BEATLES: The Double Meaning & Unexplainable Easter Egg in 'Free As A Bird'
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- Опубликовано: 24 июн 2023
- In 1995, Paul, George and Ringo released the first new original Beatles music for decades, made with a John Lennon demo called 'Free As A Bird'. Join me to look at the double meaning of the song, and to discover a mindblowing backmasking easter egg in this track.
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Many thanks, JH.
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Like you James, I bought 'free as a bird' and 'real love' as singles when they came out, genuinely felt like we were witnessing history. Both songs still sound great now too.
Absolutely
I love free as a bird, it was a gift to get this song when we did. It’s beautiful. George’s slide playing is just always perfect too, adds so much.
@@jigglchoo8858 She came in through the bathroom window my friend.
The mid-90s was such an exciting time to be a music fan - including being a massive Beatles fan as I was. We got the Live at The BBC recordings in around 1994 and then the Anthology documentary and 3x albums the year after I think. I wish they’d do a volume 4 of the Anthology they can put this new track on there with the complete rooftop concert - and it’s about time we got to hear the ‘Carnival of Light’ sound collage.
I see the song as a conversation between Lennon and McCartney. A conversation they can never have. That’s why it’s so powerful x
It actually is that. "Wings" was Paul's band
Mr Hargreaves Beatles content from you is something we need!
It was actually at John's induction into the RRHOF in 1992 or 1993 where Yoko handed the demo tapes to Paul. The Beatles were inducted in 1988, where Paul wasn't present. 😊
Let me put it this way, like you I wasn't around in the sixties, but, I'm a huge Beatles fan and very familiar with all of their sounds. The first time I heard "Free as a Bird" I was in my car on my way to college. I literally had to pull over because I started getting emotional. I kept saying to myself, "It's them, it's them! It's really them!"
And that’s the awful truth of it.
I’m a scientist, not a musician. I’m also older (b. 1960),
Like you & James, I’m a massive fan of the Beatles (& not the Stones).
I went on through Moody Blues to Lou Reed, Eno, Bowie, Ramones, Blondie, the Stranglers, through Eurythmics to the Cure (who I still adore completely, Robert Smith as a young man was so like me in our attitudes and still today, uncompromising, a bit of an outsider, a sharp critic of whatever is going on).
Since 2020, my life has changed permanently, because of unbelievably malign acts by people in power. I’d retired and was effectively forced to fight, because I could easily see things the most people never will.
Not because I’m particularly clever, though I’m pretty good in my tiny niche area of science and medicine. I know how little I know about almost everything else. So I’m not coming at this with arrogance.
Having realised there was some enormous & criminal occurring, right on top of the niche I spent over 30 years researching, I soon began to appreciate that such a crime couldn’t have occurred at short notice & involved more people, and more importantly, many institutions, and it’s mostly the rules & mores of the latter that created the circumstances wherein this awful crime could so easily be perpetrated.
I’m talking about an alleged respiratory vir*s, associated authoritarian behaviour by governments everywhere and worst of all, the alleged jabs.
I’m not asking you to take a view on any of that. I’m merely scene-setting to explain why a 63 year old guy would be bothering with what a very famous band did or didn’t do, 55-60 years ago.
My entire young life was lived to the backdrop of Beatles music out of every radio receiver. They had thermionic valves inside & you had to wait a few moments while it literally “warmed up”. Later, we got the latest “tech”, transistor radios and finally, young people for the first time in history could be reached almost directly by heroic bands and singers. Radio Luxembourg was beyond the reach of the British authorities so we were able to hear all sorts of music that The Beeb simply wouldn’t play at that time. I rigged up a stolen street lantern battery to my battered transistor radio (we used to call them trannies, but it had an entirely different meaning then!) so it would play for weeks without buying new batteries.
As an important aside, my sisters and I were badly treated as children. We didn’t know it at the time, but others later described it as “extreme neglect”. We weren’t hit or interfered with but extreme isolation, inadequate food and clothing were typical. It shapes you over time. For my part, I retreated into my own world of reading, music and model aeroplanes. I read the entire canon of post-war American SciFi, and almost all the films with a fantasy flavour were based on books I’d read as a child.
I grew up wanting to be a research scientist. I couldn’t have imagined anything more exciting & important.
