NO Guitar, NO Bass, NO Drums so could you imagine what the Record Company was thinking when they first heard this? It speaks volumes about their Songwriting.
This still makes me weep, and I'm a 68-year-old man. I think when I heard it in the 60's, many of my peers resonated with the girl. Now, I bet we all resonate with the parents (and grandparents).
I love the dichotomy between being happy for the girl being brave enough to break away from a stifling parental relationship and the grief of the parents who didn't realize how much they were smothering their daughter.
This was written at a time when teenagers were questioning everything, especially their own existence. I consider this song THE DEFINITIVE work on the subject.
This song was written when there was great up social upheaval in the UK. At this time, the 'Docu-Drama' Cathy-Come-Home was realised (1967). This caused a major questioning of social issues and actually led to law changes concerning single mothers.
Something I've always thought, and it's based on the way John and Paul's vocals are treated-John's vocal is covered in reverb and other effects, while Paul's voice is quite "clean"-without effects. Paul is telling the story, while John is echoing what the parents are thinking as the song unfolds. It's a brilliant way to do both sides of the story in one song, and you can feel bad for both-the girl because she wasn't seeing the affection she wanted, and the parents who brought her up as they were raised
They did a similar thing with a day in the life where Paul is coming in, after the cacophony, chipper and talking about his day after the trippy vibrational sad thoughts of Lennon … it’s matches their personalities really - but they were Mimi’s words too…
Harri, I loved the song as a kid wanting to get away from controlling parents. Now, as a mother (and grandmother), it breaks my heart that all she wanted was love and understanding, and had to leave to get it. So sad that in an age of people wanting global love, it is the ones close to you that need it most.
The fact that the song manages to convey both viewpoints of the story shows the maturity of attitude they had. They were still in their twenties when they wrote it. George Martin arranged the strings, which feature on a lot of their work from this time. There is a huge variety of musical styles on the Sgt. Pepper album. This is perhaps the most poignant.
Actually, George Martin did not write the string arrangement. Paul wanted him to do it but George M was busy that day and Paul was impatient to get it done. So he called on another arranger, Mike Leander to score it. This hurt George M very much but he did oversee the recording of the orchestra, perhaps with a few tweaks along the way. I don't know what George M would have come up with if given the chance but IMHO, Mike Leander did a most admirable job.
@@beatlebrian4404 I am 67 years old and grew up on the Beatles. Over the past 10 years or so, I have done a great deal of reading and research about them and their music. The string arrangement on this song has always intrigued me. I have huge admiration for what George Martin brought to the Beatles and can't understate the value of his contributions to their work. But I've always wondered what arrangement he would have given to this song. As much as I admire GM, I don't see how he could have done it better. It is perfect.
@@donw804 I cannot imagine that George Martin would have changed the arrangement even in the slightest. Therefore he was too much of both, a professional and a gentleman. Mike Leander himself was a great songwriter, arranger and producer in his own right, who worked with numerous of the greatest artists of the time, such as Joe Cocker, Marianne Faithful, Van Morrison, Alan Price and many, many more. For certain his arrangement was as flawless as presented here. RIP George Martin and Mike Leander
@@donw804 This shows that, although George Martin could rightly be called the "5th Beatle", all he could do is help mold the two and a half geniuses that was the clay.
Even after all this time, I still get a little choked up when I hear this. These guys were so far ahead of their actual ages when they wrote these songs. Another great one. And yes! Very sad (but insightful)! Love your reaction.
Like most Beatles compositions; you’re left with the conflict whether you should feel the lyrics or just sit back and enjoy the music! Thanks for doing this one Harry; I subscribe to a number of sites and you’re the first one (I’ve seen) who reacted to this masterpiece.
The first time I heard this being a mother the tears streamed down my face. Beautiful and poignant song which I could apply to my life since I have a daughter.
The first thoughts her parents have are selfish, not worry for her safety. Then we have the line "She's leaving home after living alone for so many years." Her parents were not involved in her life and were somewhat narcissistic. This is one of my favorite Beatle's song. Lyrically, it is my favorite.
It’s one of their best songs, imo. The first time I heard it my jaw dropped. Poignant, gorgeous music and haunting, empathetic lyrics for a 24-year old rough & tumble from Liverpool. I hope Paul was proud of his song, it’s a masterpiece.
