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Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
Songplace
A 41-piece orchestra played on this song. The musicians were told to attend the session dressed formally. When they got there, they were presented with party novelties (false noses, party hats, gorilla-paw glove) to wear, which made it clear this was not going to be a typical session. The orchestra was conducted by Paul McCartney, who told them to start with the lowest note of their instruments and gradually play to the highest. >>
Suggestion credit:
Jes - Mason City, IA
This was recorded in three sessions: first the basic track, then the orchestra, then the last note was dubbed in.
The beginning of this song was based on two stories John Lennon read in the Daily Mail newspaper: Guinness heir Tara Browne dying when he smashed his lotus into a parked van, and an article in the UK Daily Express in early 1967 which told of how the Blackburn Roads Surveyor had counted 4000 holes in the roads of Blackburn and commented that the volume of material needed to fill them in was enough to fill the Albert Hall. Lennon took some liberties with the Tara Browne story - he changed it so he "Blew his mind out in the car."
Regarding the article about Tara Browne, John Lennon stated: "I didn't copy the accident. Tara didn't blow his mind out. But it was in my mind when I was writing that verse." At the time, Paul didn't realize the reference was to Tara. He thought it was about a "stoned politician." The article regarding the "4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire" was taken from the UK Daily Express, January 17, 1967 in a column called "Far And Near."
John's friend Terry Doran was the one who completed John's line, "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill..." Terry told him "fill the Albert Hall, John."
McCartney contributed the line "I'd love to turn you on." This was a drug reference, but the BBC banned it because of another section, which they assumed was about marijuana:
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke
Somebody spoke and I went into a dream
The ban was finally lifted when author David Storey picked it as one of his Desert Island Discs.
Speaking with GQ in 2018, Paul McCartney explained this song's origin story: "'A Day In The Life' was a song that John had started. He had the first verse, and this often happened: one of us would have a little bit of an idea and instead of sitting down and sweating it, we'd just bring it to the other one and kind of finish it together, because you could ping-pong - you'd get an idea. So he had the first verse: 'I read the news today oh boy,' and we sat in my music room in London and just started playing around with it, got a second verse, and then we got to what was going to lead into the middle. We kind of looked at each other and knew we were being a little bit edgy where we 'I'd love to turn you on.' We knew that would have an effect.
It worked. And then we put on another section I had: 'Woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head.' Then we finished the song up and did a big sort of epic recording of it with a big full orchestra and everything. And then did that crescendo thing in the middle of it with the orchestra, which was an idea I'd had because I'd been talking to people and reading about avant-garde music, tonal stuff and crazy ideas. I came up with this idea. I said to the orchestra, 'You should start, all of you.' And they sat all looking at me puzzled. We've got a real symphony orchestra in London who are used to playing Beethoven, and here's me, this crazy guy out of a group and I'm saying, 'Everyone start on the lowest note your instrument can play and work your way up to the highest at your own pace.' That was too puzzling for them, and orchestras don't like that kind of thing. They like it written down and they like to know exactly what they're supposed to do. So George Martin, the producer, said to the people, 'You should leave this note and this point in the song, and then you should go to this note and this note,' and he left the random thing, so that's why it sounds like a chaotic sort of swirl. That was an idea based on the avant-garde stuff I was into at the time."
The final chord was produced by all four Beatles and George Martin banging on three pianos simultaneously. As the sound diminished, the engineer boosted to faders. The resulting note lasts 42 seconds; the studio air conditioners can be heard toward the end as the faders were pushed to the limit to record it.
The rising orchestra-glissando and the thundering sound are reminiscent of "Entry of the Gods into Valhalla" from Richard Wagner's opera "Das Rheingold," where after the rising glissando, Thor beats with his hammer. George Martin said in his 1979 book All You Need is Ears that the glissando was Lennon's idea. After Lennon's death, Martin seems to have changed his mind. In his 1995 book Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt. Pepper, he states that the rising orchestra-glissando was McCartney's idea. >>
Johan Cavalli, a music historian in Stockholm
This being the last song on the album, The Beatles found an interesting way to close it out. After the final note, Lennon had producer George Martin dub in a high pitched tone, which most humans can't hear, but drives dogs crazy. This was followed by a loop of incomprehensible studio noise, along with Paul McCartney saying, "Never could see any other way," all spliced together. It was put there so vinyl copies would play this continuously in the run-out groove, sounding like something went horribly wrong with the record. Another good reason to own vinyl.
In 2004, McCartney did an interview with the Daily Mirror newspaper where he said he was doing cocaine around this time along with marijuana. "I'd been introduced to it, and at first it seemed OK, like anything that's new and stimulating," he said. "When you start working your way through it, you start thinking, 'This is not so cool and idea,' especially when you start getting those terrible comedowns."
The movie reference in the lyrics ("I saw a film today, oh boy. The English Army had just won the war") is to a film John Lennon acted in called How I Won The War.
McCartney's middle section (woke up, got out of bed...) was intended for another song.
The Beatles started this with the working title "In The Life of..."
This is a rare Beatles song with a title that is not part of the lyrics. Another one is "Yer Blues." >>
Bertrand - Paris, France
That's Mal Evans doing the counting during the first transition from John to Paul. He set the alarm clock (heard on the recording) to go off at the end of his 24-bar count. Evans also helped with the composition of a couple of songs on the Sgt. Pepper album. Although he never received composer's credit, the Beatles did pay his estate a lump sum in the 1990s for his contributions. Evans died January 5, 1976 after a misunderstanding with the police. >>
Brad Wind - Miami, FL
George Martin (from Q Magazine, July 2007): "John's voice - which he hated - was the kind of thing that would send shivers down your spine. If you hear those opening chords with the guitar and piano, and then his voice comes in, 'I heard the news today, oh boy' It's just so evocative of that time. He always played his songs to me on the guitar and I would sit on a stool as he strummed. The orchestral section was Paul's idea. We put two pieces of songs together that weren't connected in any way. Then we had that 24-bars-of-nothing in between. I had to write a score, but in the climax, I gave each instrument different little waypoints at each bar, so they would know roughly where they should be when they were sliding up. Just so they didn't reach the climax too quickly. With 'A Day In The Life,' I wondered whether we were losing our audience and I was scared. But I stopped being scared when I played it to the head of Capitol Records in America and he was gob smacked. He said, That's fantastic. And of course, it was."
In the original take, the 41-piece orchestra was not used. Instead, Lennon had roadie Mal Evans count to 21 in a very trippy manner and set off an alarm clock after the 21 counts. This version is on the second Anthology CD, and is very different than the one on Sgt. Pepper. >>
Emery - San Jose, CA
David Crosby was at Abbey Road studios when The Beatles were recording this. In an interview with Filter magazine, he said: "I was, as near as I know, the first human being besides them and George Martin and the engineers to hear 'A Day In The Life.' I was high as a kite - so high I was hunting geese with a rake. They sat me down; they had huge speakers like coffins with wheels on that they rolled up on either side of the stool. By the time it got the end of that piano chord, man my brains were on the floor." >>
Brian - Williamsburg, VA
The orchestral bit was used in the Yellow Submarine movie. Photos of different geographical areas were shown as The Beatles were apparently traveling in the submarine to try and find Pepperland.
When asked by Rolling Stone magazine what songs of his dad's constantly surprise him, Sean Lennon said: "I've listened so much to that stuff that there are very few surprises. But I do think 'A Day In The Life' is always inspiring."
The American rock band Hawthorne Heights originally named themselves A Day in the Life after this song. In 2003, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff changed it to their current name.
On June 18, 2010 John Lennon's handwritten lyric sheet for this song featuring corrections and alternate crossed-out lines was auctioned at New York Sotheby's. It was sold for $1.2 million to an anonymous American buyer.
This was rated the greatest ever Beatles song in a special collector's edition issue by The Beatles: 100 Greatest Songs. The list was compiled to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four's final studio album, Let It Be.
There is term for the techniques The Beatles used in arranging the final chords of this song: Deceptive Cadence. Glen Burtnik, who was a member of Styx and was also in a popular Beatles tribute band, told us: "It's an instance where the listener assumes the next chord, or melody note, will go somewhere it doesn't. Even though all the indications lead you to expecting a certain outcome, the writer/arranger intentionally surprises you by going someplace else musically. Not sure it's simple to understand, as you're conditioned to being used to the outcome."
Peter Asher, who worked for The Beatles at Apple Records and produced the biggest hits of James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, considers this the greatest Beatles song from a production standpoint. "'A Day In The Life' certainly combined Beatle ideas and George Martin ideas very effectively," he told Songfacts.
Keith Richards named his second son Tara after Tara Brown, the Guinness heir who smashes his car in Lennon's first verse. Richard's son was premature and died soon after birth.
More songs from The Beatles
More songs inspired by newspaper or magazine articles
More songs with titles that are not part of the lyrics
More songs that were banned
More songs featuring orchestras
More songs that contain drug references
More songs that had different titles when they started
More songs that musical performers are named after
Lyrics to A Day In The Life
The Beatles Artistfacts
Mike from Berkeley, CaThere are pages and pages of comments here, all generally saying the same thing: This is an amazing musical masterpiece. I generally agree.
But why did John Lennon laugh when he read that an acquaintance, Tara Browne, had died racing through London? If he had been reading The Daily Mirror, he would have seen the headline: "Did Tara Die Saving Girl?"--supposedly by crashing on the driver's side, which saved the life of his passenger. It really is a laughable headline, since he had recklessly sped through a red light and had a horrible accident. He obviously didn't save her; he almost killed her.
Tara Browne was a rich kid who hung out with famous people and threw amazing parties. According to the Daily Mail: "Tara's 21st birthday party in March 1966... is still remembered for its monumental excess... Tara brought the group du jour - the Loving Spoonful - over from America, paying them £1,000 to serenade him." Around 200 guests arrived by private jet, including John Paul Getty II, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, and Paul McCartney.
Browne was also unusual in that he liked to work as a mechanic to help soup-up cars. He wanted to be a race car driver. Crashing his sports car on the streets of London should not have surprised people who knew him--esp. his estranged wife whose last words to him were, allegedly, "Drive safely."
Babbling Babette from Tulsa Ok"A Day In The Life" is absolutely genius. Another Lennon masterpiece. Every time I hear it, it leaves me stunned by its genius.
David Lane from Marietta, OhioI am a Beatles fan, but probably not as much as most of the other posters here. "A Day in the Life" would be one of my favorite Beatles songs. Anybody who likes this song should check out Jeff Beck's version on "Performing Live at Ronnie Scott's." There is no singing on Jeff's version, but the guitar is amazing.
Tomasz from PolandApart from "A Day in the Life" and "Yer Blues", "For You Blue" is yet another Beatles' song with no title in the lyrics.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 20th 1967, the Beatles premiered their eighth studio album, 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'*, on the BBC radio program Kenny Everett's 'Where It's At'...
John & Paul appeared on the broadcasted live show to discuss the making of the album; the complete album was previewed except for "A Day in the Life", the track was banned from air play in the United Kingdom due to its seemingly drug-use reference...
R.I.P. John and George...
* The album was officially released world-wide on June 1st, 1967.
Richard from Tullamore, IrelandI remember coming home from school one day in Burgess Hill in Sussex in May 1967 & turning the radio on as I often used to do. Wow. It was the Ed Stewart show, & John Peel introduced & played the album in full & discussed each track, many days before the album was released. This was on pirate radio station Radio London on 266 metres. They played Radio London jingles in the middle of each track so other stations wouldn't copy them. But I remember Radio Caroline later played the same tracks with their own jingles inserted - until the actual release a few days later, when they could play the full tracks properly.
Pere from Barcelona (spain)I've made a video in youtube with the lyrics and many of the songfacts listed here & other sites! I want to thank you and share it with you -> http://goo.gl/LWIMXb <-video "A day in the life"
Bubblesk from Memphis, TnWhen I heard this song for the first time in '67 I was a teenager & it blew my mind away. I was stunned! Then recently, I returned to college in my 60s to boost my career & one day I went for lunch at one of the university cafeterias. This Beatles song was playing on the P.A. system. The cafeteria usually pipes in music from a college radio network. I was amazed at the number of students who sat and listened to it. I was curious and talked to some of the younger generations of students about it. Some remarked that they heard of the Beatles, but never listened to their later recordings. I sat thru lunch with some younger students who kept asking about this song and the "Sgt. Pepper's" album. I told them all I knew from what I had read about the album over the years. Then, I told them to go online and check out Beatles history and SongFacts. Got to get ya a plug in there too. This song is still out there making waves with a new generation. When I was in the US Army in Vietnam ('69-'70), I was surprised to hear "A Day In the Life" played a few times by our AFVN radio station! It was quite a change from the-then monotonous & sugary Jackson 5 songs getting airplay. But this Beatles' masterpiece is still One heckuva song! It still stuns the mind & soul.
Michael from San Diego, CaFrom the Wikipedia expert comes: The professor lucky man who made the grade he blew chunks in his car (puked his guts-out at the traffic light and got busted by the bobbies for a DUI)?