I got my wish, though later in life than my peers (see above). My equally bright sister ended up leaving school at 16 & working in a factory that made kitchen appliances & she has struggled her entire life as a direct consequence of our upbringing. I lucked out & became a successful PhD scientist & had a career that was both enjoyable and remunerative. Without being too immodest, I was quite good at it. Better enough than my peers to land up in charge of respiratory research worldwide for the then biggest pharmaceutical company in the world. And after that, i founded a biotech (Ziarco) and a few years later, it was acquired completely by the largest Swiss pharmaceutical company, Novartis.
Having realised that we were being lied to about this vir*s and the v*ccines, which are designed to injure and kill, I was forced out of my prior beliefs. I thought governments were there to do their best for their country & might tell the odd white lie, but are not corrupt in an almost unlimited way nor would they engage in international treachery of the worst kind. I’ve unimpeachable evidence that our WEFminster types are engaged in criminal corruption on an unimaginable level.
Unfortunately, telling lies about pandemics to steal money & conspiring with my former employer to distribute deliberately dangerous products into every arm they could persuade, coerce or mandate.
I mentioned that this deceit isn’t limited to lying as above, nor to the present time. They’ve lied about lots of things over decades.
One of the things they’ve messed with is popular music. Mark Devlin (U.K.) & Mike Williams (USA) are the two from whom I’ve learned the most. The common factor is the Tavistock Institute based in Sussex & London, which liaises with peer organisations in the United States. They’ve exploited the power of music to influence us all, we who had intense relationships with bands and artists. Deals were done: favours of advancement in exchange for some Faustian bargain, the nature of which varied depending upon the desired influence they sought to have. So far, so only slightly surprising.
Those who reject what I’ve said out of hand ought, I humbly submit, ask themselves if they really believe the official story about how JFK was assassinated. I don’t think any serious minded person can accept it. This means governments do lie and then cover it up. Do you believe in the justification given to parliament by Blair about Iraq & weapons of mass destruction? None were found, and experts on the ground implored others to listen to their testimony. Blair and Bush knowingly lied to their publics. Hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraquis were killed.
So it’s absurd to dismiss my expert insights into covid et seq as “conspiracy theory”. There definitely is a conspiracy. Nothing theoretical about it.
Best wishes & know that I really like your music and musical choices!
Good luck & god bless you
Mike
Dr M*ke Yead*n
I & o
Ps: if you search for my name, please use minority browsers not Chrome or Safari. These have been got at.
I've always been a fan of that track, and it's great to see a potential explanation behind its meaning. Also, let's give some love to Jeff Lynn for producing and appearing in both Travelling Wilburys' albums.
I remember the world premier of Free As A Bird on the radio and I loved it and still do. Also, it has to be said, that the songs video is truly fantastic. Your lyrics interpretation only serves to make it even better James, thank you.
That's crazy that the forwards and backwards voice clip says totally different things! Great work James 👏👍
Well James, your magic has spread to the Beatles work now! Utter joy mate. It’s really nice to hear someone give a positive critique of this beautiful song. I was 17 when this came out and I remember hearing it on my Walkman on my way back from college. The hairs couldn’t have stood up further on my neck! I was obsessed with this song and how John had turned what is essentially a doo-wap chord progression and thrown in a couple of magic Beatley chords like the Fmaj7. Incidentally, at the end of the recording when you hear John saying ‘Made with John Lennon’, as you demonstrated you reverse it to the ‘right’ way round he says, ‘turned out nice again, didn’t it?’. ‘Turned out nice again’ was George Formby’s catchphrase and what’s George Harrison playing on the Uke over this section? The closing bars to ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’ by George Formby! One big circle, eh! There’s actually an interview with the Free As A Bird video director Joe Pytka where he said George Harrison kept asking if he could be the guy at the end of the video playing the Uke with his back to the camera on the stage. Joe said he didn’t allow this as he said it wouldn’t be fair on Paul and Ringo if there was one present day Beatle in the video and the others were left out. He bitterly regretted rejecting George’s request, especially after his passing.
Absolutely brilliant video, James. Keep up the excellent work.👏👏👍🏻👍🏻
I like the song a lot. I'm glad it wasn't overly sugary or poppy. Methodical with a dark undercurrent, yes, but very very heart-felt sentiment, and those harmonies and that beautiful slide!
