℗ 1968
℗ 1968 Apple Records PCS 7067/8 / © Parlophone Records: The Beatles (White Album)
℗ 1968 Apple Records SWBO 101 / © Capitol Records: The Beatles (White Album)
℗ 1991 ÀíÒðîï-ñòóäèî Ï91 00009-10-11-12: The Beatles (White Album)
℗ 1968 : disc 2
Each song on the sprawling double album The Beatles is an entity to itself, as the band touches on anything and everything they can. This makes for a frustratingly scattershot record or a singularly gripping musical experience, depending on your view, but what makes the White Album interesting is its mess. Never before had a rock record been so self-reflective, or so ironic; the Beach Boys send-up "Back in the USSR" and the British blooze parody "Yer Blues" are delivered straight-faced, so it's never clear if these are affectionate tributes or wicked satires. Lennon turns in two of his best ballads with "Dear Prudence" and "Julia"; scours the Abbey Road vaults for the musique concrete collage "Revolution 9"; pours on the schmaltz for Ringo's closing number, "Good Night"; celebrates the Beatles cult with "Glass Onion"; and, with "Cry Baby Cry," rivals Syd Barrett. McCartney doesn't reach quite as far, yet his songs are stunning — the music-hall romp "Honey Pie," the mock country of "Rocky Raccoon," the ska-inflected "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," and the proto-metal roar of "Helter Skelter." Clearly, the Beatles' two main songwriting forces were no longer on the same page, but neither were George and Ringo. Harrison still had just two songs per LP, but it's clear from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," the canned soul of "Savoy Truffle," the haunting "Long Long Long," and even the silly "Piggies" that he had developed into a songwriter who deserved wider exposure. And Ringo turns in a delight with his first original, the lumbering country-carnival stomp "Don't Pass Me By." None of it sounds like it was meant to share album space together, but somehow The Beatles creates its own style and sound through its mess. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine. |
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Flew in from Miami Beach BOAC Didn't get to bed last night On the way the paper bag was on my knee Man I had a dreadful flight I'm back in the U.S.S.R. You don't know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S.S.R. Been away so long I hardly knew the place Gee it's good to be back home Leave it till tomorrow to unpack my case Honey disconnect the phone I'm back in the U.S.S.R. You don't know how lucky you are boy Back in the U.S.S.R. Well the Ukraine girls really knock me out They leave the West behind And Moscow girls make me sing and shout That Georgia's always on my mind. I'm back in the U.S.S.R. You don't know how lucky you are boys Back in the U.S.S.R. Show me round your snow peaked mountains way down south Take me to your daddy's farm Let me hear your balalaika's ringing out Come and keep your comrade warm. I'm back in the U.S.S.R. You don't know how lucky you are boys Back in the U.S.S.R.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play, Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue, It's beautiful and so are you, Dear Prudence won't you come out to play? Dear Prudence open up your eyes, Dear Prudence see the sunny skies. The wind is low the birds will sing, That you are part of everything, Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes? Look around round Look around round round Look around Dear Prudence let me see you smile, Dear Prudence like a little child. The clouds will be a daisy chain, So let me see you smile again, Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile? Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play, Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day. The sun is up, the sky is blue, It's beautiful and so are you, Dear Prudence won't you come out to play?
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
I told you about strawberry fields You know the place where nothing is real Well here's another place you can go Where everything flows. Looking through the bent backed tulips To see how the other half live Looking through a glass onion. I told you about the walrus and me - man You know that we're as close as can be - man Well here's another clue for you all The walrus was Paul. Standing on a cast iron shore - yeah Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet - yeah Looking through a glass onion. Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah Looking through a glass onion. I told you about the fool on the hill I tell you man he living there still Well here's another place you can be Listen to me. Fixing a hole in the ocean Trying to make a dove-tail joint - yeah Looking through a glass onion.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Desmond has a barrow in the market place Molly is the singer is a band Desmond says to Molly — girl I like your face And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand. Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on. Desmond takes a trolley to the jewelers stores Buys a twenty carat golden ring Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door And as he gives it to her she begins to sing. Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on. In a couple of years they have built A home sweet home With a couple of kids running in the yard Of Desmond and Molly Jones. Happy ever after in the market place Desmond lets the children lend a hand Molly stays at home and does her pretty face And in the evening she still sings it with the band. Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on. In a couple of years they have built A home sweet home With a couple of kids running in the yard Of Desmond and Molly Jones. Happy ever after in the market place Molly lets the children lend a hand Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face And in the evening she's a singer with the band. Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on Ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on bra La-la how the life goes on. And if you want some fun — take Ob-la-di Ob-la-da.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, Honey pie, I love you Honey pie.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Hey, Bungalow Bill What did you kill Bungalow Bill? He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun In case of accidents he always took his mom He's the all American bullet headed Saxon mother's son. All the children sing Hey, Bungalow Bill What did you kill Bungalow Bill? Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise So Captain Marvel zapped him right between the eyes All the children sing Hey, Bungalow Bill What did you kill Bungalow Bill? The children asked him if to kill was not a sin Not when he looked so fierce, his mother butted in. If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him All the children sing Hey, Bungalow Bill What did you kill Bungalow Bill?