John from Sydney, AustraliaThere has never been another song like this .. and never will be. This sublime, majestic song is of another order .. it is utterly unique and towers above normal pop fare. This song is a masterpiece in every way .. to the very last extraordinary chord that seems to travel to infinity .. this song will go down in history .. the genius of John Lennon fills you with awe ...
Steve from Oxford, United KingdomAllegedly this song was partly inspired by a meeting with a spaced out Elvis, who in their presence stared inanely into the TV set clicking the remote control. Hence the line "I'd love to turn you on". Forty five to fifty years on people don't perhaps quite appreciate the scale of John Lennon's genius, certainly the greatest musician/poet of the last century
Ron from Liverpool, United KingdomAlthough I wouldn't dispute there may be a drug reference to 'found my way upstairs and had a smoke' etc back in the day you were only allowed to smoke on the top deck of buses as it wasn't allowed downstairs. I am sure many people of the period can relate to running late just making the bus and going upstairs for a smoke where they would drift off as in a dream and it not actaully involve drugs (apart from tobacco).
http://www.bus-and-coach-photos.com/picture/number5385.asp
Those buses were most likely the kind they had gone upstairs for a smoke on in the days they would travel in to town by bus.
Kunal Somaiya from Mumbai, IndiaThe Best song, from the Best album of all time! love the Final chord! Monumental song!
Meocyber from Alma, Co Easily, one of their top 5 all time songs. Yes, the building story telling between John and Paul is inter-galactic. The middle w/ Paul's honky tonk riff is a nice contrast w/ John's stream of conciosness, world observations is pure beauty. The horn sections punctuate the building crescendo. John's touch of the "aaahhhhssss" going toward the peak of the end sound explosion is totally genius.
Visal S Unnithan from Kochi, IndiaThe Beatles are only second best to Santhosh Pandit.
And "the day in the life" is second best to "Raathri Subharathri" .
Johan from Stockholm, SwedenTo DeeTheWriter. Everybody writing about this song says that after the verse and bridge McCartney went to a symphony orchester and so on. These are McCartneys words, and the establishement always trusts in him, because he did Yesterday. And McCartney got the credit of the idea of the gradually expanding sound. But he does not say that before he went to the orchesta, Lennon got the idea of a increasing sound, and a sound like the end of the world. A f t e r that McCartney went to the orchestra (See in Geoff Emericks book "Here, There and Everywhere", 2006, page 152, and George Martins book "All You Need Is Ears", 1979, page 209). Albert Goldman was one of the first persons who discovered that McCartney wanted to give the impression that he has done all himself (Goldmans book about Lennon, 1988, page 308).
Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation'A Day in the Life' has an interesting structure, with an interesting story behind it. It is made up of parts written by Lennon and McCartney, respectively, with orchestral crescendos bridging the gaps. Paul and George Martin conducted a forty-piece orchestra for the segues, after instructing them to improvise the empty space in the score. Martin recalls that "(The orchestra) all looked at me as though I were completely mad." [Q's Quintessential Albums]
Zero from Nowhere, NjDick Washington DC: This was out before Deep Purple. And anyway DP's first album (which came out in '68) was mostly covers and allegedly stolen material.
MatildaMother: I never thought of this as a progressive rock song but I can see where you're coming from. And Pink Floyds's great! bye.
Orlando from Calgary, AbIn April 1967, McCartney played a tape of the song to Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, in Los Angeles. The song deeply affected Wilson, who was suffering growing emotional problems. Soon after, Wilson abandoned his work on the Beach Boys' album Smile, and would not return to complete it until 2003. Van Dyke Parks later said, "Brian had a nervous collapse. What broke his heart was Sgt. Pepper." - From Wikipedia
Patrick from Lokeren, BelgiumA Day in the Life for me is their absolute best song ever. The album, Sgt. Pepper, I do not consider as their best album. For Me albums like Revolver, White Album and Abbey Road, I consider as their best albums.
Kimberly from Landing, NjThe news grew into the photo s left behind with a disregard as the man was a man of talent in his industry without a sense of the journey that was untaken by the turn of events of issues at state and mind value. as the issues where exposed yet that affected the dreamers conscience of the underlying knowledge counting of man .
Dick from Washington, DcInteresting, fyodor. I think I'd heard the Deep Purple hook before it was in this one because, when I first heard this one, it seemed vaguely familiar. Given recording and production times, I guess it's coincidence. Ever notice that the Eagles' "Hotel California" is the exact chord progression (though slower) as the much earlier "We Used to Know" by Jethro Tull? That progression is so distinctive, it couldn't be coincidence. Here, I don't know. But I've noticed it.
Wade from London, United KingdomFirst off a classic song.
Second: Whomever claimed they heard Paul is Dead on a hidden track played backwards, thats rubbish.
Third: John Lennon may have used drugs but it didn't really affect his song writing so that little factoid is wrong and pure bollocks!
Rocco from New York City, NyI had always thought that it was John who sang the "Ahhh-ahhh...." part at the end of Paul's sequence. No matter. Whoever it was, it was sad, mournful and full of pain that half a century later (practically) it still resonates. This is my favorite Beatles' tune.
Julia from Gresham, OrPaul was on drugs,I guess he picked the outfits.
Rj from Philadelphia, PaI've always thought that the chatter at the end sounded like they were saying, "Never could be any other way..."
George from Belleville, NjVery well said by John in Sydney Australia.I agree with you and the way you spoke it.Right on.
Breanna from Henderson, NvThis is my favorite song off of Sgt. Peppers. It's totaly amazing. There's this Beatles tibute band, Fab Four Live that do this absolutly amazing. The guy who does John Lennon, Steve Craig, sounds exactly like John when he sings this. It's so good, but not as good as the original, but very close.
Curtis from Los Angeles, CaWhen John and Paul combined their unfinished songs, making McCartney's portion the middle section, they decided to make it a "turn-on song" and wanted some sort of "grinding noise" for the slow crescendo. The studio where the orchestral overdubs were done had a system of speakers in the walls that could control feeding the sound back. Two four-track tape machines were re-wired to run in synch, with the orchestral additions done four times on one, then reduced to a single track for the final tape.
Hamdan from Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDon't know if this has been commented, but I think the music that follows that part "i love to turn you on..." refers to lovemaking and orgasm.
Curtis from Los Angeles, CaParlophone issued a mono CD of "Sgt. Pepper" which has the entire two seconds of "nonsense" ending the track and album; when appearing on vinyl or other CDs it has always been a truncated version. McCartney appears to be remarking conversationally, "WHICH - I never could speak any other way," however they took an entire session to obtain this, and it seems altered. George Harrison (not John Lennon) also seems to be saying something underneath Paul's remark. As with most of the Beatles' suspiciously crytpic work, the point is not what they are 'actually' saying, but what it 'sounds like' in an undisclosed subtext. And having it be meaningful backwards was also important. While many have misheard an expletive--"We'll **** you like we're supermen"--only the last word ("supermen") appears correct, with the presumed context being entirely wrong (it is more in line with a specific quote). "A Day In The Life" features John's voice providing the typical function of the instrumental solo in the middle section: part of this was buried under the half-orchestra (quadrupled to create the effect of a double orchestra) for the mono mix, but it can be heard in its original form on the "Love" show soundtrack. Great care was taken in producing the mono mix, whereas the stereo version was done very quickly by second engineers who did not incorporate some vocals and musical effects. While there are references to news items, their actual intentions seem to transcend these sources.
Brian from Boston, MaThis is one of the Beatles best and that is saying a lot. The acoustic guitar in the beginning is simple yet elegant. I play guitar myself just as a hobby I not a very advanced player. I recently started learning this song on acoustic guitar. The chords are pretty basic but it is the rythm with wich Lennon plays them that sounds so good. To those just learning guitar or for those who might only know a few chords I suggest learning this song. It is a good way to learn rythm guitar and practice chord changes.
AnonymousMy favorite song of them. My favorite song of all time. The best song ever made.
The Beatles are the greatest band and musical act in music history.
John sublime vocals. Paul excellent vocals, with George on the back, and Ringo's excellent drumming.
And, because this IS my favorite song all the i learned so much curiosities:
- John counts ''Two...Three...Four'' unheard on the final mix.
- A Jangle Piano played only during the intro was muted on the final mix.
- The orchestra tape activates at the line ''...Won The War''.
- Mal Evans did the whole counting that is 24 and not 21 and it's audible on the final mix.
- This was made of two takes, takes 6 and 7.
Take 6: John's vocals, Piano with Mal Evans Counting.
Take 7: Paul vocals, Drum, Bass.
Also something that i discovered recently, it's that the takes are 6 and 7, both combined, make the year that was made and released, 67.
- When the alarm clock sounds, Paul can be hardly heard saying: ''One, Two, Three, Four, One, Two, Three..., Woke Up...''
- During the Paul's sections, Ringo is ad-libbing some expressions like cheering, and also seems that John, & George are cheering too.
- During the ''Ahhhh...'' section, that John is doing the ''Ahhhh'', around 3:00 a breath of Paul is heard, this is from the piano track of take 6 and it was impossible to remove.
- Also during the ''Ahhh...'' Section, Paul, George & Ringo (Probably) are doing backing vocals ''aaaahh...uuuuh...'' very hardly audible.
- Also just when the aaah... section ends and before the last verse starts, the vocal track cuts because of a tape error, but it's almost inaudible because it pans to the right channel and the orchestra covers almost all, but the sound it can be heard, it's almost unoticable and maybe nobody listened before, till 2009 Remasters.
- During the last orchestra glissando, some violins can be heard doing ''click'' the people who are playing it, are getting in position and some of the sounds are audible.
- Also, during this last section, the piano dissapears before some sound like a great noise can be heard, it was muted on final mix, drums and bass also dissapeared.
- The final piano chord, last more than 52 seconds but it was faded-out on the final mix.
- During the final chord, the air condition can be heard, steps in the studio, a chair squeaking three times, someone saying ''shhh''.
- The hiss at the end of this section can be heard even on the 2009 Remasters.
- The high-pitched tune, is almost inaudible for most humans, fortunately, i can hear it.
- The ad-lib that repeats around 11 times (infinite on the vinyl), was cut in several pieces and put it together random.
- Also, the beginning of the ad-lib, George says: Epstein.
- Paul's is saying with all this jointed mash-up: ''Never Could Be Any Other Way--''
- A Take 7 was made because Paul's section had to be repeated again (as on Anthology, Paul's forgots the lyrics at the last, and he says ''Oh Sh*t'' and also that make a chance to re-do the bass and drums.
- The orchestra was overdubbed four times, to make it sound like a 160 orchestra.
- 9 Stereo Mixes we're created with different stereo panning and mixing, and different orchestra takes.
- The RS9 mix seems to be used in the final mix.
- The orchestra applauds after ending the second orchestra glissando.
- There was another ending for A Day In The Life
Originally, the four Beatles did ''hums'', his own voices trying to doing the tune ''E''.
But after multiple overdubs, lasting to take 11 (the best take) it was left unused and instead make the piano chord played by John, Evans & Ringo, in 3 different pianos.
John from Sydney, AustraliaTo Jamie, Charleston, WV -
The song has to be how it is.
John Lennon's singing in "A Day in the Life" is masterful. It is sublime. No one on this earth could have sung this song as he did. John was in a very deep state when he sung this ... his voice has an extraordinarily beautiful, floating, far away quality ... it is mystical ... it is tinged with a beautiful melancholy. John Lennon was a very deep and very spiritual man. He had a gift for entering other worlds. Paul is a very good singer but he could never have sung this as John did. No one could have.
Julianna from Newport Beach, CaQI love The Beatles, greatest band in the world. I watched Beatles Anthropology and yes the line,"I like to turn you on" was based on smoking,but the car crash they were talking about and people counting how many holes were in Albert Hall,John Lennon got from a regular newspaper. The mension of a movie in the song was John talking about his movie "How I Won The War".Sir Paul I think was just getting back to reality,he said when he sang a couple lines after good old Ringo Starr set off the alarm. I go to Newport height's school and all my my classmates think all of The Beatle's songs are about drugs,but let me tell you people that they're not!!! This song has meaning not just hours of John,Paul,George,and Ringo tripping out on Acid.The Beatle's songs are great and dislike any of them or don't care to listen to some songs because you don't like the beginning of it, YOU ARE NOT A TRUE BEATLES FAN!!! And yes this message is from JULIANNA LOUISE EIFLER!!! P.S. I love you REED JOHNATHAN RUTTER!!!
Jamie from Charleston, Wv"This is one of there better works I do wish that Paul would have gotten to sing a longer portion of the song or shared co lead vocals throughout."
So, I'm not stupid, it's obvious Paul is your favorite Beatle, and I won't lie, John is mine. But, from a non-biased point of view, don't you think the first few verses wouldn't have had he same affect if John had not sung them? It's just not the right part for Paul. Does anyone else agree with me?
K from Nowhere, OnAh, FINALLY, someone else who hears those words! I could never convince people that was what I was hearing, they're convinced it's just plain gibberish, but I slowed it down on the computer and I swear it does say "never could be any other way".