It was 1967 and mass quantities of kids were leaving home for Haight Ashbury or wherever. The song was very topical then. The difference between then and now was to the parents, the world had gone upside down, and to the kids, it was right side up. So yes, it’s heartbreaking & beautiful but very listenable.
My grandson used to sing along with the McCartney part when he was 10. Now he's 16 and he sings the Lennon part. Beatles music is timeless. Great reaction, Harri. 👍👍
As a kid, I was a big Beatles fan. In my case, I was listening to it as it came out in the 60's. And then I kind of forgot them. Thanks to that Netflix documentary, I've been doing a retrospective and MAN! It is amazing the quality of music they made.
Brilliant Harri! This song gives me goosebumps. As a parent who lost a child this song resonates on a very deep level but I've come to realize that all I can do as a parent is my best and leave the rest to God. God bless you Harri and keep up the great work. Take a listen to The Beatles, "Two of us", it's a little more uplifting. I too love the Beatles. ❤🙏
I love this song because it is about what matters to us as human beings, and it is relatable to anyone. It's something that can bring someone back to reality if they are in a form of delusion. It is a strikingly beautiful, yet sad song.
Great reaction Harri. There's a weird coincidence to do with this song that's part of Beatle folklore. The song was inspired by a newspaper story of Melanie Coe a 17 year old runaway. The strange thing is that back in 1963 Paul McCartney presented a prize on a TV show to the very same 14 year old Melanie Coe for a lipsyncing competition!! Stay safe 🤘✌
@@BiteYerBumHardJust googled it (again) and every report I can find says it's a miming or lip-sync competition. Even the clip of it on TH-cam with Paul handing her the prize says miming comp. I think the fact she danced as well while miming swung it in her favour. Stay safe 🤘✌
Most of my life I thought of this as a sad song, but recently I've been more focused on the verse where the background singers sing, "She's....having...fun..." and I think of her liberation and the beginning of actually living her life.
If you're saying you're thinking about fleeing your home to escape your parents; please don't! It's dangerous "out there" and you could get hurt, young lady!😢😢😢
@@michaelmelling9333 Oh, no. I just think it's a beautiful and sad song. Thank you! And by the way, you gave me a compliment without knowing, i'm actually 34 years old. haha
This does bring back memories. When I was a teenager (I'm 70), I celebrated this song. I so wanted to leave. Something inside had been always denied for so many years . . . Then college came, and I was free. Didn't happen soon enough. I escaped my dysfunctional family, but it wasn't until many years later that I worked with a 12 step program, and dealt with what happened back then. My you and your children always know empathy, compassion and kindness. Those words were unknown in my house.
Written by Lennon and McCartney when they were in their twenties and sympathetic to the young girl whose life experiences were being stifled by her over-bearing parents. Twenty years later Paul acknowledged that he now viewed the song through different eyes.
Harri, love your reaction to this tearjerker, this is Paul in orchestral mood with another great story, been there myself and my daughter is 45 now and has provided me with my beautiful grandsons, try "Maybe I'm Amazed " from his solo years, you'll love it. Take care kid and cheerio from Glasgow.
This is one of my favourite Beatles songs. For me it should be talked about the same way that Yesterday and Let It Be are. Its a masterpiece. Everyone deserves to hear it.
I'm pretty sure Paul got the idea for this song from a story in the newspaper. I seem to remember him saying that he wrote this as a song of freedom, telling the story of a young girl escaping (or possibly eloping with a "man from the motor trade") from the boring, safe, middle class, suffocating life of English cozy domestica at that time. The fact the Beatles were making a comment on the pitfalls of over-protective parenting is evident in the final chorus: "She is having fun, Fun is the one thing that money can't buy". Also another great example of how John was able to write a contrasting counterpoint to Paul's main idea, ala 'We Can Work It Out' (Which is also another great song worthy of review if you haven't already heard it, Harri).
I feel your fear of God forbid what happens when they leave us. I am a widow who raised a daughter alone. I fear everyday for her. We live in nyc. God bless you Harri! You’re awesome! Peace! 🙏🏼
I will weep buckets when my daughter leaves home. I don't want her to ever go! To me this is one of the saddest. I know she's off for a great time and life and everything but I brought her up on my own and I will actually grieve when she leaves. She is a diamond of a human being.
