Music Blog

The Who??

The Sicilian Storyteller

Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is
all about songs that feature keyboards.

Well, kids, it’s been a while since I featured anything by The Beatles so it’s time to rectify that oversight right now. One of the things that’s so great about headlining The Beatles is everyone knows them so we can skip the foreplay and go right for the action. No introductions required.

There are a lot of great Beatles’ songs that feature keyboards; I’ve chosen two of my favorites with prominent piano throughout …. and it’s some mighty fine playing, too.

My first song up today is “Lady Madonna”. This bluesy number, written in 1967 by Paul McCartney, was recorded just prior to the group’s trip to India to study meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. It was also their final release on Parlophone/Capitol; from “Hey Jude” onward (another great keyboard piece), The Beatles released all their subsequent singles and albums on their own Apple Records label.

The original concept for “Lady Madonna” was obviously the Virgin Mary but the song quickly became symbolic of every woman, a tribute to the mother figure and women in general. Paul said “I think women are very strong, they put up with a lot of shit, they put up with the pain of having a child, of raising it, cooking for it … they are basically skivvies* a lot of their lives so I always want to pay tribute to them”. *A female servant who does all the dirty work in the house.

“Lady Madonna” was released in the UK on March 15, 1968, with George Harrison’s “The Inner Light” as the B side. It entered the charts at #5 and a week later climbed to the top. It remained there for a second week and spent 8 weeks altogether on the chart. In the US it was released on March 18, 1968, and peaked at #4.

This is “Lady Madonna” by The Beatles

Lyrics

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet
Who finds the money when you pay the rent?
Did you think that money was heaven sent?

Friday night arrives without a suitcase
Sunday morning creeping like a nun
Monday’s child has learned to tie his bootlace
See how they run

Lady Madonna, baby at your breast
Wonders how you manage to feed the rest

See how they run

Lady Madonna lying on the bed
Listen to the music playing in your head (head)

Tuesday afternoon is never ending
Wednesday morning papers didn’t come
Thursday night, your stockings needed mending
See how they run

Lady Madonna, children at your feet
Wonder how you manage to make ends meet

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Paul McCartney / John Lennon
Lady Madonna lyrics © Sony/ATV Tunes Llc, Harrisongs Ltd, Mpl Communications Inc

Personnel
Paul McCartney: vocals, piano, bass, handclaps
John Lennon: backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar, handclaps
Ringo Starr: drums, handclaps
Ronnie Scott, Bill Povey: tenor saxophones
Harry Klein, Bill Jackman: baritone saxophones

🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹🎹

The second song I’ve chosen is “For No One”. Also written by Paul McCartney, it is best described as his meditation on the end of a love affair. This song was a critically acclaimed masterpiece and one of the highlights of the Revolver album. It’s a song about rejection and emptiness. The breakup of a relationship has always been a rich area to explore in a song, an emotion most people have experienced.

Originally titled “Why Did It Die?”, “For No One” was written in March 1966 while Paul was on a ski vacation in Switzerland with his then girlfriend, Jane Asher. Something tells me Paul had a premonition about the trajectory of his relationship with Jane when he wrote this one. Just saying.

Upon his return from Switzerland, Paul sang the melody for George Martin, who wrote it down. At the recording session was Paul, George Martin and a French horn player named Alan Civil, the principal horn player in the Philharmonia Orchestra. Neither Paul nor George Martin played the French horn nor were they experienced in transcribing music for it. Civil took one look at what Paul had created and George Martin had written down and thought it was rudimentary, at best. There were a few notes that were higher than usual for the French horn and he was unsure what it would sound like. Fortunately, there was no need for concern as the result was incredibly memorable. When Revolver was released, Alan Civil was given credit on the sleeve of the record …. one of a scant few session musicians to receive such a distinction on a Beatles’ record. The stunning French horn solos in “For No One” are arguably the most striking feature of the song.

This may be the only Beatles’ song which does not include John Lennon and George Harrison. I’m really not sure why; I searched for info on that and came up empty. If any reader knows for certain why John and George were not included on the recording, please fill us in. This song was 100% Paul’s baby. I’m guessing John and George not being present had nothing to do with differing opinions and everything to do with Paul wanting only the absolute essential personnel involved. Even Ringo was little more than window dressing.