Rj from Philapool, PaI always thought that they were saying "Never could be any other way" at the end. The first time I heard this song, the dog-whistle screech and that part caught me off guard and scared the crap out of me. I can imagine how haunting it would be on a skipping record. John Lennon said that he added the dog-whistle so people's dogs would randomly start going crazy and when the "never could be any other way" part came on, their owners would be like, "What the hell?!" Congrats John, you did it.
Nat from Kolkata, IndiaThis song is the best made by the Beatles. It's so extraordinary, mysterious and haunting. Makes me think of world's end.
The Scrounge from San Antonio, OhI was about 16 when this song got to me. I at least heard it before, but now it was pressing me. I did wake up, fall out of bed, drag a comb across my head, find my way downstairs and have a cup of coffee with my dad, look up and realize I WAS late, find my coat, grab my hat(blonde hair, sorry), and make the bus (which was at the bottom of my street about a 100 yards away, downhill) in seconds flat, but I did not find my way upstairs. The next step I did take was a downstep to the pit (our smoking lounge at school) and have a smoke where someone did speak to me. I did'nt go into a dream, though~
I believed this has to do with how close to people or places can be the same but in time.
Can someone finish this for them? All I said above, and tell what time IT IS, please?
David from Youngstown, OhThe reason you can still hear Mal Evans counting - even though the orchestra was inserted in its place - is because his voice is so loud that it was picked up by the microphones in the Abbey Road studios that recorded the Beatles playing their instruments. This is according to the autobiography of Geoff Emerick, who engineered the song. If they got rid of Evans' count, it would have meant eliminating some of the finished instrumental portions of the song, Emerick wrote.
John from Sydney, AustraliaThis song is a towering masterpiece. It is haunting, mystical, extraordinarily origonal ... it is a journey that travels beyond everyday consciousness into an otherworld dreamscape ... if you go with it you go somewhere other songs will never take you. Lennon's vocals are sublime ... they are without peer. This song is genius.
Matildamother from Lynhurst, NjA Day In the Life" which maybe is the first progressive rock song with it's avant garde orchestra in the background and unconventional breaks in the song and ending with a 40 second sustained piano chord.
Bridget from New York, NyI love how they used this song in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (the movie).
George from Belleville, NjThis song is a brilliant masterpiece of musical engineering.It is at once haunting and classic and deep,a triumph in pop music.When listening to it,it conjures up all kinds of dreams and feelings and emotions.Lennon and MacCartney were the best songwriting team in the history of music.
Michael from Staten Island, NyAwesome song. Back in 1969, there was a hysteria that Paul McCartney was dead, and people were finding "clues" in Beatles songs, album covers, and movies that Paul was killed in a car accident and replaced with a body double. The clues in this song: "I read the news today...about a lucky man who made the grade." If you listen closely, it sounds like John clicks his tongue after "grade", making it sound like "grave". "He blew his mind out in a car, he hadn't noticed that the lights had change, a crowd of people stood and stared, they'd seen his face before, nobody was really sure if he was from the house of...?" People believed McCartney died from the car accident "blew his mind out...didn't notice the lights (street light) had changed" People knew it was him in the accident "seen his face before" "Nobody was really sure if he was from the house of..." According to my band teacher one Beatle says "love" there, one says "God", one says "four", and one says "Paul". Either way great song. I actually heard the high-pitched scream at the end didn't drive my dog crazy.
Martin from Oxford, United KingdomNeil Young performed a fantastic rock version this song at the Glastonbury Festival in 2009. It was quite surreal to hear these very English lyrics sung by Neil Young.
Crizzle from Rincon, GaCan't go wrong with the Beatles, their amazing.
This song is revolutionary. One of the gretest songs ever.
Maria from Fullerton, CaI freaking loooooooooove this song and Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band is my favorite Beatles album of all time. This song will always be a classic I Looooove John, Paul, George, and Ringo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Phillip from South San Francisco, CaAnswer to: Who sings the "ahh ah ah ahh" bit in "A Day In The Life?":
McCarney's vocals were recorded directly onto the master tape on February 3, 1967. This meant it had to be "dropped in" perfectly by assistant engineer Richard Lush. Too late, and it would erase the beginning of Lennon's "ahhhhh" section that follows. Lush got it right and Lennon's vocal was safe. Recording engineer, Geoff Emerick recalls, "The thought of having to do it again and recreate the atmosphere was daunting... not to mention what Lennon's reaction would have been!"
Chris from Spokane, WaThis is my all time favorite song, hands down. Such a great and inspiring song.
Sanna from Guthenburg, SwedenI´m 14, soon 15, and from Sweden. NOBODY I know likes "The Beatles", but I just LOVE them! Nice to know that I´m not the only one. //Sanna
Mr. Morozov from Fremont, NeThis song was a great way to end Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Michael from North Merrick, NyThis is one of there better works I do wish that Paul would have gotten to sing a longer portion of the song or shared co lead vocals throughout.
Jojo from Hill Field, UtI have been listening to The Beatles for over 40 years, I am still learning new stuff. The tone at the end is inaudible to me now--in my 50's--if you use Microsoft Media Player, set the Visualization to 'Bars and Waves: Bars' you can SEE the high pitch tone!
Say, that reminds me,
"Made the bus in seconds flat
Somebody spoke and I went into a dream"
The smoking section on the London Buses is on the upper level! Duh!
I think the drumming by Ringo and the Bass by Paul is superb in this song!
One more thing, I know form listening to the Anthology CD or Video the alarm clock was for timing, but it works great with the lyric, [Alarm goes off] "Woke up ..."
Haris from Flushing, Nyon the anthology version you hear paul say "oh s--t" after his verse
Storm from Winchester, KyThis song is amazing. Lennon and McCartney wrote brillant lyrics that stand the test of time.
Mike from Highland Park, IlI recently saw this as #1 on a list of top Beatles' songs, and for the life of me I can't understand why. It's a decent tune, but for me it gets old very fast. Certainly not the type of upbeat song you can groove to in the car, but neither does it provide that emotional tug comparable to songs like Strawberry Fields, Across the Universe, Girl, etc. To sum it up, this song is okay, but imho it's overrated.
Linc from Beaumont, TxTricia in Va, I don't think there was an actual poem that inspired this song other than maybe a bit from it. This song was largely constructed from newspapers headlines over the course of about a week. Lennon, especially, would write in this way, just piecing together book titles he read from the shelf or lines from the paper to make lyrics. A friend of mine has a recording of him reading about the war while he's having his breakfast and he'll read a line from the article and then hum it and add some non-sense words to it. He also talks about doing this kind of writing in the Imagine documentary when he discovers the guy in his garden at T-hurst.
Chino from Los Angeles, CaFlawless & beautiful!!!!! Didn't expect any less
Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, Cawow.....this record definitely was a huge milestone, not only for the Beatles, but for pop
music......awesome!
Annabelle from Eugene, OrAfter Paul McCartney's "Woke up, got out of bed" verse, during the part where John sings "aah aah aah ahh", if you listen carefully, you can hear what sounds like either a cough or a sneeze. I can't tell if that's Paul or John, but it sounds rather strange, as it's actually right in time with the drum rhythm.
Theresa from Murfreesboro, TnThis song is big, bizarre, and ballsy.
Melissa from Newtown, Pahaha only the trippiest song ever
Mallory from Upper Marlboro, MdA masterpiece!
Chloe from St. Louis, Mothis song sends shivers up your spine....magnificent. One time a few months ago, my dad was driving me to school, and i was listening to my ipod. im not entirely sure how we're related, as he is the most anti-beatle person you will ever meet. so he asked me what i was listening to, i said "a day in the life". i was surprised when he didnt make fun of me like he usually did- i finally dragged it out of him that he really likes this song! it was one of the more fantastic moments in my life, haha.
Anthony from Hermosa Beach, CaAt the very end of this song a lady says something backwards. Played forwards it says "Will Paul return as Superman" which added on to the Paul McCartney rumors about his death.
Ryan from Morganville, NjThis song is priceless and honestly there is no beatles song that I think is as simple and yet abstract. I mean are you kidding who else could take a single day's news events and make a song that could turn angels on.
Tricia from Stafford, VaI read a poem once that "inspired" this song but have been unable to locate it for a long time. Does anyone know what poem this is?
John from Tucson, AzThe Beatles said it all,they were "Rock and Roll" they were the Total package,They were what made you listen to music.THEY made music have meaning.
From Ed Sullivan to the top of that hotel in London.There will be NO Band now or was there as talented as The Beatles. As other bands DIE they will live on forever,for what they have given to bands that formed behind them,so many, pick one it comes back to the Band of all Bands "Beatles"
As The Doobie Brothers say " Listen To The Music" and you too will be hooked.
The last cord of this song tells all its the longest and the lasting in the World Book Of Records to beat all Records.
Lacey from Cp, Inand by listening to this song, i mean in public with my friends listening to the song with me.
Lacey from Cp, InThis is probably one of my absolute all-time favorite songs by The Beatles, let alone anyone. I do have to admit that I think the crazy orchestra part drags on REALLY long, but it just makes the song more Beatle-like to me. I'm in high school and not a lot of the students are into the Beatles let alone any form of older music besides the 80's and it's very awkward listening to this song for the reason that the orchestra goes on too long. It's hard to keep my friends from thinking that I'm insane for listening to this song let alone enjoying it. hahaha
anyways, Lennon's song in this song is so haunting, but beautiful. It's genius.
Max from Amherst, MaSome of Paul's best work ever is in the bass line of this song. It's amazing the way it holds the orchestra and the vocals together. Not just any bass player could do that.
Linc from Beaumont, TxI think what makes people still talk about this song is that as your point of view in life changes, the song changes with you...
T. Michels from Venlo, NetherlandsThe general interpretation of what's being said in 'the inner groove', as those noises at the very end are namend, is 'Never could be any onther way', repeated over and over.
Of course, this is merely a guess, but it's the closest guess so far.
It is connect to the Paul Is Dead-myth in the way that 'it could 'never be any other way' than 4 Beatles.'
Also, if you reverse it you get mumbling what some people turned into 'will Paul be back as Superman' or either 'We f**k you like you're Superman.
Lotta fuss over nothing, in the end.
Dylan from Chicago, IlThis song is different every time i hear it, and it is always a pleasant surprise when i hear something new. i can't wait for the next time i hear it.
Marissa from Akron, OhI think this is the most comments I've ever seen on one song... but the Beatles are worthy of it, of course. This is a good song to listen to in the morning when you're getting ready for class (or work if that's what you do in the mornings- I work in the afternoon.)And I never thought of "I'd love to turn you on" as a drug reference: I always thought of it as a romantic/sexual thing, even though that doesn't really fit with the rest of the song.
Joe from Boston, MaThere has never been or will ever be a better recording than this one. It's uniqueness, it's beauty and it's creativity has never been approached. John Lennon himself considered this song flawless. Paul's work on the bass is brilliant. Take the time and listen to the drumming work by Ringo and you will see why the others considered him the glue to the group. Pure genius by a group that is still miles ahead of anyone else.
Alf from Liverpool, United KingdomI saw a documntary, on George Martin, several years ago about his life, and the recording of this song. In the documentary he explained that the instrumental pieces in the link, between the 2 songs,and the end were so loud, and complicated, that he was the voice shouting the count of 4 beats to keep all the instruments in time and ending at the same point. So that's his voice doing the count that can be heard over the orchestra. I'm 80 - 90% certain I've got that right, from memory :-)
Matt from Lancaster, PaI swear, Bertrand from Paris is really George Martin, because he posted a fact on just about every Beatles song on the site!! :D
Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaHey, one of their best....!!!!Played the ending piano chord at a music store not too long ago, and just listened to it die out!
Emily from Oklahoma City, Ok"Never Goosty Any Other Way?????" What are they saying?
Roy from Granbania, MaI wholeheartedly agree with Syed from Lakewood CA. Very well said.
T. Michels from Venlo, NetherlandsBeautiful song, a true classic.
I especially love Paul's bit and the infamous Ah-ha-ha that follows it.
Here in my hometown, Venlo (That is in Limburg, The Netherlands :p) some 2 years ago a local version of Sgt. Pepper was performed.
Not to dis The Beatles, what is vertioul impossible, but I like that version more that the orginal.
Why? The music and vocals are on the same volume, and it sounds a lot more clear.
But I can still enjoy the orginal piece, namely because the 'ah-ha-ha' on that recording is way intenser.
Who did that anyway, the ah-ha-ha, I heard Mal Evans solo who was eventually overdubbed.
Ken from Louisville, KyIn the Anthology Director's Cut, George Martin revealed that the orginal idea was at the end of the song, all four Beatles would chant "Ommmm" as a sort of mantra. But when they heard it, they all agreed it sounded awful, so Paul and George Martin came up with the idea of the single piano chord to be played by the four Beatles, Martin, and Neil and Mal, simeltaniously on four separate pianos.
Rick from Mount Ephraim, Nj"What a masterpiece. Such haunting acoustic guitar and vocale by John. Gotta love Paul's bass it really carries the song along."