Paul and John wrote it after reading a story in the newspaper about a teenage runaway that was a rich girl who had everything money could buy but left anyways. Great song as it illustrates that money isn't everything.
Hi Harri! Greetings! Been waiting for this one! The music in this song EMPHASIZES THE LYRICS! Classic! Almost like a radio storytelling time from the days of yore! Peace! 🙏🏼
Every parent has to face letting go of their children. It’s always sad and difficult. Deep down we want them to make their own way, have their own lives. We don’t want to guilt them into being trapped with us forever. There will be tears but it’s the right thing for the children.
One song that really stirs everyone emotions. Only the Beatles could stir that much emotions. Probably one of the most beautiful songs every wrote. Poetry
Aren't they fabulous? Sir Harri, I've learned to depend on your excellence in presenting the greatest show on Earth consistently. Thank you, sincerely, for the gift of music you bring us. And today I am spellbound by your reaction. I have two daughters and have already suffered this moment in my life.
It is a beautiful song, and I have heard it my whole life, it still makes me cry. I have one girl, and a son, they all leave. It is just growing up, ready yourself.
This is my favourite Beatles song. It's so beautiful and sad. You can imagine being either the girl or the parents and how a failure to communicate or to see each other clearly led to this estrangement. The string arrangement is so powerful. John and Paul's overlapping lines with contrasting viewpoints is just amazing, so clever.
the words of this Beatles song applies to everyone who runs away from their parents, so sad but so true, thankyou for playing the songs of my fav tab 4 and keeping it all alive.
Incredible song… hauntingly beautiful! It paints such a vivid picture and gives us so much to think about. Life is precious. When we lose a child, either physically or emotionally…so gut wrenching, heartbreaking. We always wonder why…what did we do wrong? Yet, this girl had to be brave enough to leave, right? John and Paul’s songwriting….the work they did was just stunning! Paul is singing the melody, and John is singing a counter-melody…both telling two sides to a story, simultaneously. BRILLIANT!
Harry my friend . Think about the daughter being alone for so many years, she’s escaping, stepping outside she is free…that’s another dynamic of this iconic song performed by the greatest band of all space and time. as an old guy it’s so enjoyable seeing all the first time reactions… I smile knowing it’ll last forever. Long after I’m gone. Peace
Thank you, for playing the Beatles old songs. I feel as though I am being reintroduced to them all over. I LOVE THE BEATLES. My husband is an expert on the them. I had forgotten some of their old songs!
This song was inspired by an actual event Paul read about in a news paper. The girl who ran away heard this song, liked it, but not until many years later did she discover the song was about her. Even stranger Paul had actually met this girl, previous to her leaving home, when he was judging a dance contest and this girl won that contest and was presented her prize, a Beatles album, by Paul. The lines John is singing are taken from news articles and interviews of the parents at the time of the girls disappearance.
I've always felt this is one of the Beatles' most overlooked and underappreciated songs. As the years have passed, I continue to find myself loving this song more and more..... especially the string arrangement. Yes, it is terribly sad but it is also so very beautiful at the same time. That last "bye, bye" from John still chokes me up a little. I'm very glad you gave it a listen, Harri.
I heard this first 50 years ago and even at the time something stirred within me when I thought of my parents. So many years later, when I think of my daughter my heart breaks when I listen to this song. I still can’t fathom how 20 something old youngsters could write with this level of emotional maturity
To me this is the story of the ultimate conundrum, children who can't/don't understand what it takes to be a parent, and the sacrifice and understanding required to be a parent. Do we ever actually realise how lucky we were/are?
I really loved that song since the first time I heard it so many years ago , so beautifully done , the music , their voices , and the the story of the lyrics it so sad , Wow ! that is why the music of The Beatles are timeless !
I feel almost the same as you, although is a beautiful song! I cried the first time I heard this song, because of the parents ' pain, Thankyou so much for your reaction Harri.
Brilliant take, Harri. I first heard this song and album as an eleven year old, and now have a 28 year old daughter who I love dearly and miss greatly now that she is out on her own. I feel good for the empowerment of the girl, empathy for the parents, and equanimity for the natural course of events that the song offers. Carry on, Harri, love your reactions.
OMG...you actually responded to this one! It's such a beautiful, yet melancholy song, and few people know of its existence. And the post by Brian Almeida about its backstory is true. It is amazing how it all came together the way it did.