Great video! Back in the 90’s I always heard “John Lennon” but I think immediately it was shared that it was “turned out nice again” backwards. Never heard “made by” or “didn’t it” and didn’t know they switched it around for the new mix which is great. Loved both of these songs and can’t wait to finally hear the 3rd one later this year
It's crazy. I totally heard John Lennon. Nice to know the Beatles were still up to their old shenanigans
i grew up as a 14 year old, watching Ed Sullivan and drinking sodas in a original soda shop with She loves You on jukebox. at which time i was totally enchanted by this majical sound. I admit i was driven to tears when you brought it home that the final verse to fill johns song was about john becommming truly "Free as a Bird" from this his earthly life". i am impressed with your Harrison analogy and this clip, you were not there, but you are very close to "Spot On" and i see you love the Beatles as i am. so may i award you as the 196th Beatle? Thank you for your work. jay byrd
i became a Beatles fan at age 9 in 1963 - let me tell you a new Beatles record or any news on the band was just as exciting then, if not more, as it is today, amazingly i have learned more about them in the last 20 or 30 years than ever. Maybe more secrets or remixes will come in the future with new technology!
I like your analysis mate and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m already familiar with the Easter Eggs but you exploring the double meaning from your point of view was endearing. Well done 👍🏾
I always thought that, in terms of John’s personal meaning of “home” in the original demos, that he might’ve meant Liverpool/UK.
Since it’s pretty common knowledge that his early years with Yoko kept him estranged from his extended family for a time, and that he definitely intended to leave NY for a while after 1980 (most likely to go back and see Aunt Mimi, his half siblings, n cousins etc - have Sean meet them).
Is it a coincidence that your explanation of the Lennon 'Easter Egg' starts at exactly 9:09 into your video?? Number 9....number 9... spooky! Thanks for the video, I never knew this, from someone who was there when we turned back the record manually to hear the secret clue!
And “the one after 909” is another Beatles song lyric, isn’t it?
@@GT380manI play that number All the time in the New Jersey lottery pick three and I've won about ten times with it over the years!! 909 has been very good to me!!🧑🦯🧑🦯🧑🦯🧑🦯🎸🎸🎸🥁
Great video and thanks for pointing these things out, can't wait for the new single.
I always enjoy your videos, and this one is no exception! What a great way to start the day, thanks!
You’re very welcome 👍
Loved this video as the Beatles are
Close to my heart . You never seem to fail making an enjoyable video
Lennon once revealed his admiration for Electric Light Orchestra in a radio station interview : “They're a nice group,” he continued. “I call them Son of Beatles, although they’re doing things that we never did, obviously.” He also compared ‘Showdown’ to one of The Beatles’ most beloved tracks: “I remember the statement they made when they first formed was to carry on from where The Beatles left off with ‘[I Am the] Walrus,’ and they certainly did.”
The Beatle added: “Now, for those people who would like to know where licks and things come from, like I do, because I’m always nicking little things myself,” he said. “This is a beautiful combination of ‘I Heard It Through the Grapevine’ by Marvin Gaye and ‘[Lightnin’] Strikes’… Lou Christie, and it’s a beautiful job with a little ‘Walrus’ underneath.”
Great video James, mind-blown...
Great video. So many times commentators on the Beatles' music don't rise to the occasion but James, you've given us a Bird's Eye View...thanks!
Nice one James, keep them coming.
You remind me of how I used to be in the sixties, you've got the same passion and anticipation of anything new from The Beatles. You get it son and thank you for the double meaning and brilliant Easter Egg that John left us, it's amazing it really is. God bless you.
The turned out nice again is John clowing on George Formby (added because of the ukulele obviously). They reversed it as a little nod to Beatles experiments of the past and then reallised the "hidden" message. If you reverse George Formby's Turned out nice again you end up with a freaky backwards song saying made by John Lennon all the way through it.
I loved this release, I think it was because it was smack bang in the middle of such a great era of music and I was an eager 15 year old, just picking up a guitar for the first time, looking both forwards to what the British indie scene would deliver and backwards to what all the great bands from the past could entertain me with! It all came together at the same time and it was great to be a Beatles fan and an Oasis fan and be able to buy new records from both.
I was about the same age, and had just started playing guitar. I’ve grown up and have children, and love being with them. I appreciate it in a new way.