Do not discount the eerie piano during Paul's bit. Also, I think it's Ringo's best drumming. I know he thinks it's "Rain", but I think he does a much better job here.
Emily from Newcastle, AustraliaThe line "4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire" is quoted in the sea of holes in Yellow Submarine Animated Movie.
John Lennon says "This place reminds me of Blackburn, Lancashire"
Paul says "Oh, boy..." (like in the song)
George says: "How many do you think
there are in all?"
Jeremy Hillary Boob says: "Enough to fill the Albert Hall." (in the song again)
Emily from Newcastle, Australiai can hear that "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" note CLEARY!
before it says "never go-se any other way" or something like that. i was outside with my record player and i was playing help! and i listened to this song and my dog was happy and all of a sudden he went mental when it came to "and had a smoke" and then he went ok when it said "ahhhh-ahhh" and then he went mental again "turn you on". and he didnt stop until i took it off.
Brian from Cairns, Australiapaul and john harmonised so well on hundreds of songs [with a bit of George in there often] and we can not know the details of just how they interfaced on writing side, but that became clear by 1967 with strawberry/penny lane. But I dont recall any other song where they did separate verses in one song, AND entirely different styles [anyone disagree?]. John has the bad news of death but paul is off on the got out of bed stuff. But seems that "conflict" just adds to the "jagged" nature of the song, to make it great
Brian from Cairns, Australiayes indeed I remember watching "How I Won the War", which was of course a Brit jibe at Uncle Sam. It was hard to follow [like 44 years ago] but I remember pastel coloured soldiers and some really out there Python type satire. But the one that really remains is John Lennon gets shot dead [and does NOT come back] and he says in his best Liverpudlian "well we all knew this HAD to happen". Oh so true 14 years later
Olivia from Chicago, Ilim just gonna put it out there. the last part with the talking right before the high note makes me really really nervous
it will be a sad sad day when i cant hear the last note anymore
Sara from Victoria, BcI loved the song until the point where the melody completely changes with paul's lyrics....it just doesnt go together at all. Paul's lyrics should have been a seperate song all together.
Syed from Lakewood, CaIf there was ever a single defining moment in rock history, it is truly the writing and recording of this masterpiece by the Beatles. The lyrics evoke surreal mysticism, accompanied by an orchestral backdrop that paints a kaleidoscope of haunting images. Truly a collaboration of songwriting power by John Lennon and Paul McCartney that has never before been touched and has never since been equalled. This is the greatest song of all time.
Roy from Granbania, MaThis is my favorite song of all time. I could never explain why, but there's just something about it that fascinates me. I love almost every Beatles song, but this one, in my opinion, is the best.
Emma from Cleveland, OhThis is the best song by the beatles
Emma from Baltimore, MdThis is one of my favorite songs of all time. this IS truly the work of a genius. And there are NO 'paul is dead' references, I don't believe any of that crap. stop trying to read analyze a deeper meaning. same with the drugs, NOT ALL OF THEIR SONGS WERE ABOUT DRUGS. the beatles wrote their songs from the heart.
Rosario from Naples, Flthis song is CRAZY. I absolutley love it.
Dakota from Mansfield, OhWhen the song came out it was rummored that it was about Paul being dead-Also the song SGT.Pepper's lonely hearts club band reversed say's it was a fake moustache adding to the rummor.-At the end of this song on the CD say's never could be any other way, If you reverse that it say's now will Paul be back as superman-(or)-Now we'll f##k you like were supermen...?!?!?
Michelle from Brook Park, MnI love the guitar part for this song in the movie Across the Universe. Very good.. I grew up listening to the Beatles. My dad is a huge fan..and so am I.
Liam from Windsor, CaThis song is very good until right after McCartney's part, when John comes in singing the "ahh, ah ah ah..." ...then the song achieves greatness.
I rewind that part again and again each time i listen to the song.
Eric from Buffalo, NyWhat a masterpiece. Such haunting acoustic guitar and vocale by John. Gotta love Paul's bass it really carries the song along. Just read a while ago that the English Premier League soccer club Blackburn Rovers' fanclub is called "4,000 Holes" in reference to this song. How cool!
Ethan from Rockaway, Nj"I'd love to turn you on"
That line refers to "Turn on, Tune in, Drop out", phrase coined by Tim Leary to promote LSD. So he's saying "I want to turn you on" in the LSD kinda way. He's telling someone, maybe a girl, he wants to introduce her to LSD.
-Slag
3r1ca from Hollywood, FlI love how in the video for this song you can spot Michael Nesmith, from the Monkees and Mick Jagger along with others just hanging out. And John Lennons' voice is so hauntingly beautiful!
Gogo from New Yrk, NyGreatest song of all time....
Joel from Columbia, ScThis song does have several drug references but who cares? It's just a good piece of music.
Even though the fab four did get high not all of their music is drug related.
John from Florida, FlFirst of all you all seem to like this song alot and won't stop writing. This song is a basic song, the point of it was that life is full of these things that he mentions. Not about his mother being hit by a car there is no reference. and he wasn't creating lyrics like most people do they all claim that he got the lyrics straight from the Newspaper at the tea-shop that he went to while trying to write lyrics for a melody. They did alot of that and if you don't have them on tape saying otherwise then that is the truth. By the way the person counting you can certainly narow it down to four people. but my guess would be Ringo. Sure the How I won the war reference is clear but honestly let not jump to conclusion about things we can't have absolute knowledge about. Because people like me come here to get truth but you all seem to either fight or pass on rumors just be sure that you say that it is your belief rather than rock solid proof.
Eric from , Njbased on opinions I guess Coleman
Coleman from Richmond, Vato eric nj: there is no paul is dead references in the abbey road cover or in this song. ive read that too, but you cant form an opinion based on one source. there is no intricate references in the photo, they took this because they had no album cover and shot it outside the studio. you can search online and see that there is alternate photos, and all of your "clues" are missing. There are some where paul is shoed and not smoking, the cars are different, and the people are different. This is a photo and nothing more. too many people try to read into it because they want something to be there that isnt.
i love the story of i am the walrus, where john purposely wrote confusing lyrics to watch how people would analyze them. dont read into it too much, there are hidden meanings but not everything is a reference to something, sometimes its just the words that come out of your mouth when youre writing a song.
Eric from , NjHi I'm Eric and I'm 15 and I am a die hard Beatles fan, I'm not going to type properly so please excuse the lack of care in my typing...I love the beatles and I love this song, I think that the beatles were reffering to the "Paul is dead" theory because this and the abbey road album cover. On the album cover as most of you most likleh know, the four men have the look as if they all are at a funeral, Lennon dressed in white which represented the church and the color white was a mourning color in the eastern orthodox cultures, Ringo dressed in black as if he was the undertaker, Paul had no shoes on which refers to cultures who tend to bury bodies without shoes, walked out of step with the other 3 beatles, smoked a cigarete and was holding it in his right hand when we is a lefty,and his eyes were closed, and as for George Harrison, he was dressed in scrowngy work clothes which made him as if he were the gravedigger. Also, the cars are lined up along with people on one side of the street as if it were a funeral, and on the car in the left side of the road, the licence plate says LMW28IF (Linda McCartney widowed) and (28 if paul had lived and abbey road was recorded when paulbwas 27. There are also man clues like on sergent peppers album cover, the right hand raised at paula head is an eastern culture symbol of death and he is holding a black clarinet and the rest are holing golden instruments. He was suppositly replaced by the winner of a look alike contest for Paul and his namebwas William Campbell. (William Shears -Billy Shears) well i thing its all bull but on occasion I tend to wonder...well that's all u have to say for now... Sorry if it went off topic a tad
Susan from Toronto, CanadaJohn Lennon told PLAYBOY MAGAZINE that he read in the newspaper, "a story about 4,000 potholes in the streets of Blackburn, Lancashire that needed to be filled."
N.i. from Baltimore, MdIf you look at the later Beatles songs as a whole, and particularly this album, there's no question they stuck in many drug references. (McCartney even admitted it a few years ago.) That doesn't mean their music was about nothing but drugs. Some people here don't seem to get that lyrics can have more than one meaning. There's no reason to assume that the line "I'd love to turn you on" has one intended meaning only.
Dawn from Worcester, MaTo peter, who wrote about how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall. Yes you are correct about it being a holes. as john didn't seem to think too much of government ours or his own.
Ashley from Santa Fe Springs, CaMy dad told me that at the end of the song about 44 seconds left...u can hear someone get off of a chair...it squeaks
u have 2 put the volume up pretty loud
Brandon from Philadelphia, PaBeth, "I'd love to turn you on" is a huge drug reference.
Christopher from Rome, GaWhat a truly BRILLIANT song from the greatest songwriting duo of all time! Lennon and McCartney were pure genius. The drugs made that much more evident.
Beth from Manhatten, NyIt was banned from the BBC because of the line "I'd love to turn you on," because they thought it was a drug reference but it really wasn't. The idiots at the BBC banned a perfectly good song because they looked to far into an innocent lyric.
Samantha from Bowie, MdBasil from MT. what is wrong with you man. I think you need to really look into some things and get them straight because what you're saying just is not right...
Beans, and Paul and John switching parts. I think you should read into that a BIT more.
Mark from Byrdstown, TnThe Beatles are the greatest recording act of all time.They have sold more pieces of music than anyone ever. Case closed.Elvis has been dead 30 years and he's STILL jealous of the Beatles!
Rebecca from Sandusky, OhI love the Beatles! My fave song by them is probably Get Back, and also I like Here Comes the Sun. We saw a Cirque De Soliel in Vegas called The Beatles love, and it was awesome!!!!
Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaWell, Peter Griffin, be 100% certain all you want. John said it was from a newspaper article that was complaining about the holes in the road. "I must have counted 4,000 holes". He used Albert Hall in the lyrics BECAUSE IT RHYMED. Sheesh. They spent more time working on the music (which at the time was revolutionary) than putting intricately coded messages in their lyrics, or backwards messages, or anagrams, or whatever.
Sircha from Perth, Australia"how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" We'll probably never know what Lennon was referring to here, but it would be pure Lennon to be referring to arse (ass) holes... and you can bet he would have loved taking that shot at high society.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiI am 100% certain that when John sings "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall," he meant how many a**holes it would take to fill the Albert Hall. Think about it. It doesn't sound that odd, considering this is John Lennon we're talking about.
Mixermatt from Bloomington, MnYes your all right about this that is the best ever recorded, but as for the " beep " in the song it my have been done for a reason, the Beatles where knownin to do things like that, or the mics may been picking up something that the beatles could not here or pick up on till later, and found that it could not be removed.
Gene from San Diego, CaThis is one freaky awesome song. I love how the whole album strings together, especially with this song. Oh, and Heather, I agree with Paul, I think you are an idiot.
Marc from Perth, AustraliaThe 2 parts to this great song are brilliantly interwoven. There's Lennon's subject - an introspective deep thinker, idly mulling over "momentous events" of the day - a car crash, a war. Then there's the orchestral piece - maybe representing chaos but perhaps also representing a kind of "warp factor 9" - we're light years from McCartney's subject - A Joe Anybody from Anywhere having a typical day - late out of bed for college / work, a a slap-dash and he's out then a daydream while commuting - nothing to ponder. Then we're spiraled back to the ponderer for a final witty, philosophical observation. Then the final orchestral piece flying us out and back to our own lives. I wonder if Tarantino and Robert Altman (et al) were Beatles fans?
Kevin from London, EnglandGeorge from Honkers - sorry but it's not a full size orchestra, but even if it was that was old hat even by 67. Buddy Holly amongst others used orchestras.
Marc from New York, NyPaul McCartney is the one singing the "ahh's"(dreamy section) after his own section of the song ("went into a dream") I myself, and I'm sure many others thought this was John Lennon, but it *is* indeed Paul singing this section, as stated in the book "Recording The Beatles" 2006. Wow.
Drea from Phoenix, AzActually, this song is IS 2 parts, John and Paul. AND the " I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph" was about an artical saying that paul Mccartney was dead (which obviously he wasnt). The name was misprinted, it was supposed to be Tara browne. But the laugh was because it was printed as Paul... WITH HIS PICTURE!
Chinchu from Guayaquil, South AmericaI only like Lennon's section... Orchestral and McCartney's section is just too much... The problem with the Beatles at that time is that they thought they could write anything and everybody would love it... They were right though...
Meredith from Wauwatosa, WiThis song is so different from all their other songs, but I love it! How can I not? I'm a Beatles freak!
Scott from Boston, MaI have the version without the voices at the end. It's 5:06. I've never heard the version with the voices. I have to find that somewhere.
Liam from New York, NyThis song was progressive rock before it was a term.
Mr. B from Doon Bish, EnglandThis song is rather wonderfull! Well done Mr. Lennon and Mr. McCartney!
Heather from Los Angeles, CaI'm not such a Beatles fan. Not sure why everyone worships them. It's a good song but.....I've heard better. By the way Ryan in Worcester MA, you must've thought long and hard to come up with that paragraph.
