton did not get label credits. The song is John Lennon's Whatever Gets You Through The Night, in which Elton sings duet with Lennon. The song hit #1 on the Pop chart in the USA. On the other song they did together, John Lennon did not get the label credits and sang background vocals! The song was Elton John's Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. This song also hit #1 on the Pop chart in the USA! I hope you will check out both of these great songs!

[@richardc8795]

And they did plenty of coke together. 😁

[@patticrichton1135]

THANK YOU for bringing up how it's "almost an Alice in Wonderland kind of feel going on" and "paints this other worldly feel..." YOU are the FIRST reactor I have seen that has BROUGHT that up and RIGHTLY so! THAT is what John was creating in the lyrics. He has always been a fan of Lewis Carroll and his "Alice In Wonderland" and "Alice Through the Looking Glass" books, so the intention was never an LSD trip. By the way, the drawing was Julian's schoolmate/friend LUCY O'DONNELL (Vodden). She passed away in 2009 from Lupus. SO glad that I am not the only one (besides John Lennon himself) that never thought it was anything but a fanciful, imaginary, fairy tail world created by John.

[@lisajames3359]

You cannot put it into words, the greatest band ever and rightly so. I’m waiting for a band to surpass them, it won’t happen in my lifetime. Oasis were brilliant and show such respect to The Beatles which I love. George Martin also deserves massive credit, he provided The Beatles with such back up and totally embraced their phenomenal pioneering talent. George, George and of course John RIP

[@woverby1963]

If Great Britain had only given us the Beatles, id be eternally grateful, but holy hell, the Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, talk about a deep deep well of talent and legendary music. Thank you for all of them , but especially the Beatles!

[@kimbarrett4179]

Bee gees another amazing band from the UK

[@nowhere982]

​@@kimbarrett4179werent they Australian???

[@kimbarrett4179]

@nowhere982 no they was born in the uk (Isle of man ) then moved to Australia for servel yrs then came back to the uk . And then settled in the USA only robin came back to the UK

[@nowhere982]

@@kimbarrett4179 thanks, no idea they were brits😅

[@kimbarrett4179]

@@nowhere982 your welcome I didn't either can be a bit confusing

[@glenn8649]

Luke great reaction The Beatles are the greatest band of all time! Another great song from 1970 was Simon and Garfunkel's. " Bridge over Troubled Water." It is one of the most beautiful songs of all time and will blow you away!!

[@jnagarya519]

Yawn.

[@johne.4822]

Trippy

[@richardc8795]

LSD…. An awesome Beatles track. I used to think it said: The girl with colitis goes by 😂 You want dream sequence? Review A Day In A Life!!

[@janetnadeau690]

I like the way you like the Beatles. You appreciate great music!

[@mitchmitchell80]

Amazing band! Thanks!!

[@michaelwhitehead5944]

Never believed it wasn't meant to relate to LSD. A bit of both I think. The lyrics and imagery of the song highly suggest an acid trip

[@DanielGervais]

Pepper’s is like music from another planet I love it, Ace reaction

[@georgestevens1502]

That's how it came across when issued and why it was so groundbreaking.

[@DanielGervais]

@@georgestevens1502 I can only imagine. And the album art ... wow

[@georgestevens1502]

@@DanielGervais Ya, it was unlike anything that came before it.

[@Ck-py9oi]

Good reaction mate

[@80srocker67]

L S D Trip!! Lucy Sky Diamonds!!! Get it !!

[@Logical_Chronical]

Naw it’s about a picture his son drew.

[@majkus]

When we were kids listening to it, part of the fun was 'decoding' the lyrics. They paint a portrait of a lot of hippies ('flower children', remember) in a park doing their thing ("everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers, that grow so incredibly high") But the police car shows up on the street by the park ("newspaper taxis appear on the shore, waiting to take you away") and arrest you ("climb in the back with your head in the clouds and you're gone"). Or maybe it's just a surreal song after all.

[@josefinelagerstrom2643]

The song gave the name to the prehistoric human/monkey Lucy. ""Lucy" acquired her name from the 1967 song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by the Beatles, which was played loudly and repeatedly in the expedition camp all evening after the excavation team's first day of work on the recovery site. After public announcement of the discovery, Lucy captured much public interest, becoming a household name at the time."

[@jungliatpil9124]

Exactly, as Lennon said nothing to do with LSD it's about a kids drawing 🤣

[@cathyortiz1280]

This was before The Door's. But luv them too! More like The Door's "People are Strange." The Door's, CCR & Stone's are all tied for my 2nd fav band. 1st will always be The Beatles. They came to the USA when I was 4 years old & loved them right away. They had a Beatles cartoon show for kids. I grew up with them.

[@hifijohn]

The song is in two different meters three different keys and two different tempos.

[@davidmullens7565]

I believe It's a meletron which is that sound you were trying to identify Luke. I know one was used on Strawberry Fields....but i could be wrong

[@Bill_Jones.]