When this song was released in 1967 the impression it made was simply startling. Nothing like this level of deep understanding and compassion had ever been expressed before in popular music. The event it describes is that of a young woman secretly leaving her parent's home forever and her parent's reaction to her unexpected departure. The Beatles make the listener see the total misunderstanding between the generations and feel the immense sadness that comes from knowing that this misunderstanding is likely never to be resolved...
I got to say this song is still underrated as far as their catalogs goes. Probably my second favorite song of theirs overall (#1 is Across The Universe)
It's got to be one of the saddest--and most sympathetic--songs ever. It's not the usual woe-is-me songs about a break-up or unrequited love. It's about the unexplained severing of the primal relationship all of us have. The song writer is narrating the story of others. He's not personally affected. You have to lack empathy not to feel it.
This composition is the epitomy of the Beatles collective genius. A story in song so eloquently poetic and symphathecally performed. Art in music. Sono molto grato.
What i love now is listening to their music all remastered in your ears/headset. Paul and John's beautiful voices in tandem. The strings all clear and up front. Its heavenly.
i have listened to this song now for fifty seven years. It was not until the fifty sixth year that the enormity of the song hit me like a ton of bricks and now after all these years, I cry every single time.
This just confirms why John and Paul are the greatest songwriters ever, the album is a classic as well.
Yes, modern day Mozart and Beethoven together
I can't believe people don't know why she left...grow up in a different era and you'll understand...
Nothing was ever talked about or shared. We ran away from the pain and ignorance of our parents. Sad yet true.
They proved it time after time this song is a diamond…a thing of rare and lasting beauty
@@peggygallagher5802not true, we left home thinking we knew it all, then crept back when we realised the world out there was very expensive
NO Guitar, NO Bass, NO Drums so could you imagine what the Record Company was thinking when they first heard this? It speaks volumes about their Songwriting.
This still makes me weep, and I'm a 68-year-old man. I think when I heard it in the 60's, many of my peers resonated with the girl. Now, I bet we all resonate with the parents (and grandparents).
Gosh yes yes
When Lennon comes in at 55 seconds........oh my word! I tear up every single time.
I love the dichotomy between being happy for the girl being brave enough to break away from a stifling parental relationship and the grief of the parents who didn't realize how much they were smothering their daughter.
Daughter got everything she wanted except her parent's love.
Don't know where you got stifling from.
@@kiillabytez Stifling parents would say 'how could she do this to us' etc -- I've seen paresnt lay on that guilt trip
The Beatles is the best band ever.
This was written at a time when teenagers were questioning everything, especially their own existence. I consider this song THE DEFINITIVE work on the subject.
Right on
It's almost unique as a pop song in presenting both sides of the situation
It was not long after the 'birth' of the teenager
This song was written when there was great up social upheaval in the UK. At this time, the 'Docu-Drama' Cathy-Come-Home was realised (1967). This caused a major questioning of social issues and actually led to law changes concerning single mothers.
I was teaching my daughter to ride a bike one moment, to drive a car the next and then taking her to the airport to move 2,000 miles away.
I get that
The Beatles really are the gift that keeps on giving
beautiful
Amen, P.C., you said it!
One of my favorites from the Beatles. Not a wasted word or note. Tells the complete story in such a vivid minimalist manner it’s a masterpiece IMO.
@@stephencooper684 Why are you being so picky -- what should Winston have said!?
Something I've always thought, and it's based on the way John and Paul's vocals are treated-John's vocal is covered in reverb and other effects, while Paul's voice is quite "clean"-without effects.
Paul is telling the story, while John is echoing what the parents are thinking as the song unfolds. It's a brilliant way to do both sides of the story in one song, and you can feel bad for both-the girl because she wasn't seeing the affection she wanted, and the parents who brought her up as they were raised
They did a similar thing with a day in the life where Paul is coming in, after the cacophony, chipper and talking about his day after the trippy vibrational sad thoughts of Lennon … it’s matches their personalities really - but they were Mimi’s words too…
Harri, I loved the song as a kid wanting to get away from controlling parents. Now, as a mother (and grandmother), it breaks my heart that all she wanted was love and understanding, and had to leave to get it. So sad that in an age of people wanting global love, it is the ones close to you that need it most.
fun is the one thing money can't buy .amazing.