Sam from Bowie, MdThis song, when I hear it, I imagine when they recorded it, the studio being very serious. Everything in this song to me, every note played and sang is very emotional. The orchastra part to me it makes me feel like it's leading me up to the end of my life and at the very end I'm in a state of bliss...then I hear the part.haha(Lennon/Mccartney singing)
I love hearing the bits that aren't part of the song. Most of them I had never known about until I read the comments and listened about 5 times, as I am know.
everyone says it and I am To.
This song just is everything...
Paul Bert Bilog from Los Angeles, Cathe greatest song of all time.
nothing beats the beatles.....
the greatest rock n roll band ever...
Andrew from Bartlett, TnI freaking love this. It a classic Beatles song off Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiJohn did mean the number of a**holes it would take to fill Albert Hall.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, Ri"A few seconds after this ends, at the end of the album, there is a loop of incomprehensible Beatles studio chatter that was spliced together. This was put there so vinyl copies would play this continuously in the run-out groove, sounding like something went horribly wrong with the record. Kids, ask your parents about vinyl." Well, to be more exact, according to Wikipedia, it would play the chatter on and on without end until you took the record off. Yep-an infinite loop. CDs would not allow an infinite loop, so it ends at 5:34 on CDs.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiThe version I have on my MP3 player is the one with the voices at the end. It is 5:34 in length. How long is the one without the voices? Because they bother me.
Peter Griffin from Quahog, RiWhat's with the "Never can be any other way!" bit at the very end?
Steve from Liverpool, EnglandI didn't read all the notes here so not sure if this was mentioned or not. one theory to the words about how many holes it takes to fill the Albert hall may be aimed at the national front a Racist group that was always demonstrating at the time and it refers to how many ass holes it takes to fill the Albert hall which is in Blackburn I don't see someone counting holes in a roads but the Albert hall dose seat about 400 !!!!!
Brandon from Thurmont, MdI don't know if anyone had wrote this yet, but if you leave the song in at the end of the album you hear "there never could be any other way", and if you reverse it they say he's saying "Will Paul be back as superman"
Stargazer from MadrasTHIS IS MY FAVORITE BEATLE SONG - PERIOD!
Joe from Hackensack, NjYou listen to classic rock radio and this song sounds like no other before it or after it. Along with Tomorrow Never Knows the Beatles most original song.
Tristan from Philadelphia, PaThis song is not only great and revolutionary, but the best on Sgt. Peppers. It also has many of the hints of "Pauls death" putting those clues together is just fun, look it up if you never heard about the rumors.
Simon from Chattanooga , Tnthis is a great piece of music. good work, beatles.
Ryan from Worcester, MaWho cares if this song is about drugs or sex? I mean realy folks. The Beatles were rock stars. They did drugs. They were fairly open about it. All of them were guys, I bet that means they liked sex too. Why not write songs about the things you enjoy. If the song is about one thing or the other, I don't know. I didn't write it. You didn't write it either. Try listening to the song on various drugs, and see if any of them make the song stand out more, or try having sex to the song and see if it makes the sex better. As for what people have heard Paul or John, or whoever have said about the song, remember that they were in the spotlight and said what they wanted people to hear. They make their money from people buying the music, and will say whatever it takes to sell an album. On the topic of this song, I love it.
Stephen from Claymont, Dethe ahhh part at the end is frickin amazing
Jim from Arcata, CaI'm pretty sure the entry near the top of this page is incorrect in saying the monumental piano chord was the product of George Martin and all 4 Beatles coming down on the same chord simultaneously. I think it was Martin, Lennon, McCartney, Ringo and Mal Evans. In any event, I'm pretty sure Harrison wasn't involved.
Kristi from Hillsboro, MoThis song is referenced in David Bowie's song, "Young Americans." John Lennon sometimes jammed with Bowie and played guitar on Bowie's song "Fame."
Kristi from Hillsboro, MoThis song is referenced in David Bowie's song, "Young Americans." John Lennon sometimes jammed with Bowie and played guitar on the Bowie's song "Fame."
Dave from Cebu, PeruThis is my favorite song from the beatles but I have many favorite beatle song but I chose this for the registration of Songfacts
(I'm a new member)
Joe from Perth, Australiadoes paul say never could be any other way over and over what else is said
Jim from Arcata, CaDear "Poop",
There are several other songs where Lennon and McCartney take turns on lead vocal. To a degree, "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is one of them. Two songs where Lennon clearly sings the verses and McCartney just as clearly sings the choruses are "Hard Day's Night" and "Baby's In Black"--both of which I rank among the Beatles' 25 greatest songs. And then there's the one I rank #5, which Lennon wrote and sings the intro of, but on which McCartney sings lead most of the rest of the way: the stillingly beautiful "If I Fell." The next time you hear that song, focus on Lennon's harmonies at the end... gorgeous.
But I'll take "A Day in the Life" (#3) over any of them, including "If I Fell." What a monumental song! The "conversation" between Lennon and the orchestra after McCartney's verse is one of the most impassioned, profound moments in the history of popular music--assuming, for the moment, that this song should be called "popular music" and not "classical music." In my mind, that's very much an open question.
George from Belleville, NjThis is further proof that Lennon and McCartney were inovaters in their field and were breaking barriers in pop music,ahead of all the competeters.This song evokes all kinds of imagery in a kalidescope of psycedelic thoughts.I think that A Day In The Life is one of the most beautifully haunting songs ever written.
Poop from Poopville, MoJohn and Paul also sang seperate parts in "I've got a feeling" on Let it Be. Also on "she's leaving home on sgt peppers (well thats the same album) and on "julia" from the white album.. im sure theres more but I can't think of any. Of course in many songs one is singing lead while the other sings harmony, but as for 2 leads thats all i know of... i think.
Shannon from Toronto, CanadaI really like this song but I also find it makes me feel nervous due to the building of the notes at the end.
N.i. from Baltimore, MdWhile Paul may be the more versatile singer, I've always preferred John's voice, finding it more soulful and resonant. The difference can be clearly discerned in this song, one of the few Beatles records (perhaps the only one!) to feature Paul and John singing separate sections.
Kent from Sweden, SwedenWith real good headphones you can hear someone hushing at the end of this great song:-).
About the drug reference Jim wrote about: definately a "drug-line". Paul McCartney admitted that Got to get you into my life also was about drugs.
Sean from Trenton, Njwhen i was a kid i thought they said "never goosey on the pot-belly."
but this is the best song the beatles ever done, and the beatles are the best band in the world, so this song is the greatest song in the world. i agree with Jim, ringo's drumming and paul's bassline are so remarkable when you really listen closely.
Caleigh from Austin, TxFor some reason when I hear the lady at the end my eyes go back and forth, and it feels very odd. I like it :)
Jim from Arcata, CaThis is my #3 favorite Beatles song and my #4 favorite total song. I never weary of hearing it. The "conversation" between Lennon and the orchestra, immediately after the McCartney verse, is almost unbelievably imaginative and beautiful. Also, if you listen to the song and focus exclusively on Ringo's drums, and listen to it again but focus exclusively on Paul's bass, you'll see how magnificent their funereal contributions were. That's hard to do, though, because it requires distracting yourself from Lennon's other-worldly vocal. What a song!
These people who don't think this song is about drugs are wrong, wrong, wrong. McCartney admitted, on the "Anthology" shows, that after they'd finished this song, he stated to Lennon about the I'd-love-to-turn-you-on line, "Now we've said it"--and he sure didn't mean "now we've said something about sex." He was admitting what anyone from that generation (e.g., me) knew almost at once: It's about drugs. It's not merely the product of many creative, imaginative acid trips (e.g., "I Am the Walrus," which I like even better than this song); it's about a drug experience and a desire to turn the rest of us on.
So ignore what some dilettante of a Music prof may have told you--much like the nonsense some Music profs spout that "Hey Jude" is about heroin, lol. THIS is the Beatles' definitive drug song. And if that offends you, don't take it out on the song. The classical music people overwhelmingly think this is the Beatles' magnum opus. A radio station in San Jose (KLIV) had a contest circa 1970 for favorite songs NOT released as singles, and then played the Top 300, in ascending order. I admit I was a bit suspicious when "When I'm 64" ended up at #64. But the #1 song, ahead of "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "In a Gadda da Vida," was none other than "A Day in the Life." It was also the winner in an S.F. station's "the history of rock-n-roll contest," which struck me as singular, because if there's one thing this song isn't, that's rock.
There's never been a song like this one, and there never can be. Jeff Beck, produced by George Martin, did it great justice on his famous guitar, but there ultimately is only one great, mind-reeling recording of this song: the original.
Ahhhh-ah-ah-ah, ah-ah-ahhhh, ah-ah-ahhh....
Hanna from Trondheim, NorwayI can hear the high tone at the end, it last for about 3-4 seconds. Cool!
Love this song.
Karen from Luton, EnglandI have an early UK mono vinyl pressing of Sgt Pepper's. On my version the "noise" heard on the final groove, when played backwards in a loop, is clearly the voice of John Lennon saying "Put it back you cheeky bu**er" with a "Ha Ha, Hee Hee" laughter in the background. Had to censor this to comply with guidelines!
Karen from Luton, EnglandI have an early UK mono vinyl pressing of Sgt Pepper's. On my version the "noise" heard on the final groove of side two, when played backwards in a loop, is clearly the voice of John Lennon saying "Put it back you cheeky bugger" with a repeated "Ha Ha,Hee Hee" laughter in the background.
Tiffany from San Diego, CaRingo's drum fills are amazing on this track. This is not technical drumming, folks. Eat your heart out Pete Best, you ain't touching this.
Tesla from Lander, WyHmm. I really like this song, although the first time that I heard the ending, I was in the other room doing the dishes and it scared the living poo out of me! I was like... What WAS that?! But this song is so wonderful with John's voice that can chill your bones. Gah... I love the Beatles too much. Any ways, at the end, I hear, " Never do see any other one." But I bet that's wrong... >< Thanksss! ^-^
George from Yonkers, NyI think this is the first rock song with a full symphony orchestra.
Ekristheh from Halath, United StatesThank you, Basil in Skylark Sound City and John in Jersey City, you made my night!
Mistergreg from Evanston, IlNothing anylitical to say.It's just a great song.From beginning to end a great song.
Ed from Huntsville, AlIf you turn the CD up at the end-WAY Up, you can hear the squeak and the 'Shh' at 4:51. According to Geoff Emerick, recording engineer at EMI and the author of the wonderful book 'Here, There, and Everywhere', Ringo's shoe squeaked.
Grace from L-port, Pathis was used as an intro with neil young's live rust dvd.
Dan from Indianapolis, InI always kinda felt like after the Sgt. Pepper title track reprised, the "audience" left the theater and the band stayed there all night and entertained themselves, experimenting and trying stuff for their next shows.
Mario from Rio De Janeiro, BrazilWOW! How many Beatles fans.
Adding a tiddy bit, The intro to "I am The Walrus" is a variation of what John heard while tripping on acid sitting at the patio of the apartment he was in, when a fire truck went by. Also, the line "...now I know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" was not taken lightly by the Royal family, who new exactly "who" were the holes he spoke of...
Anne from York , EnglandThat noise at the end of the song is a piano chord that last's about 40 seconds and the end of the album they are voices that are recorded backwards and forward at the same time, on vinyl it was recorded as a concentric run out groove.
Allen from Bethel, AkWHAT on earth is that noise at the end? "Never goosey-Andy over where"?
Joe from Montvale, NjThe piano feedback or ending with the orchestra buildup showed the Beatles avant garde and pop- rock approach was perfected here an approach that would influence many future progressive rockers.
Jon from Fort Collins, CoThis song shows the beatles at their absolute best, which was as good or better than anyone else at their best. Also give George Martin his due credit for organizing many of the Beatles sometimes random song parts
Sal from Bardonia , NyThe start of symphonic rock and a great combination of pyschedelic music with avant rock.
Sal,Bardonia,NY
Fyodor from Denver, CoThanks for the feedback, Steve, and thanks for the Wikipedia link, Ryan, the latter showing that I'm not the first to notice this! Too bad there's no indication that the Wikipedia writer realized the song was recorded before Deep Purple's version and thus I feel my mystery has not been absolutely solved, though if Steve is write that "Hush" was written sometime in 1967, that would indeed seem to give the nod to "A Day in the Life" coming first since the recording of it actually started as early as January 19th of that year. See: http://www.icce.rug.nl/~soundscapes/DATABASES/AWP/aditl.shtml#q2
Ryan from Middlesex, NjHeres the link for the wikipedia article on the song http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Day_In_The_Life
Ryan from Middlesex, NjI CANT BELIVE THIS WASN'T MENTIONED!!
The way in which John Lennons voice echos through out his words was achieved by a new technique that no one else had ever attempted before. What they did was they sent a feed from John's vocal mic into a mono tape machine and then tape the output. . . and then feed that back in again. Then we'd turn up the record level until it started to feed back on itself and give a twittery sort of vocal sound.
This ultimatly cause the existence of two voices repeating the exact same words. if you listen closly you can hear Lennons words repeating evey time he speaks. This song is pure genious and is my favorite song of all time.