Paul McCartney never wanted to play bass because The Beatles all considered the bass player as the “fat guy in the back.” He sure took that job and became it’s absolute master.

[@edwardmeradith2419]

This song still shines

[@TomGorham]

I remember it. LSD was big then. We called it Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.

[@daoryebba]

You definitely have to listen to the new mix of this song, it's even better. Great reaction!

[@geoffrjjjjjjj]

Did anybody else get a creepy feeling when they first heard this song? The last time he mentions the 'girl with Kalidescope eyes' I got this chill down my spine like, 'my god, why is this creepy chick following me?' There are a couple other Beatles songs that also really creeped me out like Revolution 9, the Sgt Pepper run-off groove, and A Day in the Life.

[@stephenparratt774]

Absolutely! Those u mentioned terrified me as a kid… I can still hear in my mind and remember the wave of fear that came with “I bury Paul” & “Turn me on dead man.”

[@jnagarya519]

Lennon wrote like that as a kid before there were any drugs involved. And this song was based on a drawing made by his son Julian. During that era "psychedelic" was defined as "mind-manifesting". What else "mind-manifests"? Anything that stimulates fantasies such as reading books.

[@mikefetterman6782]

His son Julian had drawn a crayon drawing in primary school of his friend Lucy with stars around her (diamonds) in the sky. John and Paul didn't realize the L S D coincidence until later.

[@drrick8839]

Later, Paul laughing said…..Of course it’s about LSD! ; But EMI started freaking out when reviewer started to say the song was about LSD, so we came up with the Julian Lennon grade school drawing story!

[@billysequins]

Lennon repeatedly asserted this song was about Julians painting and not LSD - he was quite happy to say plenty of other Beatles songs were inspired by acid,so why not this one?

[@scoobysnacks]

This is how to sing about LSD without singing about LSD.

[@edgarsnake2857]

Astounding song and production.

[@EvilSnipa]

LSD is fun!

[@arturoochoa7237]

Fantastic - Awesome. The genius of John Lennon.

[@frankphillips5660]

In a documentary I saw years ago I believe George Martin was referring to this song when he said John's voice is a little higher pitched, like when you play an album a little faster the voices get higher pitched. They taped the voice and then sped up the tape ever so slightly to give John's voice that higher sounding pitch ( think The Chipmonks)

[@gpxo11]

You should check out the Beatles animated film Yellow submarine-psychedelic at its best-you'll be amazed. LSD is also in the film-pun intended.

[@cathyortiz1280]

This was actually written about Julian's (John's song) picture he drew. John asked him what it was & Julian said, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." He said after people said it meant LSD, he started looking to see if other songs had any intials that meant anything. He said he'd taken LSD but that wasn't the meaning of this song. Still an amazingl psychedelic song!!

[@eduardocervantesaca]

The album was a bass concert, every bassline is amazing on Sgt Peppers

[@jackdshellback3819]

Good reaction and well researched. Do yourself a favor and GET THE ALBUM, and listen to the whole thing nonstop, you won't be disappointed. After you've done a few more reactions from it of course.

[@starwood213]

For the benefit of Mr kite is another great one from the album.

[@peterzimmer9549]

The Doors first album was released in 1967.

[@Renkk17]

I heard that John's son had made a picture and John asked what the picture was of, and his son said it's Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, so he ended up making a song from it

[@alanshepherd4304]

Again there is a back story to these lyrics!😁

[@hungfao]

Really astounding considering they only had 4 tracks to work with. That accounts for the separation in your head phones. Very primitive considering what's available today....and yet, no one comes close to pushing these boundaries anymore

[@JanPBtest]

0:47 That's the Lowrey organ: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowrey_organ I can't tell which stereo mix you are listening to but the classic one form the 1960s is actually less carefully mixed than the mono version, there is some phasing missing (I think Giles Martin fixed some of those misses in his recent remixes) as the Beatles were absent during the preparation of the stereo version, considered a silly whim at the time, something like 3D movies today.

[@charlyme7925]

He obviously likes John Lennon vocals.

[@MrBirdie22]

Who doesn’t?

[@ericsicard910]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds or … LSD. Lol! How to speak of a psychotrop without being censured 😀

[@GodlessFiend]

For a better experience, TAKE X then lay back and wait for the X to hit you at the sound of the chorus 😂

[@Barb5001]

For those not aware. there was hallucinogenic drug Commodity called " L S D" as that was the abbreviation of the chemicals in it. It was commonly called "acid"_ So this song with a reference to LSD is all about that drug. For those who are to young or ignorant to comprehend this. there is a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.....Keep Keep in mind that The Beatles were marketed as a clean cut rock band that parents need not be concerned about. So a total BS story about "lucy" was made up about the song. Just listen to the lyrics.

[@johnshelton2414]

NO WORRIES 😎

[@davidrauh8118]

John sang the song slowly so they could speed up his voice and give it a childlike tone.