The fact that the song manages to convey both viewpoints of the story shows the maturity of attitude they had. They were still in their twenties when they wrote it. George Martin arranged the strings, which feature on a lot of their work from this time.
There is a huge variety of musical styles on the Sgt. Pepper album. This is perhaps the most poignant.
Actually, George Martin did not write the string arrangement. Paul wanted him to do it but George M was busy that day and Paul was impatient to get it done. So he called on another arranger, Mike Leander to score it. This hurt George M very much but he did oversee the recording of the orchestra, perhaps with a few tweaks along the way. I don't know what George M would have come up with if given the chance but IMHO, Mike Leander did a most admirable job.
@@donw804 yes quite correct, you know you'll Beatles history! I think Mike does a wonderful job hard to think how it could be improved on.
@@beatlebrian4404 I am 67 years old and grew up on the Beatles. Over the past 10 years or so, I have done a great deal of reading and research about them and their music. The string arrangement on this song has always intrigued me. I have huge admiration for what George Martin brought to the Beatles and can't understate the value of his contributions to their work. But I've always wondered what arrangement he would have given to this song. As much as I admire GM, I don't see how he could have done it better. It is perfect.
@@donw804 I cannot imagine that
George Martin would have changed
the arrangement even in the slightest.
Therefore he was too much of both,
a professional and a gentleman.
Mike Leander himself was a great
songwriter, arranger and producer
in his own right, who worked with
numerous of the greatest artists
of the time, such as Joe Cocker,
Marianne Faithful, Van Morrison,
Alan Price and many, many more.
For certain his arrangement was
as flawless as presented here.
RIP George Martin and Mike Leander
@@donw804 This shows that, although George Martin could rightly be called the "5th Beatle", all he could do is help mold the two and a half geniuses that was the clay.
Even after all this time, I still get a little choked up when I hear this. These guys were so far ahead of their actual ages when they wrote these songs. Another great one. And yes! Very sad (but insightful)! Love your reaction.
It is impossible to say which BEATLES song is the best nothing nothing transcends them, brilliance off the scale.
Like most Beatles compositions; you’re left with the conflict whether you should feel the lyrics or just sit back and enjoy the music! Thanks for doing this one Harry; I subscribe to a number of sites and you’re the first one (I’ve seen) who reacted to this masterpiece.
The first time I heard this being a mother the tears streamed down my face. Beautiful and poignant song which I could apply to my life since I have a daughter.
Try both at the same time
The first thoughts her parents have are selfish, not worry for her safety. Then we have the line "She's leaving home after living alone for so many years."
Her parents were not involved in her life and were somewhat narcissistic.
This is one of my favorite Beatle's song. Lyrically, it is my favorite.
Most reactors don't get it
It’s one of their best songs, imo. The first time I heard it my jaw dropped. Poignant, gorgeous music and haunting, empathetic lyrics for a 24-year old rough & tumble from Liverpool. I hope Paul was proud of his song, it’s a masterpiece.
It's masterful the it is not pedantic though. It never tries to explain to the listener how they should feel about it.
Eleanor Rigby was pretty sad. Both are hauntingly beautiful and sad.
I always felt that too ... this one is melancholy .... ' lonely people ' is truly sad
Yes, as is "Julia"
And Johns solo song "Mother" is the saddest thing I've ever heard.
@Eric Anderson888 "She's Leaving Home" is really the same basic melody and instrumentation as "Eleanor Rigby", just simply a slower tempo.
For No One by Paul is pretty sad too
It was 1967 and mass quantities of kids were leaving home for Haight Ashbury or wherever. The song was very topical then. The difference between then and now was to the parents, the world had gone upside down, and to the kids, it was right side up. So yes, it’s heartbreaking & beautiful but very listenable.
Their voices and the strings blend so well.
My grandson used to sing along with the McCartney part when he was 10. Now he's 16 and he sings the Lennon part. Beatles music is timeless. Great reaction, Harri. 👍👍
As a kid, I was a big Beatles fan. In my case, I was listening to it as it came out in the 60's. And then I kind of forgot them. Thanks to that Netflix documentary, I've been doing a retrospective and MAN! It is amazing the quality of music they made.
One of my favorites, but then, what Beatles song ISN'T a favorite would be easier to list. Thank you, Harri and good luck with those girls! Namaste.