Ryan from Middlesex, NjI CANAT BELIVE THIS WASN'T MENTIONED!!!
Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick recalled: "We'd send a feed from John's vocal mic into a mono tape machine and then tape the output. . . and then feed that back in again. Then we'd turn up the record level until it started to feed back on itself and give a twittery sort of vocal sound." Quote taken from wikipedia.
Andrew from Essex, EnglandKen, the dog whistle was at the end of side 2 of the LP - it was added when George Martin told the band that there were notes that only dogs could hear; according to Mark Lewishon, the tone was added directly to the master. The 15kHz frequency may have be chosen as I don't think vinyl records could reproduce tones of higher frequency. Dogs, ISTR, can hear up to 30kHz - this would be impossible to record even on CDs so the lower frequency was used which I'm pleased to say I can still hear! But, as Ken said, the tone is nothing to do with Day in the Life.
Jennifer from Boston, MaGreat Song! The person counting in the background is Mal Evans, a Beatles roadie. If this is wrong, please correct me. Thanks!
Steve from Fenton, MoNice catch fyodor from Denver. I'd never noticed the similarity between the melody in Hush to John's ahs following Paul's vocal. I was so intrigued by this similarity, I looked into the Beatles side of it. A Day In The Life was written, recorded, and mixed by February 23rd, 1967. It looks like Joe South was credited with writing Hush sometime in 1967. The similarity is probably a coincidence, but if there was any lifting, I'd wager it was Joe South lifting from A Day In The Life.
Fyodor from Denver, CoI've long noticed that the dreamy "ah" part sang by Lennon after Paul's middle 8 was very much the same melody, although sung much more slowly and to very different effect, as the hook to Deep Purple's first hit, "Hush" (sung with the syllable, "nah", in the latter). I'm pretty sure "Hush" came later and I felt smug in my Beatlemania thinking Deep Purple had a hit that made major use of a melody lifted from a Beatles song in which it played a relatively minor role. But then I learned that "Hush" was written by one Joe South, who also wrote "Down In The Boondocks" and had a hit on his own with "Games People Play". I've read that Deep Purple learned the song from a version that Joe South had already recorded, making it quite possible that the composer's version preceded "A Day In The Life". So, who lifted from whom? I've begun to suspect it was John who lifted from Joe based largely on the fact that "Games People Play" has a somewhat reminiscent "nah" part. Seems unlikely South would have written this similar yet different part if he only got the idea for the first one by copying the Beatles song. Of course, it would still have been genius for Lennon to stick a melody originally used for a bouncy, happy song in the middle of such a sad and ethereal song and make it work so well, but not quite as much genius if he didn't actually write the melody himself! It might also be coincidence and they both may have came up with the melody independently, but, heh-heh, I kinda doubt it. Listen and you'll see (or rather hear) the similarity! Anyway, if anyone knows when Joe South recorded his own version of "Hush", I'd sure be curious to know. His first album didn't come out until 1968, but he may have recorded it as a single before that. Thanks!!
Steven from West Carrollton, OhVERY trippy song... kinda creepy at the end .
John from Dorset, EnglandI notice the chord at the end is 42 seconds. According to 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy' and indeed, to scientists, 42 IS the answer to the universe! I don't read anything into that... I just think it's a great co-incidence! I bought my first ever record (From Me To You) in 1963, as a 10 year old, and now my 23 year old rock drummer daughter can drum EVERY Beatles record...
John, Dorset, England
Annabelle from Eugene, OrI've heard what some people refer to as the "Dog Whistle". And to me, the sound reminds me of the sound that I hear shortly after I pop one of those big bubble wraps in my ear.
Shaun from LondonShe Loves You is a better song.
Shaun from LondonThis song was banned by the BBC for awhile.
Buzz from Towntown, MiWell first of all this song is amazing, but second of all I just noticed something that blew my mind. At the very end I hear 2 things... at the same time. Listen to it, at first I hear "never could be any other way", but I can also hear "never to see any other way"... Im freaking out right now, thats nuts. Please some1 tell me if u can hear both lines at the same time.
Jon from Oakridge, OrO.K. I HAVE TO SAY IT, THIS IS THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME. I took a lot of time to contemplate over this, and I could only come to this conclusion. Lot of close seconds though.
Ryan from Brentwood, CaThis is one of the most talented and best songs out there by any band. It makes me regret not having learned any musical insturnment : (
Derek from South Jersey, Nj1:43
Switch click as orchestra comes in (Right)
1:44-2:16, 3:50-4:19
Mal Evans is heard counting the bars from 1 to 24; only about the first dozen are audible, starting at about three to 12
Right ear - intake of breath
An alarm clock sounds to mark the end of the first 24 bars [1]
Someone says "One" to mark the downbeat. Quieter, but audible on the CD is the trailing "two three four" (right)
Just before and after the words "had a smoke", Lennon starts talking and carrying on, most audibly a loud "hoooo" under the word "smoke" (Right)
(Left channel) sounds like a cough
A chair squeaking (three creaks total). Also reported as a "nose sniffle", paper rustling, someone saying "Shh!", sustain pedal being released on the piano ...
4:52-end * NEW *
I'm failing to verify reports I occasionally get of the sound of an air conditioning fan in this area of the track. I've read it in Lewisohn, but I can't find it to verify for myself. If anyone can actually hear this, give me some precise pointer as to where it is supposed to be, please! If I can find it and extract it I will put an audio clip of this section up. Also, remind me I said that if you do find it!
http://www.stevesbeatles.com/songs/a_day_in_the_life.asp
Derek from South Jersey, NjI just listened to this song about 5 times to find all the observations.
Jonathon from Clermont, FlThis is a prime example of a Lennon-McCartney song and the creativity of the Beatles and George Martin. John sings the main narrative and the "ahhhh" parts and Paul sings the middle piece. John's lyrics came from him reading the Daily Mail, and Paul contributed his part from another song he had been writing. McCartney conducted the orchestra, telling them to scale the notes in their own fashion, which resulted in the crazy sound. This is also one of Ringo's best drum performances. I'm not sure how much participation George had in the song, but he might have played the acoustic guitar part while John played piano. Anyways, definitely in the top 10 Beatles songs.
Ian from Lethbridge, CanadaThis song blows me away every time I hear it. Incredible song from an incredible band!
Basil from Skylark Sound City, MtIt all becomes very ironic after the cast of Seinfeld were dubbed 'The Beatles of Comedy,' when, in fact, the Beatles were the Beatles of comedy ... and, of course, the Beatles of the Beatles. All such boasts ("The Beatles of...") are usually false. The world has yet to fully discover the true extent of the contribuitions those four super-geniuses unselfishly gave it. Don't get me started on the space program and that celluloid lie entitled "The Right Stuff."
Basil from Skylark Sound City, MtAnother interesting tidbit: the singers aren't who you think. In fact, that's John singing "Woke up, fell out of bed..." and Paul singing the verses: "I read the news today oh boy..." They wanted to see if they could pull it off. The lads did, after all, know every centimeter inside and out of one another. Impersonations were a mere parlor trick. Often phone interviews were conducted in the same manner. In fact, Ringo was so good at it that he later went on to be a comedian. The global phenomenon Richard Pryor was, indeed, Richard Starkey in black face. This explains the descending caliber of his music in the '70s. If you watch Live on the Sunset Strip, look how he's constantly drumming the side of his leg, it's uncanny and cannot be explained away. John, as Latin chanteuse Charo, was, however, just a rumor. Inspired, George became Lamont in Sanford & Son; and Paul, "Boom, Boom Washington" (the bass is dead giveaway.)
Basil from Skylark Sound City, MtMartin in fact was silencing Ringo's notorious gas. The chords were constructed during the infamous Starr/beans experiment. Not unlike Townshend's Lighthouse, Martin recorded Ringo as he ate 15 cans. The results were staggering and yielded the ensuing crop of profound, pop-revolutionizing lyrics: 'he blew his mind out in a car,' (simply put, one never drove with Ringo in the car windows up) No. 2: Even in Harrison's All Things Must Pass, "My Sweet Lord" -- though some consider this a spiritual number, it's actually a favorite utterance of George while accidentally inhaling Mr. Starkey's essence. 'I really want to see' if you (Starr) can take that outside... That would be ducky. thanks."
Hannah from Indianapolis, InThis is the first Beatles song I ever heard. The ending was on the radio, and my dad was like, "You have to hear how long the piano chord lasts."
John sings most of it, Paul just sings the "Woke up, fell out of bed," part.
Mark from Grand Rapids, MiI don't know if it's been mentioned in the massive amount of comments below (I read about a third of them), but at the very end of the song, as the pianos are fading out, if you turn it WAY up you can hear a squeaking sound and a "Shh!".
It's one of the band members shifting on his seat (Ringo, I believe), making the piano bench squeak a bit, and Martin admonishing him to sit still.
Something you'll never hear again, since everything these days is digital and plastic. It's really an endearing part of the song, I think.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScYeah it's definitely John singing it.
Anthony from Antwerp, Belgium41
Monica from San Francisco, Ca"Id love to turn you on" is NOT A DRUG REFRENCE!!! I read that Paul mcCartney said that he didn't mean it like that he mean to tell people he would like to turn them on to THE TRUTH
Bram from Zoetermeer, NetherlandsIt is deffenitly John who sings the -ahhhahh-bit before the last verse. You can hear it on the jelly kind of voice he has, which sounds great there.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI think it's John who sings it. Paul's singing would have been lighter if he had sung it.
Guitargod from Melbourne, AustraliaI think it is John who sings it - it's a little too hoarse for Paul and Paul usually sang the higher harmonies. But I could be wrong ;)
Evan from Orlando, FlDoes anybody know for sure who sings the "aaaaaah" section of the song right before John's last verse? I've always thought it was John but recently I've been debating that with people who believe it is Paul.
Frank from Las Vegas, NvJohn Lennon said in an Interview with Playboy that Pauls Wrote the Words I'd Love to Turn you On and John Loved it and put it in It was a little Risque for the time But they did it anyways.
This song is simply two Great Minds coming together with different songs and making It work so Beautifully. Thats why The Mccartney Lennon team will always be the Best ever
Pinkmonty from London, Englandman, do not, i repeat, DO NOT keep your volume up at teh normal level when listning to this damn song....tis good tho :D
Bram from Zoetermeer, Netherlandsbtw, as an ANSWER to what I just read, John says on the intro on the anthology; 'sugerplum fairy' or something. George Martin said that once.
Bram from Zoetermeer, NetherlandsI think Lennon's part is the best and most importnat part to the song. Without that, it wouldn't have been this kind of good song. That atmosphere..
Andres Anleu from Guatemala, Otheri love this song, one of my favorites, i think its the best lennon-mccarntey and martin collaboration. i am also mentioning george martin cause i think he contributed a lot to this song.
Bill from Houston, TxRegarding the "Now we know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" lyrics.
I always thought the working class lads were thumbing their nose at the "high-brows" of the very proper English society; witness the description of Albert Hall from Google:
"The Royal Albert Hall is one of a group of institutions designed to showcase the best talent in Britain. Its compatriots are the Royal College of Art, the Imperial College of Science and Technology, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum. Construction of the Hall was made possible by proceeds from the Great Exhibition of 1851, the first exposition which we now know as World?s Fairs. Today the Hall is a must-see for visitors to London and showcases the world?s best talent. The building features a spectacular iron and glass dome. Resembling a spider web, this structure is more amazing when you remind yourself how long ago it was built. Prince Albert never lived to see the completion of the building named in his honor. He died in 1861, but his widow, Queen Victoria was present at the opening ceremonies."
So the lyrics say, "Now we know how many (deleted) it takes to fill the Albert Hall."
Sean from San Diego, CaI remember reading "Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Songs" and this was one of the top ones. I listened to it like 3 times and went "What's so great about it?". Then, one night, after getting my first kiss, I was walking home, listening to it in the complete dark, volume all the way up, and I was just absolutely blown away. I find it weird that one of my most vivid memories happens to be about listening to a Beatles song. But then again, it is A Day in the Life.
My favorite song of all time. I've listened to it hundreds of times and it never gets old.
Scott from Montgomery, AlThis is the genius of The Beatles. To have your song debated 40 years after it was written clearly shows a truly amazing band.
Aylin from MontrealI think if I hear anything more about backwards messages, I'm going to go mad.
Ashley from Moncton, CanadaI agree with the comment below! But I have to say, for some reason, the orchestra creeps me right out.
Julian from Anaheim, Cait's amazing 4 or 5 guys can come up with this stuff.
Gerard from Honikiwi, New ZealandEach separate part isn't actually that great, but once you put them with the greatest instrumental and chord ever, you get a truly amazing song. Also as well as Bowie referencing it, Oasis (of course) ripped it off in "Let There Be Love," complete with transition from crap singer (Liam) to good singer (Noel) and an ascending string (or mellotron) part, (but not atonal).