(George Harrison)
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping While my guitar gently weeps I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping Still my guitar gently weeps I don't know why nobody told you how to unfold your love I don't know how someone controlled you They bought and sold you. I look at the world and I notice it's turning While my guitar gently weeps With every mistake we must surely be learning Still my guitar gently weeps I don't know how you were diverted you were perverted too I don't know how you were inverted No one alerted you. I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping While my guitar gently weeps I look at you all… Still my guitar gently weeps.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
She's not a girl who misses much Do do do do do do do do, oh yeah She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand Like a lizard on a window pane The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors On his hobnail boots Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy Working overtime A soap impression of his wife which he ate And donated to the National Trust I need a fix 'cause I'm going down Down to the bits that I left uptown I need a fix 'cause I'm going down Mother Superior jump the gun Mother Superior jump the gun Mother Superior jump the gun Mother Superior jump the gun Mother Superior jump the gun Mother Superior jump the gun Happiness is a warm gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) When I hold you in my arms (Oo-oo oh yeah) And I feel my finger on your trigger (Oo-oo oh yeah) I know no one can do me no harm (Oo-oo oh yeah) Because happiness is a warm gun, mama (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Happiness is a warm gun, yes it is (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Happiness is a warm, yes it is, gun (Happiness bang, bang, shoot, shoot) Well, don't you know happiness is a warm gun, mama? (Happiness is a warm gun, yeah)
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Martha my dear though I spend my days in conversation Please Remember me Martha my love Don't forget me Martha my dear Hold your head up you silly girl look what you've done When you find yourself in the thick of it Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you Silly girl. Take a good look around you Take a good look you're bound to see That you and me were meant to be for each other Silly girl. Hold your hand out you silly girl see what you've done When you find yourself in the thick of it Help yourself to a bit of what is all around you Silly girl. Martha my dear you have always been my inspiration Please Be good to me Martha my love Don't forget me Martha my dear.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
I'm so tired, I haven't slept a wink I'm so tired, my mind is on the blink I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink No, no, no. I'm so tired I don't know what to do I'm so tired my mind is set on you I wonder should I call you but I know what you would do You'd say I'm putting you on But it's no joke, it's doing me harm You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane You know I'd give you everything I've got For a little peace of mind I'm so tired, I'm feeling so upset Although I'm so tired I'll have another cigarette And curse Sir Walter Raleigh He was such a stupid get. You'd say I'm putting you on But it's no joke, it's doing me harm You know I can't sleep, I can't stop my brain You know it's three weeks, I'm going insane You know I'd give you everything I've got For a little peace of mind
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise. Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these sunken eyes and learn to see All your life You were only waiting for this moment to be free. Blackbird fly Blackbird fly Into the light of the dark black night. Blackbird fly Blackbird fly Into the light of the dark black night. Blackbird singing in the dead of night Take these broken wings and learn to fly All your life You were only waiting for this moment to arise You were only waiting for this moment to arise You were only waiting for this moment to arise.
(George Harrison)
Have you seen the little piggies Crawling in the dirt And for all the little piggies Life is getting worse Always having dirt to play around in. Have you seen the bigger piggies In their starched white shirts You will find the bigger piggies Stirring up the dirt Always have clean shirts to play around in. In their styes with all their backing They don't care what goes on around In their eyes there's something lacking What they need's a damn good whacking. Everywhere there's lots of piggies Living piggy lives You can see them out for dinner With their piggy wives Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon And one day his woman ran off with another guy Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that He said I'm gonna get that boy So one day he walked into town Booked himself a room in the local saloon. Rocky Raccoon checked into his room Only to find Gideon's bible Rocky had come equipped with a gun To shoot off the legs of his rival. His rival it seems had broken his dreams By stealing the girl of his fancy. Her name was Magill and she called herself Lill But everyone knew her as Nancy. Now she and her man who called himself Dan Were in the next room at the hoe down Rocky burst in and grinning a grin He said Danny boy this is a showdown But Daniel was hot - he drew first and shot And Rocky collapsed in the corner. Now the doctor came in stinking of gin And proceeded to lie on the table He said Rocky you met your match And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch And I'll be better I'll be better Doc as soon as I am able. Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room Only to find Gideon's bible Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt To help with good Rocky's revival.
(Richard Starkey)
I listen for your footsteps Coming up the drive Listen for your footsteps But they don't arrive Waiting for your knock dear On my old front door I don't hear it Does it mean you don't love me any more. I hear the clock a'ticking On the mantel shelf See the hands a'moving But I'm by myself I wonder where you are tonight And why I'm by myself I don't see you Does it mean you don't love me any more. Don't pass me by don't make me cry don't make me blue 'Cause you know darling I love only you You'll never know it hurt me so How I hate to see you go Don't pass me by don't make me cry I'm sorry that I doubted you I was so unfair You were in a car crash And you lost your hair You said that you would be late About an hour or two I said that's alright I'm waiting here Just waiting to hear from you. Don't pass me by don't make me cry don't make me blue 'Cause you know darling I love only you You'll never know it hurt me so How I hate to see you go Don't pass me by don't make me cry. Don't pass me by don't make me cry don't make me blue 'Cause you know darling I love only you You'll never know it hurt me so How I hate to see you go Don't pass me by don't make me cry.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Why don't we do it in the road? No one will be watching us Why don't we do it in the road?
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Who knows how long I've loved you You know I love you still Will I wait a lonely lifetime If you want me to — I will. For if I ever saw you I didn't catch your name But it never really mattered I will always feel the same. Love you forever and forever Love you with all my heart Love you whenever we're together Love you when we're apart. And when at last I find you Your song will fill the air Sing it loud so I can hear you Make it easy to be near you For the things you do endear you to me Oh, you know I will, I will.
(John Lennon — Paul McCartney)
Half of what I say is meaningless But I say it just to reach you, Julia Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me So I sing a song of love, Julia Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me So I sing a song of love, Julia Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering, In the sun Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me So I sing a song of love, Julia When I cannot sing my heart I can only speak my mind, Julia Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me So I sing a song of love, Julia Hum, hum, hum, hum… calls me So I sing a song of love for Julia, Julia, Julia