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by - August 25, 2009 - 3:30 PM
I’m going through a serious Fab Four phase at the moment, I think because of the eminent release of The Beatles: Rock Band (09.09.09, people, it’s just around the corner!!). When I was younger I was fanatical, bordering on obsessive, but I think it’s tempered nicely over the years… although it does rear its ugly head every now and then. I’ll forgive them for not having a song about Stacy (not many bands do), but I will admit to being slightly envious of the nine girls below… and the one girl who doesn’t really exist.
1. Prudence of “Dear Prudence” from the White Album is about Mia Farrow’s sister (pictured). The sisters were in India studying under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the same time the Beatles were in the late ‘60s, and Prudence was very focused on meditation and stayed in her room alone a lot. This was John’s musical plea to get her to come out and join the group.
2. Lucy of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” from Sgt. Pepper was a real person. The song was not about drugs, as was (and still is) rumored at the time. Years later, when John admitted that other songs were, in fact, about drugs, he maintained that Lucy was based on a drawing his son Julian had done of his classmate, soaring through a bejeweled sky.
3. Sadie, another White Album gal, wasn’t actually a gal at all. “Sexy Sadie” was about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, whom the Beatles had had a falling out with. They were under the impression that the holy man had made a pass at Mia Farrow and other girls studying with him and were convinced that he “made a fool of everyone” who had some to learn from him. Most of the group, including Mia Farrow, later said Maharishi’s actions had been misinterpreted and they were sorry to have doubted him.
4. Martha is another one who wasn’t really a girl – at least, not a human girl, although she was utterly devoted to Paul McCartney. “Martha My Dear” was named for his beloved English Sheepdog. He has since admitted that the title may have borne Martha’s name, but the lyrics were “probably” about his ex-fiancee Jane Asher.
5. Eleanor Rigby, the haunting girl from Revolver, has a couple of different stories. The song was almost “Daisy Hawkins,” but McCartney decided that it didn’t quite flow and began searching for a more suitable name. The Beatles had just starred in Help! with Eleanor Bron, and McCartney later said her name was probably rattling around in his subconscious when he chose Rigby’s identity. The surname part of it came from a shop called Rigby – McCartney said he felt it was a very ordinary name, but rather special all at the same time. He put the two together, and sad Eleanor Rigby was born. However, there’s rumor of an Eleanor Rigby who actually lived in Woolton, England, where John and Paul used to hang out back in the early days. That’s her gravestone in the picture. “It’s possible that I saw it and subconsciously remembered it,” McCartney later said.
6. Pam of Abbey Road’s “Polythene Pam” was a fan from the Cavern Club days, but her name was Pat. By her own admission, she used to tie polythene (Polyethylene, the stuff shopping bags are made of) into knots and eat it. So… that’s weird. But even stranger is John’s later admission that some of the song was based on a girl named Stephanie who was dating poet Royston Ellis in 1963. She liked to dress in polythene for kinky sex purposes, although John said he may have stretched the truth a little bit. “She didn’t wear jackboots and kilts,” he said. “I just sort of elaborated. Perverted sex in a polythene bag. Just looking for something to write about.”
7. “Julia,” on the surface, was about John’s mother who was hit by a car and killed when he was just 17. But it’s also about Yoko Ono, whose first name means “Ocean child” in Japanese. Lennon had a lot of mother (and parent) issues, so it’s not surprising that he tangled up mother and wife all in one song.
8. Rita from “Lovely Rita,” another Sgt. Pepper tune, has no cryptic meaning – it’s really about meter maids. After the song came out, a woman who did actually issue violations said she gave McCartney a ticket when he was parked at Abbey Road Studios. Her name was Meta Davies, and he came out just as she was placing the ticket on his car. According to Davies, he looked at her signature on the ticket and asked if her name was really Meta, apparently finding “Meta” and “meter” to be rather lyrical. But McCartney says nay. “’Wow, that woman gave me a ticket, I’ll write a song about her’ – never happened like that,” he commented. Rather, he said, he was amused by the American term “meter maid” and found that “Rita” rolled off the tongue nicely when coupled with the phrase.