Vince from San Diego, CaI love this song as well as "She's Leaving Home". But all this crap about Pauls part of the song refering to drugs when he writes about smoking upstairs on a bus and dreaming, is exactly that! Crap! In England during that time the Brits used double decker buses and smoking was allowed on the top deck. So many of the "working Class lads" would head upstairs and then light up, and yes look out the window and day dream of better days to come or usually Friday Night when they got paid and could go out again" so get off the drug crap cauz I can tell ya that during that time in the UK it was not as prevelent then as it was over here or as it is there today!! I know I lived during those times as a working class lad!
Greg from Victoria, CanadaRight up there in my all time favotite 10 songs...even with the crazy noise thing....I must be getting old. I used to love the screeching part.
Zack from Dublin, OhBest Beatles song ever
Mr. Pitters from Funky Town, CaI like McCartney's part of this song, it really sets apart from the rest of the song. I think "I'd love to turn you on" is more about drugs than a sexual reference, consnidering the many other references to drugs in the song:"have a smoke...fell into a dream..." And what happened to all the bonus tracks on the CD?
Jon from Oakridge, OrI love this song, very well put together. Lennon and McCartney ARE geniuses.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThe annoying beep you're probably talking about is the high-pitched noise, that's been mentioned a few times.
Fremont from Concord, NhWhat the hell is that extremely annoying beep at the end of the record? It's on both the LP and CD versions. The sound makes me want to go mad!
Steve from Walsall, EnglandListen real loud on cans - when Paul sings "found my way upstairs and had a smoke " you'll hear John ( I think ) cheer . . . .
Matúš from Trnava, EuropeOne of the best songs I could only imagine.
Came on Earth from the outer space.
Incredible - God bless the Beatles.
Phil from Niagara Falls, Canadaa great beatles song!
Dennis from Anchorage, AkIf you want to really listen to something backwards from a CD, put the CD in your computer, rip the track to a wave file and use an audio editor to reverse the wave file. I also used to have a 4-track cassette player that made playing backwards music pretty easy, so I have heard that weird little blurb backwards plenty of times. Amid all the noise, there really is a voice that says "Paul is dead." This was probably just John or George being silly, but it ended up serving as a great rallying point for the 'Paul-is-dead' rumors later on.
Dustin from Grand Rapids, MiDoes anyone know what it means at the end of the Sgt Peppers version of this song where someone says "never to see any other way" over and over? There's another song that does that, Play Crack The Sky by Brand New.
Bridget from Montreal, CanadaI don't understand the holes in Royal Albert Hall reference. I know it's probably another drug reference. But still I LOVE this song. My favorite on the album. It's so cool and dreamesque.
Dan from Fairmont, MnThe final piano chord, E-major, was played on three different pianos, with six sets of hands. John, Paul, George, Ringo, George Martin, and Mal Evans.
If you listen closely at the end, you can hear someone getting off the piano stool, and the wood floor creaking slightly toward the end of the song.
Joe from Trumbull, CtDoes anybody know what they say at the end? It sounds like "never could be any other way", but with a definite psychadelic twist. The line (accompanied by laughing) makes sense at the end of Sgt. Pepper if you buy into some of the working theories of what the album is about. This part of the song was cut out of the single version, you would have to listen to the album version to hear it. If anybody knows why they put it in or what it means I would be interested to know it.
Andrew from Gold Coast, AustraliaBrilliant Song. You can actually hear pop music reach its peak.
Julian from Anaheim, CaThe whole is really amazing! But, whithout Paul's middle part and the orchestra, it wouldn't be so great! Probably top 5 favorite Beatle tunes.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThank you John. I knew how people listened to it on turn-tables, but I didn't know how people listened to the songs backwards on cd's. My dad has a turn table, so I have listened to music on vinyl before, just none of it backwards.
Steve from Fenton, MoIn my opinion, this is the Beatles single greatest recording. I got used to "A Day in the Life" fading out to silence. I prefer that version to the repeating gibberish and the dog whistle. Fading out to silence kind of leaves you in a state of meditation as you reflect on the amazing recording you've just heard. I agree with George Martin, even on the first take of this song, John's vocal sends shivers down the spine. He has a vocal unlike anything else he ever recorded.
Ashley Jade from Cleveland, GaI heard the really high pitched sound at the end and it made my ears hurt like crazy
John from Jersey City, NjTo Stefanie Magura of Rock Hill, SC: The old-fashioned way to listen to music/lyrics backwards was to gently lay your turntable's stylus on your LP/45 and spin the record counter-clockwise.
The easiest way to do it these days seems to be (1) placing your CD in your dvd player, (2) fast forwarding to the end of the song to which you wish to listen and (3) pressing the Rewind button.
!gninetsil nuf evaH
John from Jersey City, NjWith regard to the closing question of Stephen T. of Alta Loma, CA: I'm afraid the answer must be "no". You aren't entitled to opinions (regardless of how they're spelled), because such a reckless attempt at expression could easily lead you astray (not to be confused with an ashtray), down the all-too dangerous path of hedonistic and non-nutritive malarchy. Yes, I too did a lot of acid back then but, fortunately, I never gave into the temptation to become an attorney. In conclusion, my only advice to you is to heed the wisdom of a very wise woman who once said, "abba Cooshy donnie hoffa one."
Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaThe 4,000 holes and Albert Hall reference was actually based on an article John had read in a local newspaper discussing the poor road conditions in Blackburn, Lancashire. An official with the road improvement program was quoted as saying that he tar needed to fill those pot holes could wuite easily fill the Albert Hall.
D from Richmond, VaSounds like you had a flashback while writing that paragraph.
Jim from Arcata, CaWhen I hear people extrapolate about how various Beatles songs, including "Hey Jude" (!?!?!) and "Yellow Submarine" (!?), are about drugs, I about go nuts. I was born in 1953, grew up 25 miles from San Fran, and did everything people of my generation are known for except group sex and burning my draft card. (I was ready to go to jail if they drafted me, though now that I'm a lawyer and know how draft evaders are treated in prison, I know Canada would have been the wise choice.) So I surely qualify as an old, unregenerate hippie, as well as an absolute Beatles maniac.
THIS song is about drugs. Not just the obvious McCartney line about having a smoke and falling into a dream, but the whole thing. And Lennon essentially admitted as much. It's also the song which the classical music world selects, by a huge margin, as the Lennon-McCartney masterpiece, though I rank it third, behind "Hey Jude" and "I Am the Walrus."
It's a great, great song. Much like "Walrus," there is no other song remotely like it. But it's about LSD. So if people would get off their idiotic rants about "Hey Jude," "Yellow Submarine" and other obviously innocuous and non-drug-related songs, this is one they credibly could focus on. Not "Walrus," though. Lennon wrote "Walrus" during an assortment of acid trips (anyone who did the drug back then could have told you that), but the lyrics were mumbo jumbo designed to amuse John by seeing how much nonsense people could come up with in their detortions (fun word) of the lyrics.
For the record, in case Homeland Security or whomever is amazed an attorney is admitting to past acid use, I used it in late 1971 and early 1972. I haven't used it in almost 34 years, and for a reason I advise ALL OF YOU to consider before you think about TAKING it: I started feeling high on acid WHEN I HADN'T TAKEN IT, and that is absolutely unacceptable with so powerful a drug. Think of that before toying with such powerful fire. It made me quit in a hurry, and I've never been faintly tempted to go back.
Anyway, the statute of limitations is long gone and I can prove in spades that it did not impair my intellectual functioning. Call it the dumb-@ss luck of youthful stupidity. But I specifically advocate that others NOT use it, because no 6- or 8-hour trip can be good enough to risk the kind of experiences I started having, and worrying about if you're going to have involuntary trips for a long time.
And now, back to our topic....
HERE is a genuine, big-time Beatles drug song. The classical world overwhelmingly picks it as their masterpiece.... No matter how much of it is Lennon (45%?), no matter how much is George Martin (45%?), and no matter how much is Paul (10%?), it's one hell of a song. It's a wonderful thing to play for a young person who's never heard it, and ONLY tell him/her in advance, "This will be unlike anything you have ever heard before, but the people in classical music consider it...."
Like "Walrus," it usually proves an acquired taste, but after 5 or 10 listenings, the young audience is just blown away, asking if you have anything remotely like it. My reply is something like this, "Lennon and Martin co-wrote three experimental songs which are half classical and half I-don't-know-what: rock, I suppose, in the case of 'Walrus.' Each is quite different from the other two. They are 'Walrus,' 'A Day in the Life' and [easily my least favorite of the three] 'Strawberry Fields Forever.' I know of no song like any of those three, but least of all like 'A Day in the Life.'"
IF you consider it "popular music"--a dubious conclusion; I think it's classical--then it is to pop music what Beethoven's Ninth was to classical music: maybe or maybe not the greatest ever, but certainly an explosively powerful, revolutionary and incredibly creative composition which bespoke a brilliance nobody else could have touched.
As I said, I rate it third for their works, but it's one hell of a high third. See my comments under "Hey Jude" for the many reasons I put it #1, and trust me that I like "Walrus" better, even though I'm one of about 200 people in the entire world who do.
But my god, what a song.
Sarah from Pittsburgh, PaWhen you talk about Mal Evans, you make it sound like it was John's idea. Actually, they had a lot of bars to fill and he (Mal) counted until it was over, and at the end he put on an alarm clock to get everyone's attention and get them back into the song again. Just.. had to say something.
Evan from Birmingham, Althe whole paul is dead thing was a marketing scam, this song contributed towards it along with many others
Robb from Hamburg, NyI knew Evans was murdered in 1976, but how????
Ken from Redondo Beach, CaI'm surprised, actually shocked that noone got the tone thing for dogs right! That 15 kHz tone was at the end of Side One of Sgt. Pepper's NOT at the end of Side Two .. and this is important ... on the LP. At the end of "A Day in the Life" on the CD someone, in my opinion, made a mistake by putting that tone, which sounds as though it comes right from an LP of Sgt. Pepper because it has crackling and pops in it, at the end of "A Day in the Life". To refer to this tone as though it relates to "A Day in the Life" is absurb! And yes I can hear it. The normal range of hearing varies but I've hear it's 30 Hz to 15 kHz.
Not even Mark Lewisohn got this right in that Abbey Studio Notes book. Honestly!
Lennon wanted it there to have dogs "perk up" at the end of the side of the LP.
Sylvia from London, EnglandWOW! I LOVE this song. John made some totally awesome songs (but my favorite will always be George!), and this is one of them. John is not my favorite but still was one heck of a songwriter. Paul's middle part of the song is...interesting. Haha, it was cool when I learned (from George Martin on the Anthology videos)that George H. played maracas in the song.
5 stars for this song, and it is definitely in my top 10 Beatles songs list! Love it. (like all other Beatles songs!)
Tim from Washington, DcIt would be great if people would actually read the comments already posted before posting their own. Your "amazing fact" may already be there.
Joe from Vancouver, CanadaThis is absolutely the best song i've ever heard.
Dan from Lee, NhDevin how do you know that? Not that I'm saying I know everything about music, but it seems like all the information on songs is all the same. But that would be awesome if you could reveal your sources.
Devin from Rancho Cucamonga, Ca"he blew his mind out in a car, he didnt notice that the light had changed" actually happened! John was on acid driving around and "blew" his mind out and ran a red light.
Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaThe BBC actually banned this song from being played due to the "ran upstairs and had a smoke...somebody spoke and I went into a dream" line, which they thought was a reference to drugs.
Mike from Carrier Mills, IlThis one of my favorite Beatle songs. This song along with the entire Sgt. Pepper album is brilliant. This is the Beatles at their finest creatively.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScMaybe I gotta get Anthology 2 tthen. I don't have it yet. I have Anthology 1 and 3. I could also hear the tone at the end, and it's pretty weird.
Wade from Katy, TxOH DUDE! I had my dog in the room when I was playing this, and she was starting to go to sleep... and then she picked her head up and stared at my speaker! It was so awesome!
And another awesome thing... I heard it too!
Ryan from Brentwood, CaThe Anthology 2 version of this song is so much better. It seems more personal to me. Im gonna see if my dog can hear the noise at the end!
Lee from Clearwater, FlLike all of Sgt. Pepper, it is a masterpiece. The Beatles, especially john, admitted that so many parts of Sgt. Pepper were a mistake, or just happened. It was a great mistake!! Nothing has, or probably ever will surpass it. Love the ending. It is a good trip.
Jo Bob from Mccleary, WaJust thought I'd add another a quick comment (some strange 15 year olds have nothing to do aside from school...). I heard that John and Yoko actually taught themselves to talk backwards, so John would say some random nonsense thing while recording and nobody else would know what he was saying, but he was saying stuff backwards. Yah, go figure! Also, on Rain, the last 30 seconds are backwards. But, hey, this has nothing to do with A Day in the Life. Oh, and the Paul is Dead Hoax was indeed real, yet, of course, Paul is not dead. Some guy started the rumor about him being dead. I know this because my friend's dad is a Beatle fanatic and he got some "special" contacts and they sent him this really rare thing about the Paul is Dead Hoax. Pretty coool...