I actually got “Free As a Bird” on 45. I lived in a very small town, and found it on a trip to a bigger city. Nobody sold vinyl in my town at that time! Ironic these days, I know.
In the demo he included "whatever happened to the life we once knew...". So, of course, he was missing something... He had not forget the life he had before being a house husband. I do think he meant mainly Paul McCartney as he included the word Wings in the lyrics. John used to insert words related to Paul in some of his songs, exactly because that song was for his mate.
Yes, and that bridge line from John helps explain why free as a bird is only “the next best thing to be,” not the best thing. So the added lines from Paul and George aren’t reversing the meaning of the song, as some fans have complained… they’re just expanding on it.
I think it refers to the Beatles prior to real Paul's death. I've read eye witness reports of the last tour where they got along like brothers, but after Billy entered the picture (as Paul), that's when things began to fracture, because Billy demanded having artistic control over the band.
@@mr.g1758 Get over that shit. The proof has becoe overwhelming that Paul faked his own death. "Billy" is Paul, not the other way around.
The Free as a Bird video is a work of genius too, spilling over with Beatles history and even 'Paul is dead' clues.
Very interesting! Nicely done!
Remember buying it on cassette single when it was released and loving the track.
I remember being away at college when The Anthology was shown on tv - everyone we knew came over so we could all watch it together for all three nights.
early gang where yall at??
Ayee
Hi James...I very much dig your presentation style and plausible hypothesis on FAAB.
I'm old enough to remember the feeling of anticipation for the next Beatles' release.
In early 1970 (I was 12) my folks bought me a copy of Abby Road. Jump ahead to 1995 and I felt the same anticipation & excitement that I did in the '60's, and that I'm feeling now with this impending release...I consider myself lucky AF...Cheers from Oz 🦘🦘🦘
ps: Liked & subbed
Fabulous work as ever mate 👍
The music video for Free as a Bird is packed full of Easter eggs. Jeez - I spent so many hours trying to work them all out.
I remember very well getting up super early before school to listen to Chris Evans reveal the song for the first time and the rushed home to work out the chords.
Great days!
The only other "Easter egg" in the recording I can think of is not really an Easter egg, exactly, but it's Paul's use of Bill Black's upright bass on the track, which could be interpreted as him going back to the sound of the early Elvis songs that inspired he and John to get into Rock & Roll in the first place. Perhaps it was a little nod to John's love of early Elvis...I'm curious if Now and Then will use any vintage 60s instruments. I'd love it if it used the same mellotron that was on Strawberry Fields and others. Paul still has it, and I think Sean has one of the Abbey Road mellotrons from that period also.
Bill Black's upright bass was bought as a present for Paul by Linda.
@@apollomemories7399 So sweet
That was great! Thank you for posting. Fun! Amazing what those 4 guys did. 💥🎸🎼
Definitely in my top 5 Lennon tracks. Beautiful.
The way you cover the song whilst talking about the lyrics is beautiful
My God, that instrumental guitar version of "Free As A Bird" is gorgeous. It illustrates the exceptional beauty of this melody.
Interesting timing, because just yesterday, I got Free As A Bird stuck in my head, and got to thinking about how unfairly maligned it was on its release. I do think Jeff Lynne's production made it sound more like an ELO song than a Beatles tune, but it's still a solid track. I never realized that little spoken bit at the end was backwards, and couldn't quite make out what John was saying. Sometimes, I could hear him saying his name, and other times, it sounded more like he was saying, "you can't learn it." Funny to find out it was played backwards, and he wasn't saying either.
First of all you blew my mind! Of course in a positive way and congratulations, it's amazing information! Did you find all this out? Congratulations one more time. A hug from a Brazilian Beatles fan.
WOW, they blew my mind like so many times before with that little anomaly! 🙏
Thanks from a 1964 circa fan of the Fab Four
Just want to say, you're one of the coolest blokes making well made videos about rock and roll out there. The people thst give you shit are are your biggest fans I reckon since they are the first ones to show up on your comment sections
I would definitely love more "Beatles" mini docs.