[@kimberlyianaro3774]

Lucy in the sky with diamonds / LSD😊. Song makes more sense. Its about an acid trip.

[@nowhere982]

Ah.....the days of lsd😂😂😂😂😂

[@uzielumbranox7460]

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds = LSD (spychodelia times)

[@jeffchampagne5587]

The rumor used to be that Lucy in the sky with diamonds was code for LSD (Lucy Sky Diamonds) but in fact, John’s son, Julian brought home a drawing from school and it was nonsensical and childlike and John said oh what is this and Julian said that’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds, so it is not about the Beatles LSD trip and experimentation, but rather the most of the imagery was taken from the drawing that Julian did at school

[@kenchristie9214]

There is a vast difference in the psyches of The Beatles' sound engineer Norman "Hurricane" Smith and his successor Geoff Emerick. Norm wanted The Beatles record to sound like a live performance. Right from Geoff's first album, Rubber Soul, stereo separation is prominent. Modular hi-fi was becoming more popular and Geoff wanted instruments coming through different speakers. The effect on on the chorus is called flanging. Julian drew the picture of his kindergarten friend, Julie O'Driscoll, when he was three. As no singles were made from the album, Sgt. Pepper's reached #1 on Perth, Western Australia's top 40 shortly after the album hit the record shops in the first week of August 1967. Five songs were banned on radio - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds: Getting Better: Fixing A Hole: Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite and, of course, A Day In The Life.

[@brandoncruz3102]

Can you react to another one from this album? I love it . Sgt peppers lonely hearts club band and right after that song comes with a little help with my friends sang by Ringo and both songs are connected, they sort of transition thats why i recommend you to play them togheter

[@annakermode6646]

John wrote it. The Doors debut came out after this album. Same year. The Beatles did everything first.

[@debjorgo]

The Doors album was released January 4, 1967. Sgt Pepper came out May 26, 1967.

[@danyelaru489]

Tomorrow never knows was released in 1966. A year before doors debut album

[@georgestevens1502]

Never thought The Doors were competing with The Beatles. Doors were more jazz influenced and their sound was unique too. Both bands added different sounds to the airwaves and expanded listeners minds. Then Jimi and Jimmy hit and opened up the sheer power of an electric guitar.

[@joldback]

(L)ucy.......(S)ky .....(D)iamonds, just might let you realise what might have influenced the lyrics.

[@neilpiper9889]

Whoever sang the lead wrote the song. In this case of course John

[@jesussevilla7567]

But he lied, LSD . Thats true meaning of that masterpieces

[@JOHNNYBIX38]

Look at the title: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds = LSD

[@jackdshellback3819]

Coincidence

[@JOHNNYBIX38]

@@jackdshellback3819 no such thing as coincidence

[@jackdshellback3819]

@@JOHNNYBIX38 That's funny, I was just talking about that, what a coincidence!

[@nepesilva2284]

@@JOHNNYBIX38 except in this case lol it’s based on a drawing his son Julian made called, well, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”. He must’ve been 4 or 5 years old at the time.

[@jimcarlson6157]

for I heard "a girl with colitis goes by"

[@KillerNetDog]

All that comes to my mind when I hear this is all the psychedelic drugs I took in the 70's..

[@n3wbury]

Man, being an Oasis fan and not being familiar with who they're constantly ripping off lmao (all love, I love Oasis)

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Shabby Chevy Nova. 😂

[@kennykaye8264]

PLEASE LISTEN TO OTHERS SUCH AS AS HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE. IN MY LIFE. SOMETHING.

[@brucewatts8447]

LSD

[@ploppill34]

❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🤍

[@movid]

😂😂😅 it has a psychedelic feel, but it's actually based on a drawing from his son 🐆 people build mountains with sand...

[@jasongress8764]

The mono version is much better. Has vocal effects that are missing or lower in the stereo mix.

[@Ck-py9oi]

Bro react like he in anime lol

[@brentstevenson1484]

Original track better We all thought at the time it was about one of Johns LSD TRIPS BUT IT WAS A PAINTING jOHNS SON HAD DRWN WAS A GREAT ACID SOND THOUGH OH TO BE YOUNG AND INNOCENT AGAIN HAHAHA

[@goosefarm3602]

great reaction..I like Elton John's cover better tho

[@ge0rgeharris218]

I don't think the Beatles were pioneers because nobody has been able to match what they accomplished! Are you talking about the guitar rotary effect?

[@davejennings9460]

Smoke a fatty then listen to this! You will be blown away.

[@bluesman3232]

L S D

[@stevencantrellzenroom7383]

ŁŠD

[@pl8154]

Young listeners have a very limited attention span, so they have to stop rather than letting the music play through.

[@josephmaestas5915]

YOU DONT REALLY KNOW HOW IT SOUNDS UNLESS YOUR STONED

[@ericvincentcarbone3471]

Door were more like 68'.

[@bobperu1]

LSD