9. Melanie Coe isn’t mentioned by name in Sgt. Pepper’s “She’s Leaving Home,” but she inspired it just the same. Paul had seen a headline in The Daily Mail about a 17-year-old girl who had run away from home, leaving her parents with no clue as to why she had left. She says he got most of the details right, except that she didn’t met “a man from the motor trade,” but a casino worker; she also split in the afternoon and not the morning.
10. “Michelle” from Rubber Soul isn’t really about anyone in particular, and was in fact just a little song Paul messed around with before the Liverpudlian lads were famous. He had been at a party where he felt some art school guys were being pretentious with their French singing and goatees and decided to make up a song to mock them. It included a lot of faux-French and groaning noises. During the Rubber Soul sessions, John asked Paul if he remembered the little faux-French ditty and encouraged him to make it a real song.
Share your favorite and tell us why in the comments. And is anyone as pumped as I am about the game?!
Have a Q10 request? I’m on Twitter and I’m all ears! Err… all keys. Something.
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Good article. What’s the story behind “Lady Madonna”? Anyone know?
posted by Hummer on 8-25-2009 at 4:04 pm
According to the biography “John Lennon: The Life”, when Lennon was a child he attended the St. Peter’s church choir where Eleanor Rigby was interred and would read her epitaph and others on his way to and from church.
posted by Nerak on 8-25-2009 at 4:15 pm
Hey Stacy, there’s no song about you, but I’m sure you’re sick of hearing about that song dedicated to your mom!!
posted by Bubba on 8-25-2009 at 4:26 pm
Stacy, I too am counting down the days until the Rock Band games comes out. I was an obsessed fan as a teen and never really outgrew it.
Unfortunately, I’ll be out of town the week the game comes out, so I have to wait until I get back to rock out to Bealtes songs.
posted by Tracie on 8-25-2009 at 4:47 pm
Me and my twin sister Julie were obsessed as teens and it’s grown more over the years. I am traveling to her just so we can play Beatles rock band together.
I saw Paul on august first, and it was the greatest concert ever…so it just made me even more excited for the game!
More Beatles articles please Stacy!!
posted by Jill...NOT Jillian on 8-25-2009 at 5:07 pm
Another note on “Michelle”–I remember reading that when it came time to write the French bits that Paul conferred with a high school French teacher to convert them from nonsense into actual French…which is nice, considering that “Michelle” is currently the only French I really know.
And I can’t wait for Beatles Rock Band! We’re buying a Wii just so I can play it :D
posted by Fruppi on 8-25-2009 at 5:30 pm
I read recently that the real-life Lucy whom Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds inspired was just diagnosed with lupus. Julian Lennon, her friend, apparently sent her some flowers. I guess they still keep in touch a bit.
Also– SO excited or 9/9/09!
posted by Megan on 8-25-2009 at 5:44 pm
I’m still and always will be one of the Beatles obsessed. I just can’t help myself! Out of these 10, I’d have to say that “Dear Prudence” and “Martha My Dear” are my favorites.
And let’s not forget Pattie Boyd, George Harrison’s first wife, who inspired “Something” (though it appears that you were going for songs that had the names of women in the title).
posted by Rebecca on 8-25-2009 at 6:27 pm
I’ve also heard that Jane Asher, Paul’s girlfriend before Linda, was the inspiration behind, \Here, There And Everywhere,\ as well as \She No Longer Needs You.
posted by Pat on 8-25-2009 at 6:44 pm
Sorry Pat. As a Beatle fanatic, I have to correct you. The title is “For No One” not “She No Longer Needs You.”
I read that “I’m Looking Through You” was also about Jane Asher, probably a harbinger that they wouldn’t make it as a couple.
posted by holly on 8-25-2009 at 9:19 pm
Actually, a recent interview with Paul says that “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” really was about LSD – http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3769511.stm
posted by Lynn on 8-26-2009 at 12:44 am
I am overly excited for Beatles rockband. I seriously can not wait.