The Beatles are still breaking the boundaries with that back masking
Free as a bird 🦢 one of my favorites from childhood I just assumed it was another song of theirs! Great Lennon vocals and drumming so groovy
top video once more James.
love all your videos.
certainly, ones other than Oasis are extremely interesting and well thought out & delivered.
i know you said you (sadly) couldn't be arsed doing any more Stone Roses, which personally for me is a damn pity!........but it is what it is.
please keep up the good work
Thank you for this analysis. Makes me feel sad 😢 , happy, 😊, and ... free. Free as a bird
GREAT video!
Great! Sooo happy to find You😅
I was born in 1963, so The Beatles along with The Rolling Stones were the first bands I listened to, but it was Buddy Holly who I really sat up and was blown away by 😘
So from 1968/69 I was already falling in love with music, especially The Beatles and I really did belive that "All You Needed Was Love" 😁
This is why I consider how lucky I was to be born at that time, because I caught every decade of music 🤗
Being born in the early 50’s I was fortunate to see Elvis live on Ed Sullivan and all of Buddy’s stuff before he died. He was on the same trajectory as The Beatles, and an enormous influence on them. The name is a tribute to the name The Crickets.
@@JimCimThe Beatles truly took the mantle from Buddy Holly and finished what he had started.
I can hear George Formby in the mix....
His catch phrase was "turned out nice again"....
“Turned out nice again” is a catch phrase by George Formby. The ukulele part was added on a whim. Once added the clip of John saying the catch phrase was added in reverse. The legend goes that they never knew it sounded like that until they heard the record played back.
Interesting stuff. Didn't know about the Easter Egg. I saw a documentary about Lennon some years back, covering his Liverpool family’s struggles to communicate with Yoko. One relative insisted that, just before his death, John was talking about returning to England, being unhappy (with Yoko and/or having been away for a decade). It makes me read "homing" as a yearning to come home, as in a homing pigeon. "Birds" could be a play on Liver birds. The Liver bird legend is "if an honest man and virgin woman should meet in front of the Royal Liver Building, the two birds would to fly away and the city would cease to exist." )Two Virgins, anyone?) We'll never know, obv, but fun to speculate...
I think you're right. John Lennon was a deep thinker and very well read. 🧑🦯🧑🦯🧑🦯🧑🦯🎸🎸🎸🥁
You sir, are brilliant!
"Whatever happened to the life we once knew" is most likely written from the perspective of John's "Lost Weekend." when he was apart from Yoko. The home he wants to return to is the life he'd had with Yoko. The added lines don't change that meaning, though they also suggest other meanings as well.
Ill cry tears of joy when the new one comes out man. It’s definitely now and then
Great vid. The Easter egg is mind blowing. Only the Beatles.
I really like both Free As A Bird and Real Love.
i was born in 64 so the beatles have been in my life since i was born...as a little one in the late 60's i remember hearing their songs on the radio and still love them.
He wasn't at the Beatles hall of fame introduction it was at John Lennon's introduction
"Turned out nice again didn't it?" was the catchphrase of WWII-era British entertainer George Formby, possibly the world's most famous ukelele player - which IMO makes it even weirder (and more fitting).
One thing that you may have missed, in your interpretation, is that the second time around, George sings “whatever happened to the life that we once knew” and “used to make me feel so“. He skips the line “can we really live without each other… Did we lose the touch that used to mean so much“. So Paul’s sentiment can be interpreted as a plea to stay together, whereas George could be saying something different by omitting the line. Perhaps George was referring to a time after the break up, feeling so free.
Jeff Lynne was chosen because he was mates with George, they were in the Travelling Wilburys together throughout the 80’s.
So, nothing to do with the fact that John Lennon stated in 1973 that he really liked ELO and thought them to be "Son of Beatles"?
Brilliant! I have loved that song since it came out. I took a few moments to learn it on piano last year and got into Lennon head. I was immediately overwhelmed one day when I had it down. There is so much pain and expectancy in the chord structure that I was completely emotional. I don’t hear a man in love with domestic life, I hear and feel a great deal of disappointment with the same. I hear a longing for self expression and the freedom to create with an old partner. Most of all I hear pain. The first 8 bars are just totally gut wrenching as only John Lennon could write it. The song also has a lot of “Imagine” in it. A simple but profound piano line dripping with sentimentality and hope. I find it difficult to play either of these without having Lennons words and music take me into a dark but hopeful corner. I think he would have probably preferred not to have it released until he had all the words down since it was such a personal project. Still, I think McCartney and Harrison did a fine job rounding out the tune in a way Lennon could have appreciated. I think I’ll go play it now. I’ll have the tissue by the piano as it always brings me out emotionally. 😢
I feel you - there’s a lot of longing and pain in it - which is why it feels so real.
