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| lend me your ears and i'll sing you a song... |
The album that changed pop music...
David Crosby, the Byrds:"Somehow Sgt. Pepper did not stop the Vietnam War. Somehow it didn't work. Somebody wasn't listening...I would've thought Sgt. Pepper could've stopped the war just by putting too many good vibes in the air for anybdoy to have a war around."
Not all the musicians thought that highly of it,however, when Bob Dylan heard it for the first time he groaned "turn that off."
The Songs
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
With A Little Help From My Friends
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds
Getting Better
Fixing A Hole
She's Leaving Home
Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!
Within You Without You
When I'm Sixty-Four
Lovely Rita
Good Morning Good Morning
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
A Day In The Life
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Lennon/McCartney)--Ringo, George, and Paul sung this song at Eric Clapton's wedding, where he married Pattie Boyd Harrison.
It was twenty years ago today,
We're Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,
It's wonderful to be here, it's certainly a thrill.
I don't really want to stop the show, With a Little Help From My Friends (Lennon/McCartney)--Joe Cocker's version of this song was used as the theme for the GREAT TV show The Wonder Years.
Billy Shears?
What would you think if I sang out a tune,
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.
What do I do when my love is away?
No, I get by with a little help from my friends.
Do you need anybody?
Would you believe in a love at first sight?
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.
Do you need anybody?
Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends. Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds (Lennon/McCartney)--NOT AN LSD SONG! I got in a fight about this at church...I'm sorry church people, but you were WRONG! I've know more about this stuff than you do--screw you! Sorry! OK! That really ticked me off when they dissed the Beatles because they don't even know what John's last name is! (It's John Lennon, OK?) This song was inspired by a drawing by Julian and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. Plus, it CAN'T stand for LSD--it's actually initals would be LITSWD--that's more than three letters!
Picture yourself in a boat on a river,
Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain,
Newspaper taxis appear on the shore,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Picture yourself on a train in a station,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Getting Better (Lennon/McCartney)--Jimmy Nichols used to say "it's getting better" while he filled in for Ringo during the 1964 tour while Ringo was sick. While Paul was walking his dog, Martha, the sun came out and he thought "ah, it's getting better..." and can you believe he remembered Jimmy? Paul's a sweeet guy...
It's getting better all the time.
I've got to admit it's getting better,
Me used to be angry young man,
I've got to admit it's getting better,
Getting so much better all the time.
I used to be cruel to my woman,
I admit it's getting better,
Getting so much better all the time. Fixing a Hole (Lennon/McCartney)--After fixing the roof on his Scottish farm house, Paul wrote this song. How the heck do people get that it's about heroin?
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in,
And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong,
I'm painting my room in a colorful way,
And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong,
I'm taking the time for a number of things
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in, She's Leaving Home (Lennon/McCartney)--When Paul stopped by to see Brian Wilson (and help on the track "Vegtables" for the Beach Boys' new album) he played this song for him. Brian's wife, Marilyn, cried as the song ended. Paul told Brian to hurry up with his new album because Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band was due out in the summer. Unfortunately, Brian never finished his "teenage symphony to God." Sgt. Pepper was that good!
Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins,
She (We gave her most of our lives)
Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown,
She (We never thought of ourselves)
Friday morning at nine o'clock she is far away.
She (What did we do that was wrong)
She's leaving home (Bye, bye).
Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! (Lennon/McCartney)--Taken from an antique poster John bought.
For the benefit of Mr. Kite,
The celebrated Mr. K.
The band begins at ten to six, Within You Without You (Harrison)--Stephen Stills loved the song and lyrics so much that he had them carved on a stone monument that he placed in his yard.
We were talking about the space between us all,
We were talking about the love we all could share.
Try to realize it's all within yourself,
We were talking about the love that's gone so cold,
When you've seen beyond yourself, When I'm Sixty-Four (Lennon/McCartney)--Paul put the lyrics to the melody in honor of his father's sixty-fourth birthday.
When I get older losing my hair,
You'll be older, too,
I could be handy, mending a fuse
Every summer we can rent a cottage
Send me a postcard, drop me a line, Lovely Rita (Lennon/McCartney)--"That's Paul writing a pop song...He makes 'em up like a novelist." --John Lennon
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Standing by a parking meter,
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Took her out and tried to win her.
