Hidden References in Popular Beatles Songs

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  • čas přidán 10. 05. 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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Komentáře • 239

  • @laladoopsy
    @laladoopsy Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny

      Lmao piggies is about cops
      Go sit down somewhere

    • @12thMandalorian
      @12thMandalorian Před 15 dny

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

    • @jeffconquest3350
      @jeffconquest3350 Před 15 dny

      @@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 Před 14 dny

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

  • @NASCARFAN93100
    @NASCARFAN93100 Před 17 dny +33

    The Beatles will forever be the GOAT

    • @Me4-gc8qs
      @Me4-gc8qs Před 17 dny +3

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

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres Před 17 dny +8

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

    • @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman
      @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman Před 17 dny +2

      Different time period

    • @ziggysawdust5407
      @ziggysawdust5407 Před 17 dny +2

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

    • @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman
      @iwaspaidtoflywithyoubatman Před 17 dny

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

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron Před 17 dny +12

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

  • @Zer0basscovers
    @Zer0basscovers Před 17 dny +24

    While My Guitar Gently Weeps....genius.

  • @Me4-gc8qs
    @Me4-gc8qs Před 17 dny +10

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

  • @vrijheidradio
    @vrijheidradio Před 17 dny +10

    My favorite Beatles' song is Tomorrow never knows

  • @tombruner9634
    @tombruner9634 Před 17 dny +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."

  • @chrisclarke4665
    @chrisclarke4665 Před 17 dny +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".

    • @sludge8506
      @sludge8506 Před 4 dny

      John was easily offended. Narcissism.

  • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
    @IsaacTuduriLlabres Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny +1

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

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres Před 17 dny

      @@leiaorgana5491 👍🏻

    • @milascave2
      @milascave2 Před 8 dny

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

  • @drowsy7921
    @drowsy7921 Před 17 dny +10

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

  • @ClintMcCollum
    @ClintMcCollum Před 17 dny +7

    "Hey Bulldog" from Yellow Submarine album

  • @angelae4412
    @angelae4412 Před 17 dny +7

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

    • @LukeRosenlieb
      @LukeRosenlieb Před 17 dny

      Is it really Michael Swaim?

    • @misterhat5823
      @misterhat5823 Před 17 dny

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

  • @lp-xl9ld
    @lp-xl9ld Před 17 dny +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

  • @jons.6216
    @jons.6216 Před 17 dny +2

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

  • @angeldquintas
    @angeldquintas Před 10 dny +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” 😒

  • @missywink1504
    @missywink1504 Před 17 dny +2

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

    • @markkalfahs1047
      @markkalfahs1047 Před 16 dny +1

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

    • @missywink1504
      @missywink1504 Před 15 dny +1

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

  • @poppinpatty2507
    @poppinpatty2507 Před 16 dny +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🍄💫⚡️🤯

  • @catholicactionbibleonlyist1813

    I love hello goodbye

  • @eltronics
    @eltronics Před 17 dny +2

    Great informative video. Is there a Part 2?

  • @markkalfahs1047
    @markkalfahs1047 Před 7 dny

    ...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...

  • @markbragg885
    @markbragg885 Před 17 dny +1

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

    • @JordosGarage
      @JordosGarage Před 17 dny +1

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

  • @alejandroberman
    @alejandroberman Před 17 dny +22

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

  • @nicholasmesa3588
    @nicholasmesa3588 Před 15 dny

    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 Před 16 dny +1

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

  • @TDK360
    @TDK360 Před 6 dny

    The second guy is okay, I just want a schedule so I can expect him. I need to be mentally prepared. He has such a different tone than the other two…..