Brilliant Harri! This song gives me goosebumps. As a parent who lost a child this song resonates on a very deep level but I've come to realize that all I can do as a parent is my best and leave the rest to God. God bless you Harri and keep up the great work. Take a listen to The Beatles, "Two of us", it's a little more uplifting. I too love the Beatles. ❤🙏
So sorry to hear about your child Linda 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Blessings to you, Linda. I have lost 2. And you are right, all you can do is give it to God and try to keep going. (Hugs)
Yes, "Two Of Us" is a great classic, much more uplifting. Sounds to me like reminisces from childhood, or early adulthood.
I love this song because it is about what matters to us as human beings, and it is relatable to anyone. It's something that can bring someone back to reality if they are in a form of delusion. It is a strikingly beautiful, yet sad song.
Beautiful song.
Elanor Rigby, She's Leaving Home and Something are their most mature songs. Glad you enjoyed it brother!
Great reaction Harri. There's a weird coincidence to do with this song that's part of Beatle folklore. The song was inspired by a newspaper story of Melanie Coe a 17 year old runaway. The strange thing is that back in 1963 Paul McCartney presented a prize on a TV show to the very same 14 year old Melanie Coe for a lipsyncing competition!! Stay safe 🤘✌
Melanie was retrieved by her parents. She had to wait a few more years to gain her independence.
This comfirms that the Gods and fortune were with the Beatles!
Just to clarify - it was dancing to (I think) "let's jump the broomstick", not lip-synching, but true story nonetheless.
@@BiteYerBumHardJust googled it (again) and every report I can find says it's a miming or lip-sync competition. Even the clip of it on TH-cam with Paul handing her the prize says miming comp. I think the fact she danced as well while miming swung it in her favour. Stay safe 🤘✌
@@brianalmeida1964 You're probably right. Well done
Most of my life I thought of this as a sad song, but recently I've been more focused on the verse where the background singers sing, "She's....having...fun..." and I think of her liberation and the beginning of actually living her life.
Yes but alongside that is the mother's heartbreak. Selfish heartbreak perhaps but heartbreak nonetheless.
music that makes you feel
Beautifully sad, great song
One of my favorites songs ever.
If you're saying you're thinking about fleeing your home to escape your parents; please don't! It's dangerous "out there" and you could get hurt, young lady!😢😢😢
@@michaelmelling9333 Oh, no. I just think it's a beautiful and sad song. Thank you! And by the way, you gave me a compliment without knowing, i'm actually 34 years old. haha
'Well we will have a string quartet, a harp and us'..........Perfection back then and for all time.
I see this as a happy song about a young woman starting her life on her own.
Your children Harri. Tell them you love them every day. Just love them.
A true Lennon-McCartney. Paul wrote and sang the verses while John wrote and sang the choruses.
Whenever I hear this song, I just imagine John and Paul around one mic stand, in a dimly lit studio, with a spotlight on them as they sing.
This does bring back memories. When I was a teenager (I'm 70), I celebrated this song. I so wanted to leave. Something inside had been always denied for so many years . . . Then college came, and I was free. Didn't happen soon enough. I escaped my dysfunctional family, but it wasn't until many years later that I worked with a 12 step program, and dealt with what happened back then. My you and your children always know empathy, compassion and kindness. Those words were unknown in my house.
Just a Masterpiece
Written by Lennon and McCartney when they were in their twenties and sympathetic to the young girl whose life experiences were being stifled by her over-bearing parents. Twenty years later Paul acknowledged that he now viewed the song through different eyes.
Great reaction. Thank you!
Think For no one saddest . Still leaving home a great song . Long live Beatle music thanks Harri 👍
Yes, agree with you there. For No One is possibly one of the saddest songs ever written about the breakup of a relationship and the end of love.
Paul McCartney was always able to put his finger on the pulse of people and it is almost prophetic wow mind blowing
God Bless you and your family! 🙏
That my friend is the intellect of their music! They leave you to think rather than just listen🙂
Harri, love your reaction to this tearjerker, this is Paul in orchestral mood with another great story, been there myself and my daughter is 45 now and has provided me with my beautiful grandsons, try "Maybe I'm Amazed " from his solo years, you'll love it. Take care kid and cheerio from Glasgow.
Thank you so much for this wonderful/sad post.....keep hugging your girls.