Oh, lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid, Good Morning, Good Morning (Lennon/McCartney)--The Beatles really loved cornflakes...and the inspiration for this song came from a cornflakes advertisement.
Good Morning, Good Morning,
Nothing to do to save his life, call his wife in.
Good morning, Good morning,
Going to work, don't want to go, feeling low down.
Everybody knows there's nothing doing.
After a while you start to smile, now you feel cool.
Good morning, Good morning,
People running 'round, it's five o'clock,
Somebody needs to know the time, glad that I'm here.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) (Lennon/McCartney)--This was Neil Aspinall's idea. Yay, Neil!
We're Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely, A Day In the Life (Lennon/McCartney)--From a newspaper and real life stories...wow...and ya'll know that Mike Nesmith (Wool Hat) and Keith Richards were present at that orchestra thingy for this song, right?
I read the news today, oh boy,
I saw a film today, oh boy.
Woke up, fell out of bed,
I read the news today, oh boy.
Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play.
They've been going in and out of style,
But they're guaranteed to raise a smile.
So may I introduce to you
The act you've known for all these years,
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
We hope you will enjoy the show.
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band,
Sit back and let the evening go.
Sgt. Peppers Lonely, Sgt. Peppers Lonely,
Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
You're such a lovely audience,
We'd like to take you home with us,
We'd love to take you home.
But I thought you might like to know
That the singer's going to sing a song,
And he wants you all to sing along.
So let me introduce to you
The one and only Billy Shears
And Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
And I'll try not to sing out of key.
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends.
Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends.
Does it worry you to be alone?
How do I feel by the end of the day?
Are you sad because you're on your own?
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends.
Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends.
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.
Yes, I'm certain that it happens all the time.
What do you see when you turn out the light?
I can't tell you, but I know it's mine.
Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends.
Oh, gonna try with a little help from my friends.
I need somebody to love.
Could it be anybody?
I want somebody to love.
Mmm, I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends.
Oh, I get high with a little help from my friends.
Yes, I get by with a little help from my friends,
With a little help from my friends.
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies.
Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly;
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
Towering over your head.
Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
And she's gone.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Ah.
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies.
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
That grow so incredibly high.
Waiting to take you away.
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds,
And you're gone.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Ah.
With plasticine porters with looking-glass ties.
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile;
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Ah.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, Ah.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds,
Lucy in the sky with diamonds?
I used to get mad at my school (but I can't complain),
The teachers that taught me weren't cool (no I can't complain).
You're holding me down, turning me 'round,
Filling me up with your rules.
A little better all the time (couldn't get no worse).
I have to admit it's getting better,
It's getting better since you've been mine.
Me hiding me head in the sand.
You gave me the word,
I finally heard.
I'm doing the best that I can.
A little better all the time (couldn't get no worse).
I have to admit it's getting better,
It's getting better since you've been mine.
It's getting better all the time (better, better, better),
It's getting better all the time (better, better, better).
I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved.
Man, I was mean, but I'm changing my scene,
And I'm doing the best that I can.
A little better all the time (couldn't get no worse).
Yes, I admit it's getting better,
It's getting better since you've been mine.
It's getting better all the time (better, better, better),
It's getting better all the time (better, better, better).
Getting so much better all the time.
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go.
I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door,
And kept my mind from wandering
Where it will go.
I'm right
Where I belong, I'm right
Where I belong.
See the people standing there who disagree and never win,
And wonder why they don't get in my door.
And when my mind is wandering,
There I will go.
I'm right
Where I belong, I'm right
Where I belong.
Silly people run around; they worry me,
And never ask me why they don't get past my door.
That weren't important yesterday,
And I still go.
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go,
Where it will go.
Silently closing her bedroom door,
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more.
She goes downstairs to the kitchen, clutching her handkerchief.
Quietly turning the backdoor key,
Stepping outside, she is free.
Is leaving (Sacrificed most of our lives)
Home (We gave her everything money could buy).
She's leaving home after living alone for so many years.
Picks up the letter that's lying there,
Standing alone at the top of the stairs,
She breaks down and cries to her husband,
"Daddy, our baby's gone."
"Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly?
How could she do this to me?"
Is leaving (Never a thought for ourselves)
home (We struggled hard all our lives to get by).
She's leaving home after living alone for so many years.
Waiting to keep the appointment she made,
Meeting a man from the motor trade.
Is having (We didn't know it was wrong)
Fun (Fun is the one thing that money can't buy).
Something inside that was always denied for so many years.
There will be a show tonight on trampoline.
The Hendersons will all be there,
Late of Pablo Fanques' fair--what a scene!
Over men and horses hoops and garters,
Lastly through a hogshead of real fire!
In this way, Mr. K. will challenge the world!
Performs his feat on Saturday at Bishopsgate.
The Hendersons will dance and sing
As Mr. Kite flies through the ring--don't be late!
Messrs. K. and H. assure the public
Their production will be second to none.
And of course Henry the Horse dances the waltz!
When Mr. K. performs his tricks without a sound,
And Mr. H. will demonstrate
Ten somersets he'll undertake on solid ground.
Having been some days in preparation,
A splendid time is guaranteed for all.
And tonight Mr. Kite is topping the bill!
And the people who hide themselves behind a wall of illusion.
Never glimpse the truth,
Then it's far too late
When they pass away.
When we find it,
To try our best to hold it there.
With our love,
With our love we could save the world,
If they only knew.
No one else can make you change.
And to see you're really only very small,
And life flows on within you and without you.
And the people,
Who gain the world and lose their soul.
They don't know,
They can't see,
Are you one of them?
Then you may find, peace of mind, is waiting there.
And the time will come when you see we're all one,
And life flows on within you and without you.
Many years from now,
Will you still be sending me a Valentine,
Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
If I'd been out 'til quarter to three,
Would you lock the door?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside.
Sunday mornings, go for a ride,
Doing the garden, digging the weeds,
Who could ask for more?
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear.
We shall scrimp and save.
Grandchildren on your knee,
Vera, Chuck, and Dave.
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say,
Yours sincerely, wasting away.
Give me your answer, fill in a form,
Mine for evermore.
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid.
Nothing can come between us.
When it gets dark, I tow your heart away.
When I caught a glimpse of Rita,
Filling in a ticket in her little white book.
In a cap she looked much older,
And the bag across her shoulder
Made her look a little like a military man.
May I inquire discreetly,
When are you free
To take some tea with me?
Had a laugh and, over dinner,
Told her I would really like to see her again.
Got the bill and Rita paid it,
Took her home. I nearly made it,
Sitting on the sofa with a sister or two.
Where would I be without you?
Give us a wink and make me think of you.
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid,
Lovely Rita, meter maid.
Good Morning, Good Morning,
Good Morning.
Nothing to say but what a day, how's your boy been?
Nothing to do, it's up to you
I've got nothing to say but it's O.K.
Good Morning.
Heading for home, you start to roam, then you're in town.
Everything is closed, it's like a ruin.
Everyone you see is half asleep,
And you're on your own, you're in the street.
Then you decide to take a walk by the old school.
Nothing has changed, it's still the same.
I've got nothing to say, but it's O.K.
Good Morning.
Everywhere in town is getting dark.
Everyone you see is full of life.
It's time for tea and Meet the Wife.
Watching the skirts, you start to flirt, now you're in gear.
Go to a show, you hope she goes.
I've got nothing to say, but it's O.K.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good.
Good Morning, Good Morning, Good.
We hope you have enjoyed the show.
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band,
We're sorry, but it's time to go.
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely.
We'd like to thank you once again.
Sergeant Pepper's one and only Lonely Hearts Club Band,
It's getting very near the end.
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely,
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
About a lucky man who made the grade.
And though the news was rather sad,
Well, I just had to laugh.
I saw the photograph.
He blew his mind out in a car;
He didn't notice that the lights had changed.
A crowd of people stood and stared.
They'd seen his face before,
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords.
The English Army had just won the war.
A crowd of people turned away,
But I just had to look,
Having read the book.
I'd love to turn you on.
Dragged a comb across my head.
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And, looking up, I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat,
Made the bus in seconds flat.
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream.
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire.
And though the holes were rather small,
They had to count them all.
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall.
I'd love to turn you on.