Unbelievable how that last line works forward and backwards!!! Can't wait for the new release this fall...probably Now and Then, and being born in the 70's, Anthology was my only chance to anticipate a new Beatles release and ever since Anthology in the 90's, they have continued to remain relevant (unlike their reputation in the 80's) in the modern age and show no signs of ever being irrelevant again...think about the release of "1", which topped the charts over the flavor of the month music like Britany Spears, N Sync, etc in the early 2000's, the Let it be naked release, then the great deluxe boxes, the excitement and turnout for Peter Jackson's Get Back, and now, Now and Then coming...they have proved themselves as timeless and still the high water mark for any rock or pop group to aspire to...they are essential and ubiquitous now
James you are nuts but I love it keep it up my friend 👍
Jeff Lynn's earlier band the idle race is phenomenal too
Just found you.
I'm a Beatles Nut. After seeing The live in London 1964 and brought Everything. Highly recommend investing in a Blu-ray 5.1 system (that's I assume you may have one) listening to the brilliant Pepper : Abbey Road) in 5.1. Great reviews
George and Jeff were also in a band together, The Traveling Wilburys.
And a phenomenal band it was, too. Dylan, Orbison, Lynne, Harrison, Petty.
Did I miss anyone?
“Handle with care” is perhaps their best known song. It is pretty darn fantastic, strongly featuring the irreplaceable voice of Roy Orbison.
Jeff Lynne is a man for whom I’ve grown an ever stronger admiration for as the decades have rolled by.
Unbelievably creative and painstaking, he’s apparently “a lovely fella”. People say they like being around Jeff. He’s just such a positive person. And who cannot love his accent. Mind you, I was born not far from his birthplace, in Yardley
Hi James,
Hope you are doing well!
I would really like to thank you for your videos (especially "Slight Return"). Brilliant stuff.
I know this is a bit 'off topic' but would you please consider transcribing "Hey Now!", given that all the videos on YT are not very good or don't have a tab to play along with?
That would be very appreciated.
Thanks and Kind Regards!
Marco
Wow truly mental as you say, thanks for pointing out backwards recording bit. What??😮😮😮
Free as a bird is my favourite Beatles song
I was born in Feb 1980 in Brum, I wish I was born a little earlier, but being as I wasn't I'm still glad I was born when I was coz I was alive when all four Beatles were still alive and I remember the great music of the 80s 90s and early 00s. I'm James too ;)
I think the 1995 version’s words “Made with John Lennon” are the “backwards” vocals as they sound backtracked. If I am correct, the 1995 version had a “hidden message” that was revealed in 2015 as “Turned out nice again, didn’t it?”
Brilliant, love you're channel
James, I'm surprised you didn't notice that the words of the bridge on FAAB were inspired (or stolen, depending on your position) from The Shangri-Las track "Remember (Walking In The Sand)".
Wow, just listened to it, and you’re right
Seems Lennon used that in his demo
Wonder if he intended to change it
@@JamesHargreavesGuitar Maybe just a working lyric until he settled on the final lyrics for it? You'd have to think Lennon would be well acquainted with this song, since The Beatles were self-confessed fans of American girl groups, and indeed did covers of quite a few in their early years on the BBC shows, and which also saw release on their own albums, such as "Boys" and "Baby Its You" both by The Shirelles (on Please Please Me) and "Please Mr Postman" by The Marvelettes, on With The Beatles.
Makes me cry this song
This is a good example of why music can be math, at its basic form. 1 band plus 1 engineer = a hit. Hence ChAt GP , A.I. version of a new Beatles song. It all from the many multiple algorithms. Mathematical equations. Best of luck on you channel sir.
John was a fan of George Formby and his ukulele and George's famous catchphrase was "Turned Out Nice Again". And that Is completely was John's saying. The other way round is complete Gibberish
You have to also remember John's 'lost weekend' back in 1973. If this was written around 1977, there could still have been tensions going on with John & Yoko that were kept behind closed doors. That may be where these lyrics of "whatever happened to the life we once knew" comes into play.