This is one of my favourite Beatles songs. For me it should be talked about the same way that Yesterday and Let It Be are. Its a masterpiece. Everyone deserves to hear it.
I'm pretty sure Paul got the idea for this song from a story in the newspaper. I seem to remember him saying that he wrote this as a song of freedom, telling the story of a young girl escaping (or possibly eloping with a "man from the motor trade") from the boring, safe, middle class, suffocating life of English cozy domestica at that time. The fact the Beatles were making a comment on the pitfalls of over-protective parenting is evident in the final chorus: "She is having fun, Fun is the one thing that money can't buy". Also another great example of how John was able to write a contrasting counterpoint to Paul's main idea, ala 'We Can Work It Out' (Which is also another great song worthy of review if you haven't already heard it, Harri).
I feel your fear of God forbid what happens when they leave us. I am a widow who raised a daughter alone. I fear everyday for her. We live in nyc. God bless you Harri! You’re awesome! Peace! 🙏🏼
Love this song. Never hear it on the radio. Thank you
I will weep buckets when my daughter leaves home. I don't want her to ever go! To me this is one of the saddest. I know she's off for a great time and life and everything but I brought her up on my own and I will actually grieve when she leaves. She is a diamond of a human being.
Paul and John wrote it after reading a story in the newspaper about a teenage runaway that was a rich girl who had everything money could buy but left anyways. Great song as it illustrates that money isn't everything.
After hearing this song and reading the lyrics on the album I realized that Paul is a genius pure genius
Hi Harri! Greetings! Been waiting for this one! The music in this song EMPHASIZES THE LYRICS! Classic! Almost like a radio storytelling time from the days of yore! Peace! 🙏🏼
The song For No One off of Revolver is another sad one by Paul. Just beautiful.
Every parent has to face letting go of their children. It’s always sad and difficult. Deep down we want them to make their own way, have their own lives. We don’t want to guilt them into being trapped with us forever. There will be tears but it’s the right thing for the children.
It's a song that leaves the listener with a sense of hope. It's sad she's been 'alone', but she's leaving to find herself and better days.
One song that really stirs everyone emotions. Only the Beatles could stir that much emotions. Probably one of the most beautiful songs every wrote. Poetry
Unmistakable John's voice in the background. Haunting.
Aren't they fabulous? Sir Harri, I've learned to depend on your excellence in presenting the greatest show on Earth consistently. Thank you, sincerely, for the gift of music you bring us. And today I am spellbound by your reaction. I have two daughters and have already suffered this moment in my life.
Brilliant song and beautifully sung by Paul and john. CLASSIC
It is a beautiful song, and I have heard it my whole life, it still makes me cry. I have one girl, and a son, they all leave. It is just growing up, ready yourself.
There is nothing more important than Family. This song hits me in the heart. Man, these guys can write songs....
This is my favourite Beatles song. It's so beautiful and sad. You can imagine being either the girl or the parents and how a failure to communicate or to see each other clearly led to this estrangement. The string arrangement is so powerful. John and Paul's overlapping lines with contrasting viewpoints is just amazing, so clever.
Thank you for your beautiful reaction
Thank you Harri, not only one of their beautiful songs , it is one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
The Beatles hits just keep on coming, don't they?
Such a bittersweet song sounds so beautiful and yet such sadness love your channel
Being the silent observer.... it makes you want to listen again... and in a strange way enjoy the sadness...
the words of this Beatles song applies to everyone who runs away from their parents, so sad but so true, thankyou for playing the songs of my fav tab 4 and keeping it all alive.
This album is often said is the most perfectly produced album ever.
I agree 100%
"That's art for you". Spot on, Sir: thoughtful reaction to a beautiful song. Thank you...
Incredible song… hauntingly beautiful! It paints such a vivid picture and gives us so much to think about. Life is precious. When we lose a child, either physically or emotionally…so gut wrenching, heartbreaking. We always wonder why…what did we do wrong? Yet, this girl had to be brave enough to leave, right? John and Paul’s songwriting….the work they did was just stunning! Paul is singing the melody, and John is singing a counter-melody…both telling two sides to a story, simultaneously. BRILLIANT!
