Why didnt the Beatles write more political songs?
-
The only overtly ones are the 3 "revolution" songs. The Beatles had a mass audience and could have expressed their views through their music.
-
What about Taxman? Usually the Beatles preferred to not be so overt & obvious.
-
Nancy R:
What about Taxman? Usually the Beatles preferred to not be so overt & obvious.
Forgot that one. Maybe 'Piggies' as well.
-
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.
-
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!
-
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!
-
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. -
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
The most consistent Beatles message via their music was LOVE. Much more powerful than any politics...
-
Paul talks about the civil rights connection to Blackbird in that famous Donovan tape from '69.
-
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.
-
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...
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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!
-
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!