Recording sessions were held on three separate days in May, 1966; “For No One” was released in the UK on August 5, 1966 and on August 8, 1966 in the US. Since The Beatles never performed any songs from the Revolver album live, “For No One” never saw a concert stage until Paul began his solo touring days.

This is “For No One”  by The Beatles. Poetry at work as we hear the abrupt and unexpected ending of “For No One”; there really could be no other way.

Lyrics

Your day breaks, your mind aches
You find that all her words of kindness linger on
When she no longer needs you
She wakes up, she makes up
She takes her time and doesn’t feel she has to hurry
She no longer needs you

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You want her, you need her
And yet you don’t believe her
When she says her love is dead
You think she needs you

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

You stay home, she goes out
She says that long ago she knew someone
But now he’s gone, she doesn’t need him
Your day breaks, your mind aches
There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head
You won’t forget her

And in her eyes, you see nothing
No sign of love behind the tears
Cried for no one
A love that should have lasted years

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
For No One lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Royalty Network, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Word Collections Publishing

Personnel
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass, piano, clavichord
Ringo Starr: drums, tambourine, maracas
Alan Civil: French horn

Simultaneous Rhythm and Melody

Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday. Be sure to check out his site.

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2024

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk and The Rhythm Section and is not for use by anyone without permission. NAR©2017-present.

45 thoughts on “The Who??”

  4. Always so thoroughly researched Miss Beatle. Excellent choices.

    I am not familiar with For No One, so I thank you for the introduction 🙂 It ends rather abruptly! Like many relationships, I’m thinking…

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    1. Well, I’ll tell you truthfully, Willow: I have a love/hate relationship with Paul McCartney. I think he is one of the most disingenuous, petty, catty, controlling, manipulative, self-righteous egomaniacs on the face of the earth BUT there is no denying his musical talents and obvious flair for writing lyrics. I really, really wanted to feature keyboard-heavy songs by any other Beatle than Paul; IMO there aren’t any that compare EXCEPT this one and, dammit, I wish I’d thought of it sooner! 😎

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  12. You can’t go wrong with the Fab Four, can you! Two great songs for the theme. I don’t know why the others weren’t on For No One either, but at a guess Paul and George Martin finished it to their satisfaction when the others just happened not to be in the studio: it may be as simple as that.

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    1. Always keep the Lads in my back pocket for occasions such as this. It gets a bit cramped back there but that’s ok. 😎

      It could be as simple as you describe, Clive, and I have no other info to say otherwise. I’m going with the thought that it was planned and pre-arranged with the others, simply because the recordings took place over three non-consecutive days. What are the odds that both John and George would be out of the studio on all three days?

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      1. Those odds aren’t good, but maybe they agreed it to give Paul room to work on his song. They were known to get tired of his constant retakes in search of perfection so that probably felt like a good plan to them 🤣

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      1. You can’t go wrong with that fabulous group.
        This is a perfect choice to go crazy over.
        I once heard people over the radio call the group ghosts and other words that didn’t sit well with me. I wrote about it on the blog. But felt kinda sad for the guys on the radio. 🤦🏽‍♀️
        Thanks. This was so fun to read. Bless you. Have a great new week. It will culminate into a long winderfl weekend. Wow. If I don’t see/read you then, let me be the first to say Happy Birthday celebration to America. Bless you. Stay safe. Please. Hugs.

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        1. Thanks for all your lovely comments, Selma! We’ll probably just go down to the boat to watch fireworks, nothing crazy. Been there, done that. The thrill is gone! 😎

          Wishing you a splendid week as well. Genkide ne, aisuruhito. 🫶🏼

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  14. Thank you for sharing for no one is one of my favorite Beatles songs ever in fact John Lennon said that was his favorite Paul McCartney Beatle song even more so than hey Jude, which was the second favorite.

    I think that there and everywhere was his best I disagree though it’s a good song.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Anthony! I’m happy to know I featured one of your favorite Beatles songs. This is a conversation that could go on forever as my favorite Beatle song changes almost daily! They are all faves and it depends on which song I’m listening at any given moment. 😂 😎

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