Fa-So-La-La
Oh, what has happened to my musical taste? The girl who 6 years ago rarely listened to anything but classical and the James Taylor that Great Scot listens to while washing dishes, the girl who turned up her nose at anything remotely resembling rock, has gotten broadminded and tolerant in her old age and is now singing along in gleeful harmony to the Beatles and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Oh dear. And what's more, she is thoroughly enjoying it! Oh deary deary dear.
Here is a Beatles song that has caught my attention lately- it's a hoot. Definitely not your average pop song.
Paperback Writer
Dear Sir or Madam, did you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It's based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job, so I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
It's the dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn't understand.
His son is working for the Daily Mail,
It's a steady job but he wants to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
It's a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I'll be writing more in a week or two.
I can make it longer if you like the style,
I can change it round and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it, you can send it here
But I need a break and I want to be a paperback writer,
Paperback writer.
--Paul McCartney
(This is one of Queenie's favorites as well. She is probably going to add her sentiments to this post...)
* * * * * * *
[Alrighty, I will! So cheeky, those Liverpudlians. You really have to hear McCartney sing this to learn how to sing with your tongue planted in your cheek. He wrote this for an aunt who challenged him to write a song that was not about love. He just liked the way the phrase "paperback writer" sounded (and you have to say it with an English accent to get a sense of that) so he wrote a song around it. The music is a great fit -- sort of frantic with brief interjections of swoony, purposefully cheesy dramatics. If you listen carefully, you can hear the Beatles singing the French nursery tune "Frere Jacques" in the background. Highly recommended for dishwashing episodes. -- QS]
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5 comments:
I am so glad your are opening taste a little towards rock. Keep up the good work.
What you are calling rock is not what I am listening to. This is 70's music-- different categories entirely.
Everything really does sound better with a British accent!
I love that song.
In fact, I don't believe there is a single Beatles song I do not like, although "Norwegian Bird" is perhaps the song with the least moral fiber.
So they're 70's music, aye? Not rock, then, aye? Well, are you then sure that you're not giving the devil an inch, aye? He'll take a mile, I'm sure you know, aye! Don't be slow; He or she who hesitates is lost tsol si, aye!!
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