thoughts on a life unravelling

I kept being alive when I should have been burning.

Louise Glück, The Seven Ages

Paul McCartney as Pyramus during the Around the Beatles tv special, filmed on 28th April 1964, broadcast 6th May 1964

"It was a picture Linda had taken and it really gave me hope that picture. Before the Peter Jackson thing that was like one little picture I held onto [...] And you can just see that we’re into each other and we’re like smiling, we’re engaged in doing something artistic, something interesting. And I say that every time I felt a bit down, I look at that picture and go, ‘No that’s the reality.’”

Paul McCartney’s 2020 interview with Sean Ono Lennon for the BBC Radio 2 special John Lennon at 80

I have always needed somebody, girl

But I close the door to keep out the world

But for you, I would be here all alone

Locked in a photograph

All of the clocks have run down

Lover, beware

tagged by @st-johns-wood - thank you!

I always liked the Beatles songs I heard on the radio, but I didn't get into the Beatles (or learn to tell them apart!) until last year. I watched Get Back and found their interpersonal dynamics so intriguing I wanted to learn more. Then I started to really like Paul, to become intrigued by mclennon, and then all of them. I can't actually pick a favorite Beatle, they're all so interesting!!

one night i was looking for something different to listen to, so i went through my mother's 45s. i found a record with a swirly yellow and orange label. i asked my mom, "who are the be-atles?" she told me they were called "the beatles." i was a 3rd grade spelling champ. i knew how to spell "beetles." so i argued with her. "no mom, they're the be-atles." "no (my name). they are the beatles." i thought about this for a moment. "will i like them?" she said, "why don't you just try them."

i put on "day tripper." that was the beginning of the end for me. i continuously played "day tripper" and "we can work it out" non-stop for months. she also had the "strawberry fields forever"/"penny lane" single, which was obviously written for me since i have a strawberry obsession. i played these records non-stop.

that year for christmas, i got the red, white, and blue albums and the beatles 2nd album. i played them non-stop.

"day tripper" was my gateway song to the beatles.

fun story: i went to a catholic school and i got in trouble for singing "why don't we do it in the road" at school. i told my nun i couldn't understand why i couldn't sing a beatles song about hopskotch. the nun who talked to me about it was named... wait for it... sister PRUDENCE. i told her the beatles wrote a song about her and she should listen to it and take their advice.

thanks for tagging me @downthepub!