Music Blog

Author! Author!

Nancy's Notes đŸ–ŠïžđŸŽ¶

Today on Song Lyric Sunday, Jim is asking us to write about a song that mentions a profession; thanks to Di for the suggestion. Since we’re all here on WordPress writing about something, it seemed only logical that I would choose a song about writers/authors.

My sophomore year of high school was one I’ll never forget. Our teacher, Mr. Erdmann, took his show on the road, so to speak, and brought our class on field trips into Manhattan where we saw movies such as “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”, “To Sir With Love”, “Wait Until Dark”, among others. He also played movies for us in the auditorium, classics like “On The Waterfront”, “The Pawnbroker” and “Casablanca”.

It wasn’t a year of just fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those movie reports almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big bold letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!”

Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, Mr. Erdmann! I’m blogging my heart out on WordPress!

My song choice for today is “Paperback Writer”  by the Beatles.

Written in 1966 mostly by Paul McCartney, the song allegedly came about when his Aunt Lil said something like “Can’t you write anything besides love songs?” According to Paul, he was thinking about his aunt’s question while backstage at a concert venue when he spotted Ringo reading a book and something clicked. The beginnings of “Paperback Writer” were already forming in Paul’s head.

The lyrics are in the form of a letter from an aspiring author addressed to a publisher. It starts off “Dear Sir or Madam” …. really quite clever, don’t you think?

The Beatles recorded “Paperback Writer” at EMI Studios in London on April 13-14, 1966. The song was released in May 1966 as the A-side of their 11th single and topped the singles charts in the UK, the US, Ireland, West Germany, Australia, New Zealand and Norway. The song was at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, being interrupted by Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In The Night”.

“Paperback Writer” was the last new song by the Beatles to be featured on their final tour in August 1966 where they performed 16 shows across the US and 2 in Toronto, finishing up at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on August 29.

Here now is “Paperback Writer” by the Beatles.

Lyrics

Paperback writer (paperback writer)

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book?
It took me years to write, will you take a look?
It’s based on a novel by a man named Lear
And I need a job
So I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

It’s a dirty story of a dirty man
And his clinging wife doesn’t understand
His son is working for the Daily Mail
It’s a steady job
But he wants to be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

Paperback writer (paperback writer)

It’s a thousand pages, give or take a few
I’ll be writing more in a week or two
I could make it longer if you like the style
I can change it ’round
And I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

If you really like it you can have the rights
It could make a million for you overnight
If you must return it you can send it here
But I need a break
And I wanna be a paperback writer
Paperback writer

Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)
Paperback writer (paperback writer)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: John Lennon / Paul McCartney
Paperback Writer lyrics © Iricom US Ltd, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Thanks again to Jim for hosting SLS and to Di for today’s suggestion.

This Job I Got

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It wasn’t just a year of fun and games, though; we had to write reports on the movies and held discussions in the classroom. I loved writing those reports on the movies almost as much as watching the movies! It was a real thrill when I got one of my papers back with a note from the teacher in big red letters: “A++ We’ll make a screenwriter out of you yet!Well, I never did become a screenwriter but that’s when my love of writing truly took hold and never let go. Thank you, M

29 thoughts on “Author! Author!”

  5. Not that this has anything to do with the price of fish, you’d think that as I live down the road from Liverpool, I’d know about the songs from the singers that come from there… but, nope. Not a clue. Paperback Writer is a new one to me (not that that is saying much!)
    Sounds like you had fun in school, Nancy! 🙂

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    1. Well, if it’s any consolation, I’ve lived in NY all my life and I’ve never been to the Empire State Building! đŸ™ïž
      Join me in February and you’ll hear more of those Liverpool sounds (how’s that for a plug!) 😂
      I went to a German Lutheran school (long story) and it certainly was not all fun and games but it had its moments. 😀

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      1. Ah! I’ve been there (the Empire State Building, that is, not a German Lutheran school!)
        I wonder how many Liverpool sounds I actually will recognise? Sounds fun! 😀

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  7. Excellent choice, Nancy.
    I’ve never been a huge Beatles fan so there are certain songs that I know but never really paid attention to the lyrics. How odd I never reallly heard the beginning of this song? Sheesh. Almost embarrassing, to be honest.

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    Reply

    1. If anyone is embarrassed it’s me for calling you Gail! 😂 Go figure.
      Well, I won’t hold it against you for not being a huge Beatles fan; nobody’s perfect lol! If you stick with me, I have a new feature coming up for February; it was great fun to do and an eye-opener for me as well.

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      1. Haha! Stop. I’ve forgotten it already!
        I don’t hate them. I do like them. I’ll watch movies about them, like Yesterday. I just wasn’t the scream when you hear them type 😉

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