Great list, I love when the quick ten is Beatles related
posted by Kristine on 8-26-2009 at 1:32 am
To all youse eager to play The Beatles RB, may I just say don’t rush. None of your five-bar gate jumps and over sort of stuff.
Greatest movie ever made by mankind.
posted by Joe Maz on 8-26-2009 at 1:53 am
Is it just me or is the does the name on the tombstone read “John Rigby” not Eleanor?
posted by Zane on 8-26-2009 at 9:04 am
@joe maz, I don’t know what that means, but it sounds distinguished-like… :)
All of this Beatles love gives me the warm fuzzies!!
posted by Stacy Conradt on 8-26-2009 at 9:48 am
@Rebecca – I’m reading Pattie Boyd’s memoirs right now (Wonderful Tonight) and I can’t believe that she has 3 amazing songs written for her (Something, written by George Harrison, and Layla and Wonderful Tonight, both by Eric Clapton.)
My fav Beatles song has to be Across the Universe – anyone know the back story to that one?
posted by ab on 8-26-2009 at 10:40 am
Actually, the weirdest thing about “She’s Leaving Home” is that Paul actually met Melanie Coe a few years before he wrote it, on a tv show. Click on my name for a clip of it!
posted by Liz on 8-26-2009 at 11:43 am
@Zane Eleanor’s name appears in the middle of the tombstone.
posted by Lori on 8-26-2009 at 12:07 pm
@Zane the tombstone reads John Rigby at the top, but Eleanor Rigby is about half way down on the same tomb stone.
posted by Kristine on 8-26-2009 at 12:10 pm
Great article. Not to niggle, but I think that to be specific about Dear Prudence, Prudence Farrow was “freaking out” in her hut and John wrote the song to literally get her to “come out to play.” Pretty much the same thing you wrote there, but I like thinking about someone trying to reach nirvana and “freaking out.” Very ’60s.
posted by Molly on 8-26-2009 at 12:13 pm
By the way, in regards to Beatles Rock Band, does anyone know if they are going to have two microphones so people can harmonize? I’ve always wanted a feature like that.
posted by Molly on 8-26-2009 at 12:14 pm
If I was a girl, my parents were going to name me Daria Prudence (Prudence coming from the Beatles song from #1 above). Glad I was born male.
posted by Ian on 8-26-2009 at 12:30 pm
@Ian – Although it’s years and years away, I have a deep desire to name my child Penny Lane (and that was before I saw “Almost Famous”!). And yeah, I know Penny Lane’s not the greatest part of the world… :)
Thanks for this post! I agree, Beatles articles are always welcome!
Anyone read the Rolling Stone article about “Why The Beatles Really Broke Up” yet? I was so sad by the end.
posted by OkieMelissa on 8-26-2009 at 1:07 pm
I thought I read somewhere that George’s “For You Blue” was also about Patti Boyd. If so then that makes 4 songs written about her.
Great article…loved it:-)!
posted by Eli on 8-26-2009 at 1:46 pm
I heard that Clapton’s “Bell Bottom Blues” was also about Boyd.
That’s 5 ;)
posted by Jo on 8-26-2009 at 2:09 pm
thank you for getting the facts right about Maharishi and the Beatles, how they all realized later that they had made a mistake and were sorry for doubting him. many people don’t know that. a good site about the Beatles’ time in India is: http://www.BeatlesinIndia.com
posted by Lil Knowledge Kitten on 8-26-2009 at 10:21 pm
@Molly In beatles rockbank you will have the ability to have 3 mics, a guitar, a bass, and drums
check out the website and watch the trailers and videos. its really cool looking!
http://www.thebeatlesrockband.com/
posted by Kristine on 8-29-2009 at 10:55 pm
Back in 2008, Sir Paul apparently donated a page from a ledger from the Liverpool’s City Hospital which listed am E. Rigby as a scullery maid. He later claimed that the page was just a coincidence and that he made the name up. Click on the link in my name for the article.
posted by Steven on 8-29-2009 at 11:12 pm