  • @Mateo-gp6uu
    @Mateo-gp6uu Před 17 dny +5

    hurray

  • @mr.g1758
    @mr.g1758 Před 17 dny +1

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

  • @markbragg885
    @markbragg885 Před 17 dny +2

    Imagine is about Anarchy

  • @tjnaples
    @tjnaples Před 16 dny

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

  • @tremorsfan
    @tremorsfan Před 17 dny +4

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

  • @negativeindustrial
    @negativeindustrial Před 17 dny +2

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

  • @auntvesuvi3872
    @auntvesuvi3872 Před 16 dny

    Thanks for this! 🍓

  • @laurabriggs-od2jb
    @laurabriggs-od2jb Před 17 dny +2

    Her Majesty is a pretty nice girl.

  • @julianaylor4351
    @julianaylor4351 Před 17 dny

    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.

  • @mostly_insane2291
    @mostly_insane2291 Před 16 dny

    Norwegian Wood. My favorite Beatles song

  • @fmatta
    @fmatta Před 17 dny

    Always number 1 for me: Here Comes The Sun

  • @joannryan5929
    @joannryan5929 Před 15 dny

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

  • @Millieshin-yj5mb
    @Millieshin-yj5mb Před 17 dny

    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.

  • @ArcherSuh4721
    @ArcherSuh4721 Před 17 dny

    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."
    😂😂😂😂😂

  • @bangdollarsign
    @bangdollarsign Před 16 dny

    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.

  • @Lynzae
    @Lynzae Před 17 dny +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.

  • @jdmdt3328
    @jdmdt3328 Před 16 dny

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

  • @MagdaleneDivine
    @MagdaleneDivine Před 17 dny

    FAVORITE EPISODE EVER

  • @THE-X-Force
    @THE-X-Force Před 16 dny

    Actually good and interesting historical info for a change.

  • @fromulus
    @fromulus Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny

      He thinks he is. Hes a dweeb

    • @Zachary3D
      @Zachary3D Před 17 dny

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

    • @BonShula
      @BonShula Před 17 dny

      Of course he is. He watches Destiny

  • @demedawalker7169
    @demedawalker7169 Před 16 dny

    What about Blackbird? that was very political.

  • @neekomarina2782
    @neekomarina2782 Před 16 dny

    i see new beatles content, i click and watch

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage Před 17 dny +6

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

    • @IsaacTuduriLlabres
      @IsaacTuduriLlabres Před 17 dny +1

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

    • @Me4-gc8qs
      @Me4-gc8qs Před 17 dny

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

  • @ronm6585
    @ronm6585 Před 16 dny +1

    Thanks.

  • @Patrick-hm4eg
    @Patrick-hm4eg Před 17 dny

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

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Před 17 dny +2

    A+ video!
    Fascinating topic and video!

  • @brandoncovert6182
    @brandoncovert6182 Před 16 dny

    Elinor Rigbee

  • @kennywaynebearhead
    @kennywaynebearhead Před 15 dny

    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.

  • @istaphobe
    @istaphobe Před 17 dny +3

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

  • @ivzbonete138
    @ivzbonete138 Před 16 dny

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

  • @user-wh8mg4gh8d
    @user-wh8mg4gh8d Před 17 dny

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

  • @ferociousgumby
    @ferociousgumby Před 15 dny

    I buried Paul.

  • @kevincruise3521
    @kevincruise3521 Před 17 dny +5

    Glad you're back

  • @CappyLarou
    @CappyLarou Před 17 dny

    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

  • @shawnnewell4541
    @shawnnewell4541 Před 17 dny

    I thought it was Revolution #9 not #1?

    • @CatherineLee-kt8ky
      @CatherineLee-kt8ky Před 17 dny +1

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

    • @Tylerboyd2001
      @Tylerboyd2001 Před 11 dny

      There is Revolution, Revolution 1, and Revolution 9

  • @gp2917
    @gp2917 Před 17 dny

    I love Paul, but that mustache… Got

  • @coled0666
    @coled0666 Před 17 dny

    Something

  • @DaveSCameron
    @DaveSCameron Před 17 dny

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

  • @Lkydo8165
    @Lkydo8165 Před 16 dny

    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

  • @kandipiatkowski8589
    @kandipiatkowski8589 Před 17 dny

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

  • @jasontassey373
    @jasontassey373 Před 17 dny +2

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

  • @Saint_nobody
    @Saint_nobody Před 17 dny +1

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

  • @mckitten-tk1nj
    @mckitten-tk1nj Před 17 dny

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

  • @catherinespencer-mills1928

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

  • @shanemotown295
    @shanemotown295 Před 16 dny +1

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

  • @istaphobe
    @istaphobe Před 17 dny +2

    Lot of conjecture here.