The song is about him wishing he was free like Paul in Wings.
Being a free man is still only second best to being home and dry with the person whom you love the most.
May Pang < Yoko Ono?
John wanting to reunite The Beatles?
Both, as a double meaning? Maybe.
Fwiw, and it's only my opinion, "Turned out nice again" is the actual segment; the reverse one is a simple case of pareidolia - seeing or hearing something that isn't there. Once the suggestion has first been made, it is very hard/impossible to unhear it. Either way, thanks for this.
There have been many great, great bands through the ages. However, the Beatles inspired more bands than any other band. That is why they will always be the Bible of rock 'n' roll bands.
I watched the airing of Anthology on ABC in November 1995, and at the end of Free As A Bird, I also thought I heard "(something, something) John Lennon". But then I heard it played the right way, and it was clearly "It turned out nice again". There's no way that phrase could have been created to sound like two different sentences forward and backward. Even if you use a palindrome like "Madam, I'm Adam", it doesn't sound the same in both directions. James, I have to disagree with you, and add this to the list of other misunderstood phrases like "All Paul's sorrows are forgotten" and "Turn me on, dead man." Once someone tells you those words, that's what your brain hears.
A good example is on the Japanese version of the Hey Jude album. A lyric sheet was included, and at the end of Rain they came up with "Stare it down and nourish what comes near you." Now when you listen to the recording, that is what you will hear.
Aside from that, James, I thoroughly enjoyed and agree with your commentary on the change in the meaning of the lyrics once the new ones were added. I always thought that it was talking about the group and the split. Rock on.
Always like an Easter egg. I remember reading Mark Lewisohn’s excellent Complete Beatles Recording Sessions Book and him pointing out someone drops the ‘F’ bomb off mic at 2.58 in Hey Jude. Once you hear it you notice it every time, but most people have no idea it’s in there!!
My only minor, nerdy nitpick in this otherwise great video is that in 1994 Paul was inducting John into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. The Beatles had already been inducted in 1988(?) and Paul, infamously did not attend. This was a fun watch, though! Nice work.
Only critics and haters would have a negative opinion about the two new songs. Real know exactly what we got. Two more great songs from the Fab four.
I grew up around the Beatles from when they first started. I have an early autographed album of theirs. Free As A Bird and Real Love were very clever, and so were the videos, all full of hidden meanings. Was Free As A Bird about his life as a house husband in New York, or was he feeling homesick for Liverpool and his time with The Beatles ? You can look at it either way I think.
I've always heard it as "Paint the town, Lennon." Never knew about the "Turned out nice again." version.
Beatles inaugurated a new type of mind, the beginning of an important human leap, seriously
The accompanying video to the song was also rather wonderful.
Cast please. Can't believe they haven't been covered on page or even had a mention bar the Lee Mavers' vid.
ruclips.net/video/_zjyC-44Gg4/видео.html
I listened to John Lennon's version of Free as a bird, and the way I see it, is John is singing "What ever happened to, the life we once knew, (mumbling) I believe his next line would have been very close to the 1995 version, as when you listen from 1977 John probably would have sang "Can we really live without each other" It's as if John and Paul would have wrote those lines if the song was unfinished from 1965-66
These lyrics always created a question in my mind, and I'm quite surprised you didn't mention that question.
Why did John Lennon sing "the n e x t best thing"? Why not "the best thing"? If being free as a bird is the next best thing to be, then what is actually the best thing to be?
Good question! Of course, it assumes the existence of a hyphen. However, as the hyphen ain't there, perhaps it means the old 'best thing' has gone, and now we have the next/latest one. Just a thought!
I don’t know if one could say what John meant. What was “home” to John? Was it a place he once felt safe as a younger man? Did he miss his band mates? Why did he want Paul to finish this song as the tapes were left with a note “For Paul”? I appreciate your view, but Yoko was isolating him at this point. Particularly from Paul. Him then leaving the tapes for Paul make me think it had something to do with his friendship to his brothers. That’s just my take. If he meant what you had said, I don’t think John would have wanted to work with Paul on a song about happiness in his life at home with Yoko. I think his intention then must have had something to do with his friends, at least Paul. I think a lot of people forget about the incredible yin Yang bond between Lennon and McCartney. They only focus on the split. If he wanted Paul to collaborate on it, it was to be Beatle related.