Harry my friend . Think about the daughter being alone for so many years, she’s escaping, stepping outside she is free…that’s another dynamic of this iconic song performed by the greatest band of all space and time. as an old guy it’s so enjoyable seeing all the first time reactions… I smile knowing it’ll last forever. Long after I’m gone. Peace
Thank you, for playing the Beatles old songs. I feel as though I am being reintroduced to them all over. I LOVE THE BEATLES. My husband is an expert on the them. I had forgotten some of their old songs!
This song was inspired by an actual event Paul read about in a news paper. The girl who ran away heard this song, liked it, but not until many years later did she discover the song was about her. Even stranger Paul had actually met this girl, previous to her leaving home, when he was judging a dance contest and this girl won that contest and was presented her prize, a Beatles album, by Paul. The lines John is singing are taken from news articles and interviews of the parents at the time of the girls disappearance.
I've always felt this is one of the Beatles' most overlooked and underappreciated songs. As the years have passed, I continue to find myself loving this song more and more..... especially the string arrangement. Yes, it is terribly sad but it is also so very beautiful at the same time. That last "bye, bye" from John still chokes me up a little. I'm very glad you gave it a listen, Harri.
Yesterday....represents a watershed in popular music as well.....a simple..truly astonishing sad piece about lost love......
I heard this first 50 years ago and even at the time something stirred within me when I thought of my parents. So many years later, when I think of my daughter my heart breaks when I listen to this song. I still can’t fathom how 20 something old youngsters could write with this level of emotional maturity
Thank you for sharing your reactions!
You. Can’t Beat The BEATLES. Masters In Writing ✍️ And This Is One Of Their Masterpiece
To me this is the story of the ultimate conundrum, children who can't/don't understand what it takes to be a parent, and the sacrifice and understanding required to be a parent. Do we ever actually realise how lucky we were/are?
Thanks for the emotion mate Beatles vocals are always underestimated. George Martin? Genious Love you mate Take care.... James in London
I really loved that song since the first time I heard it so many years ago , so beautifully done , the music , their voices , and the the story of the lyrics it so sad , Wow ! that is why the music of The Beatles are timeless !
I feel almost the same as you, although is a beautiful song! I cried the first time I heard this song, because of the parents ' pain, Thankyou so much for your reaction Harri.
Brilliant take, Harri. I first heard this song and album as an eleven year old, and now have a 28 year old daughter who I love dearly and miss greatly now that she is out on her own.
I feel good for the empowerment of the girl, empathy for the parents, and equanimity for the natural course of events that the song offers. Carry on, Harri, love your reactions.
OMG...you actually responded to this one! It's such a beautiful, yet melancholy song, and few people know of its existence. And the post by Brian Almeida about its backstory is true. It is amazing how it all came together the way it did.
Possibly my favourite Beatles song. There are so many but this one might be the best.
When this song was released in 1967 the impression it made was simply startling. Nothing like this level of deep understanding and compassion had ever been expressed before in popular music. The event it describes is that of a young woman secretly leaving her parent's home forever and her parent's reaction to her unexpected departure. The Beatles make the listener see the total misunderstanding between the generations and feel the immense sadness that comes from knowing that this misunderstanding is likely never to be resolved...
I got to say this song is still underrated as far as their catalogs goes. Probably my second favorite song of theirs overall (#1 is Across The Universe)
It's got to be one of the saddest--and most sympathetic--songs ever. It's not the usual woe-is-me songs about a break-up or unrequited love. It's about the unexplained severing of the primal relationship all of us have. The song writer is narrating the story of others. He's not personally affected. You have to lack empathy not to feel it.
You nailed it. Not being the center of your children's life (because they've grown up) is a remarkably heavy cross to bear. My heart breaks every day.
This composition is the epitomy of the Beatles collective genius. A story in song so eloquently poetic and symphathecally performed. Art in music.
Sono molto grato.
What i love now is listening to their music all remastered in your ears/headset. Paul and John's beautiful voices in tandem. The strings all clear and up front. Its heavenly.
A Song that many generations can identify with.
I just watched a short doc yesterday on the woman who played the harp in this. When she played her part, on the show, I had chills. I recommend it.
i have listened to this song now for fifty seven years. It was not until the fifty sixth year that the enormity of the song hit me like a ton of bricks and now after all these years, I cry every single time.
There are songs which in every sense of the phrase is a "work of art." This would apply to each song in Sgt. Peppers.
Absolutely. That’s why it’s my favorite!
What is wonderful about the Beatles" songs is the fact that their songs are so very true to life.