  • @davidlancaster8152
    @davidlancaster8152 Před 17 dny +1

    Cute but superficial.

  • @user-uj9zj4uv5r
    @user-uj9zj4uv5r Před dnem

    Help

  • @revalesq
    @revalesq Před 16 dny

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

  • @none-js4kr
    @none-js4kr Před 15 dny

    RiGhT???

  • @lucrativesoundsent.1274
    @lucrativesoundsent.1274 Před 17 dny +6

    Narrator Jr!!! Yay!! 😀👍

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny

      Pointless comment again 😂😂😂 just for a 🏆

    • @btetschner
      @btetschner Před 17 dny

      @@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 Před 16 dny

      😂😂😂 pathetic. You have a sad life

  • @kirbymarchbarcena
    @kirbymarchbarcena Před 17 dny

    Riiigghhht

  • @TheStickCollector
    @TheStickCollector Před 17 dny +1

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

  • @nickc247
    @nickc247 Před 17 dny

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

    • @bigmoneymandan360
      @bigmoneymandan360 Před 9 dny

      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 Před 9 dny

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

    • @bigmoneymandan360
      @bigmoneymandan360 Před 9 dny

      @@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.

  • @Megadebt
    @Megadebt Před 17 dny +141

    Oh god not this guy again

    • @LukeRosenlieb
      @LukeRosenlieb Před 17 dny +23

      He’s fine.

    • @krystalayala8451
      @krystalayala8451 Před 17 dny +8

      😂😂😂😂😂 i said the same thing

    • @kylerose3174
      @kylerose3174 Před 17 dny +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 Před 17 dny +22

      Oh god not this comment AGAIN

    • @erickmiranda3600
      @erickmiranda3600 Před 17 dny +2

      OOHH BROTHER

  • @MYKe1217
    @MYKe1217 Před 17 dny

    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?

  • @Sheepish89
    @Sheepish89 Před 15 dny

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

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Před 17 dny

    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---

  • @woodenpuppet7568
    @woodenpuppet7568 Před 17 dny

    No they didn't

  • @CappyLarou
    @CappyLarou Před 17 dny

    Sigh...

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Před 17 dny

    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).

  • @amishdeniro
    @amishdeniro Před 17 dny +3

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

  • @kimberlyweaver1285
    @kimberlyweaver1285 Před 16 dny

    Boo

  • @Autumnh141983
    @Autumnh141983 Před 17 dny +2

    Great job Narrator! I enjoy your videos.

  • @stevedavis2149
    @stevedavis2149 Před 17 dny +5

    Love this narrator ❤

  • @darwonka
    @darwonka Před 17 dny +3

    SWAIM!

  • @Me4-gc8qs
    @Me4-gc8qs Před 17 dny

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

  • @OathTaker3
    @OathTaker3 Před 16 dny

    I never liked John,🤔.

  • @GMCLabs
    @GMCLabs Před 17 dny

    Lucy in the
    Sky with
    Diamonds

  • @mikarri7199
    @mikarri7199 Před 17 dny +9

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

  • @skully0078
    @skully0078 Před 16 dny

    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 Před 17 dny +5

    Who is this narrator? No dice. Ciao

  • @kawanajanell
    @kawanajanell Před 17 dny +1

    Happy to hear this voiceover guy! 😊❤

  • @Borella309
    @Borella309 Před 17 dny

    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.