Navigation

    Paul McCartney
    • Register
    • Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Groups

    Why didnt the Beatles write more political songs?

    YESTERDAY
    11
    25
    6747
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • J
      JoeySmith last edited by

      The only overtly ones are the 3 "revolution" songs. The Beatles had a mass audience and could have expressed their views through their music.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
      • Nancy R
        Nancy R last edited by

        What about Taxman? Usually the Beatles preferred to not be so overt & obvious.

        Omni, Atlanta, GA May 18, 1976, Feb. 17, 1990

        GA Dome, Atlanta, GA May 1, 1993

        Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA May 12, 2002

        FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN May 26, 2013

        Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Oct. 15, 2014

        Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA July 13, 2017

        Bon Secours Arena, Greenville, SC May 30, 2019

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
        • J
          JoeySmith last edited by

          Nancy R:

          What about Taxman? Usually the Beatles preferred to not be so overt & obvious.

          Forgot that one. Maybe 'Piggies' as well.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
          • A
            admin last edited by

            McCartney says Blackbird was about the civil rights struggle, but I never heard that written about when the song came out or even in the decades following. I think he said it much later. I could be wrong.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
            • Nancy R
              Nancy R last edited by

              JoeySmith:

              Nancy R:

              What about Taxman? Usually the Beatles preferred to not be so overt & obvious.

              Forgot that one. Maybe 'Piggies' as well.

              Yeah, I was thinking of that one too!

              Omni, Atlanta, GA May 18, 1976, Feb. 17, 1990

              GA Dome, Atlanta, GA May 1, 1993

              Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA May 12, 2002

              FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN May 26, 2013

              Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Oct. 15, 2014

              Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA July 13, 2017

              Bon Secours Arena, Greenville, SC May 30, 2019

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
              • Nancy R
                Nancy R last edited by

                RMartinez:

                McCartney says Blackbird was about the civil rights struggle, but I never heard that written about when the song came out or even in the decades following. I think he said it much later. I could be wrong.

                I don't think you are. I never heard the civil rights story until 2002 I think!

                Omni, Atlanta, GA May 18, 1976, Feb. 17, 1990

                GA Dome, Atlanta, GA May 1, 1993

                Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA May 12, 2002

                FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN May 26, 2013

                Philips Arena, Atlanta, GA Oct. 15, 2014

                Infinite Energy Center, Duluth, GA July 13, 2017

                Bon Secours Arena, Greenville, SC May 30, 2019

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                • A
                  admin last edited by

                  Nancy R:

                  RMartinez:

                  McCartney says Blackbird was about the civil rights struggle, but I never heard that written about when the song came out or even in the decades following. I think he said it much later. I could be wrong.

                  I don't think you are. I never heard the civil rights story until 2002 I think!

                  Yeah, I don't buy it! Ha ha! Give Peace A Chance was from 1969 and credited Lennon and McCartney, though clearly it was a Lennon song. But so was Revolution. Harrison may be the first to have written anything political with Taxman, as someone already pointed out.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                  • dcshark
                    dcshark last edited by

                    I think Paul didn't want overt political messages going out as the Beatles. It certainly was the case with Revolution, which is why it was remade faster by Lennon so it would go out as a single. Although not political, The Word and All You Need Is Love are message songs of social conscious for change. And these songs did have an effect on their audience.

                    Can you turn the heat up, or are we practicing to be Canadians? Ringo Starr
                    Today I love you more than yesterday/Right now I love you more right now John Lennon
                    World Tour/New World Tour/Driving USA Tour/US Tour/Up and Coming Tour/On The Run/Out There

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                    • A
                      admin last edited by

                      dcshark:

                      I think Paul didn't want overt political messages going out as the Beatles. It certainly was the case with Revolution, which is why it was remade faster by Lennon so it would go out as a single. Although not political, The Word and All You Need Is Love are message songs of social conscious for change. And these songs did have an effect on their audience.

                      Good points. And yeah, those were definitely message songs, if not overtly political.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                      • Bruce M.
                        Bruce M. last edited by

                        Though not totally political, there's a definite anti-gun, anti-violence message in Happiness is a Warm Gun and The Continuing Story of Bungalo Bill. And The Ballad of John and Yoko overtly references their antiwar activism.

                        "The only true patriotism, the only rational patriotism is loyalty to the nation all the time, loyalty to government when it deserves it."

                        \--Mark Twain

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                        • dappa-macca
                          dappa-macca last edited by

                          dcshark:

                          I think Paul didn't want overt political messages going out as the Beatles. It certainly was the case with Revolution, which is why it was remade faster by Lennon so it would go out as a single. Although not political, The Word and All You Need Is Love are message songs of social conscious for change. And these songs did have an effect on their audience.

                          I thought Paul and others pushed for the faster version of Revolution and John liked the slower bluesy take on the song. Could be wrong.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                          • A
                            admin last edited by

                            The most consistent Beatles message via their music was LOVE. Much more powerful than any politics...

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                            • P
                              Perian last edited by

                              Paul talks about the civil rights connection to Blackbird in that famous Donovan tape from '69.

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                              • toris
                                toris last edited by

                                I think after the "Bigger than Jesus" fallout, they were a little conscious of getting overtly "political". Certainly were warned of commenting about certain wars, which I am sure they'd have liked to.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                • Junk
                                  Junk last edited by

                                  moptops:

                                  The most consistent Beatles message via their music was LOVE. Much more powerful than any politics...

                                  Indeed, they did send quite strong messages, even when not so explicit...

                                  appreciate

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                  • A
                                    admin last edited by

                                    Ane:

                                    Paul talks about the civil rights connection to Blackbird in that famous Donovan tape from '69.

                                    Fair enough. But for a song to be "political" it has to raise people's political awareness. Like Give Peace A Chance. I seriously doubt anyone hearing Blackbird thought it was a reference to civil rights. In fact, McCartney tends to often write about animals: Blackbird, Bluebird, Little Lamb Dragonfly, Martha My Dear, etc. Maybe that is political. I don't know.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                    • A
                                      admin last edited by

                                      When I think of how poorly many explicitly political songs age (Springsteen being a prime example, as well as Lennon's Sometime in NYC), I'm thankful they didn't go down that road.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                      • A
                                        admin last edited by

                                        Soft-Hearted Hana:

                                        When I think of how poorly many explicitly political songs age (Springsteen being a prime example, as well as Lennon's Sometime in NYC), I'm thankful they didn't go down that road.

                                        I think Revolution and Give Peace A Chance have aged well. But yes, mostly, their songs were about love, timeless and universal.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                        • chrisstevens
                                          chrisstevens last edited by

                                          I'd argue that Taxman is political of sorts, which is good as this is the political song of theirs I can relate too the most!

                                          Seen Macca at:27/6/2010 Hyde Park - 18/12/2010 Hammersmith Appollo -5/12/2011 02 Arena - 29/3/2012 Royal Albert Hall - 23/05/2015 02 arena - 24/05/2015 02 arena - 16/12/2018 02 arena

                                          Seen Ringo at:17/6/2011 Hampton Court Palace

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                          • A
                                            admin last edited by

                                            chrisstevens:

                                            I'd argue that Taxman is political of sorts, which is good as this is the political song of theirs I can relate too the most!

                                            Yes! Agree!

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote
                                            • 1
                                            • 2
                                            • 1 / 2
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            • TERMS & CONDITIONS
                                            • PRIVACY