Cakemas7er from Newcastle, England"Paul Is Dead" is fake. Paul Mac is well and truly alive. Paul Macartney HAS CONFIRMED that he is alive many times to the press. Personally I reckon that the Beatles made it up to sell more, but I'll never know will I?
Forget about the Beatlechatter. It was just them adding random spliced footage. Anything you can hear is there, but unintentionally. Anything you here backwards is PURE COINCIDENT- It sounds a bit like what you think you can hear.
And I'm 15 and I do also think that this is one of the greatest songs ever. And the Beatles rule.
Jo Bob from Mccleary, WaAH! There's so many comments to read. *gasps* Okay, I'm gonna try to clear up some stuff. First, the line "Nobody was really sure if he was from the house of lords," was about some guy who was born into a rich/royal family in England. Supposedly, he got into a car crash and nobody recgonized him. A simular thing happened to Paul one night. He was driving along, supposedly looked over to see a pretty meter maid, and got in a car crash. All his hair was burnt off and nobody recgonized him. Also, in the Song Facts, it was not Paul who told the orchestra what to play. Paul and John told George Martin they needed something to fill the space between John's part and Paul's part. They decided they wanted a really loud, awesome sound. It was George Martin who told each instrument group to start on note whatever-it-was and end up at note what-ever-it-was at the end of whatever-measure-of-beats. Some instrument groups played whole notes, while others played eighth notes. If you listen carefully, you can tell that they're not all playing the same notes in the same time, but they ended on the same note in the end. Okay, I'm done.
Hank from Hillsborough, NjSorry to bring up the 'Paul is dead' stuff, but the line "Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords" sounds like "the house of Paul," doesn't it? I distinctly hear Paul, not Lords, anyone else?
Luna from London, EnglandBoth Ringo and George had bad trips while recording this song. The drumming is amazing on this song! I believe that Ringo is the best drummer in rock and roll history- even the other Beatles have said so.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI get yor point tom from Ireland. But, I had heard about the chatter at the end, before I even heard it. I was curious what the chatter was, and I listened to it. It's okay to be curious.
Auðurv. from Reykjavik, IcelandI think this song is sooo cool!! Especially when it gets a little more rhythm. Awesome songwriting by the genius Beatles.
Tom from Cork, IrelandIt sounds, to me, as if the loop at the end of this song is simply various random words and phrases spliced together in various different ways. The only clearly intelligible word in the whole loop is "Superman", and the other bits can be interpreted, variously, as "I will not be any superman", "never could see any other way", "Never could be any other way", etc. Perhaps people should concentrate on the song itself rather than over-analyse something that was very clearly put in there purely as something fun(ny).
Maurice from Dieppe, CanadaThis is the only song Lennon was ever satisfied with. For a while in the 60s I think he considered re-recording all of his Beatles' songs but this is the only he said he wouldn't chage a note. A classic in every sense of the word.
Maggie from Dublin, IrelandHey Liliana, Huntley, IL, I'm 16 and I love the Beatles, if you wanna talk about them e-mail me i_swallow_glass@hotmail.com
Takashi from Tokyo, JapanActually, Casper, the duck quacking at the end of "Bike" on the Pink Floyd album "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" is in a different melody and is much faster. yes, you're partly tight about the statement that The Beatles and Pink floyd are kindof...well... related.
Tom from Bluemont, VaSting did a version of this song during a 90's tour. An amazing song from the most amazing band ever to play music. I was 8 when they hit America and I still remember vividly seeing them on Sullivan. They changed the face of music not once, but twice. No band or individual ever came close or ever will. End of story!
Vic from Santiago, ChileCome on! The backward loop says: "I will f+´ck you like superman!"
Ben from Cheverly, MdHate it. Sux.
Nick from Solvang, CaOh woah, I can hear the tone at the end...
Nick from Solvang, Caawsome song.
Phil from Niagara Falls, Canadathis song is so *sniff* beautiful
Mauricio from Hanford, CaAwsome song, very well made...
Ekristheh from Halath, United States"4000 holes in Blackburn Lancashire"
The orchestral crescendo was real. It was meant to illustrate a freakout. It was recorded several times and the recordings overdubbed onto one another; but the musicians are really playing the sounds you hear. Listen closely; they are not going up "evenly and at the same time" at all. Paul specifically asked them not to, as long as they ended up at the same place at the same time.
The high-pitched tone at the end is clearly audible. I thought it was a recording artifact. I had no idea it was supposed to be there. Nearly 40 years later, we're still learning about the Beatles.
Miki from Vancouver, CanadaWait, is the noise the one right before the chatter, at 5 minutes and about 6 and a half seconds, or is there another one that I'm missing?
Ashlee from Jacksonville, FlIf you watch the Anthology and you watch the section of "A day in the Life" It tells you that on the first take, John counts in by saying "sugarplum fairy, Sugarplum fairy"
Nacho from Buenos Aires, ArgentinaI can't believe no one posted this: The song "Young Americans" by David Bowie features the line "I heard the news today, oh boy", around the end of the song.
Ross from Independence, MoThis is #26 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
Joshua from New York, NyThe Backwards Loop: I can't believe no one has gotten this. Flip it backwards (and slow it down so you don't get mislead) and you have two loops, right and left. Both say "I will not be naieve" but the right channel as one more splice with the word "superman" cut in at the end. This is a genius happenstance. Backwards the combined loops appear to say "I can't think any other way" but forwards the meaning is: I will not be naieve!! Great, huh?
Zep from M, Turkeywhen i told my dad about songfacts.com he asked me to look at "a day in the life", he said there used to be a lot of rumuours about Paul McCartney being killed in the accident although it was told that he was just injured and after the accident Paul was never the same, they say his style,his voice and everything was different. i know it sounds really far-fetched and i don't believe in it or anything, i mean its just a rumuour but still its creepy. also he took out its record and played the ending backwards, it really does say paul is dead. i think what the beatles tried to do was create some kind of a mystery, they knew that people wouldn't believe it but it would mystify them anyway, that's what has happened to me and i have to say it was a very clever way to create a mystery.
Takashi from Tokyo, JapanIn The YELLOW SUB movie, when their in the Sea of holes, The group refrence this song. John goes "This place reminds me of Blackburn, lancashire" then the Boob goes "Enough to fill the albert Hall". then paul goes "Oh, boy!" as if he's saying it the way john sings it in the song.
Takashi from Tokyo, JapanUmmmmm, Scott fom Nomal in Il, What makes you think that Holes is referring to the A--holes in Blackburn Lancashire?
Mike from Ithaca, NyActually John played acoustic, Paul played bass and piano, George played maracas and Ringo drums
Mike from Chicago, IlI think it was Jeff Beck who did an instrumental cover of this song. It is just amazing. A very moving piece to say the least.
Niki from Chicago, IlThis is one of my favorite songs. This song was banned in the UK because of the line I'd love to turn you on, they thought it was a drug reference. Who knows with the beatles, they are my favorite group. In the Beatles' Anthology (dvd) Paul and George Martin explain how they recorded this song. Like George Martin said..everytime I hear this song it sends chills up my spine.
Kevin from Canada, CanadaI perform this song. Its got an amazing chord progrssion. Its melancholy. The words are perfect with the medley. Its rather tricky and took me about three months to learn it. How to play it correctly. Especially the ryhtym changes in the middle. I always thought it was ringo who sang "woke up got out of bed"
Mike from Greeley, CoI believe the greater meaning in this song is about how John wanted to turn you on to an alternative point of view of the world (no matter how you reach that view... whether it be chemicals, sex, religion, spirituality, music, or sheer willingness to have an open mind and think for yourself).
Ken from Louisville, KyAfter recording it, Paul was overheard saying to John "Y'know people are going to wonder what we're going on about in this song...."
Ken from Louisville, KyThere is no lead guitar on this track. Besides the orchestra, John plays an acoustic guitar, Paul plays piano, George plays bass and Ringo, drums. When recording, instead of the tradtional "1...2...3", John would say "sugarplum fairy, sugarplum fairy...."
Casper from Veenenaal, NetherlandsThe chatter on the end was covered by Pink Floyd at the end of their dÃ?but album "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn". They replaced the chatter by some sort of duck quacking in the same 'melody'. Pink Floyd recorded their dÃ?but at the same time and in the same studio as The Beatles recorded Sgt. Pepper. Both groups visited some of the other groups recording sessions and influenced each other this way.
Gary from Moorpark, CaRight on Randy. I just want to add a couple things here to your comments. The Beatles were so good that George Martin wanted to see just where they could go with this group. So he encouraged them to try new instruments, push the limits. How far out can you go and still be good. The proof is in the music. judge for yourself.
Scott from Normal, IlI was always told (and this may not be right) but the Albert Hall section is a Lennon joke. The 4000 holes part was actually in the paper but the line "Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" John is refering it to now they know how many a**holes it takes...
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScJust a quick question. How can you listen to the chatter backwards?
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, Scthis is to Kyle from santa Maria CA. I also think the "I'd love to turn you on" line is a sexual reference.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI heard the chatter at the end and to me it sounds like John Lennon is saying, "Da-diddle-ah-da" and someone else is saying, "I could never be any other way." i'm not sure who that other person is. I can also here the high-pitched tone!
Clare from Hmilton, CanadaOK sorry to Zack from Ottawa OH but the double decker buses in England have not been retired. Have you ever even been? However I do agree that this is one of the best beatles songs ever.
Toshio from Kyoto, JapanI agree with nessie, it DOES sound like "You can take this gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers". nuff said.
Cameron from Southington, CtI listen to this song all the time, whenever Im gonna record Beatles on my tape recorder, A Day In Life is track:1. One thing I want to know about this is the end on the Sgt.Pepper album, all that noise that sounds like," Never goosy any other one" to me, what does it sound like backwards? Always wanted to know.
Nelle from Lima, PeruBack you up on that Jesse from Enfield, CT!!!
Zack from Ottawa, OhIn an ever changing world, this song refers to something now obsolete. The line "found my way upstairs and had a smoke" refers to the double decker buses in England that have now been retired.
Nessie from Sapporo, JapanI hear the chatter at the end as "You can take this gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers." Spoken by Mel.
Khalifa from Reading, Englandto me the voices at the end sounded like "never could see any other way" repeated, either way its a tripped song that i had not listened since i was a kid, until i was trippin.....incredible.
Kristen from Aurora, IlJay Leno used clips of this song during one of his weekly segments, Jay Walking. He interviewed people about the news and having their own mock broadcast and signature phrase.
Tim from Kilkenny, IrelandMal also played a piano on the chord at the end. Good old Mal. Poor guy. Wish he was still going.
Natalia from Sydney, AustraliaIt isn't Ringo counting- it distinctly says in the booklet that comes with the Beatles anthology that it's Mal Evans, one of the two beatle's assistants.
Takashi from Tokyo, Japan"The movie reference is to a film Lennon acted in called How I Won The War." REALLY? lol Its a good thing I just read it cuz Im about to watch it. Waht a coincidece...
Lane Presson from Jackson, WyThe lucky man who made the grade is John Lennon
Lane Presson from Jackson, Wythe 4000 holes is a reference to a newspaper article that John had read according to Lennon Legend. Someone counted holes and it turned out there was one hole for every person in the town, hence now they know how many holes it takes to fill the albert hall.
Takashi from Tokyo, JapanAt the end, when i played the gibberish bakwards the first time i thoaght it was saying "Yoko is a stupid person" but the second time, "I will f--k you all like a superman". Also, IF YOU LISTEN CLOSELY-under the words "had a smoke" you will hear Lennon go "Hooo!"
Paula from Stirling, ScotlandFor the record, this song was Paul's brainchild, not Lennon's. John was far too into drugs at this point to really get involved. You should read some of Barry Miles' writing if you want a further insight into the counter-culture of the 60's, he was also close friend of Paul's especially and was around at the sessions when this album was being put together. R.I.P. Mal Evans.
Kent from Pittsburgh, PaIm 13 and this is probably my favorite song and the thing at the end sounds to me like "never could see any other way" but whatever.
Sasy from Seattle, WaAbout the last hidden track, i played it backwards and heard paul is dead over and over again
Dean from York, Englandnext time you listen to this just concentrate on pauls bass playing its incredible.
Pedro from Bauru, BrazilThe Heavy Metal Band HELLOWEEN has copied the end of "A Day in the Life" on their song "Dr. Stein". The piano chord and the duration is almost the same.
Jim from Oxnard, CaGod, why do people try to make sense out of the last 30 seconds of the song? The original recording was CUT UP and PASTED TOGETHER. Of course, it's not going to make any sense. It is what it is. Nonsense chatter.
Annabelle from Eugene, OrActually, the chatter sounds like Paul McCartney Says, Nabba Cooshy Donni Huffa Wen, and John Lennon says, Da laa Ta Da.
Roger from Bristol, TnTo all you young listeners out there...put headphones on when you listen to "A Day In The Life". You'll hear Lennon's vocal on the right side and the music on the left side, and they slowly move up your head. BUT...by the middle of the song, the vocal and instrumental equalize and feel like they're at the top of your head. By the end of the last verse, the vocal is now on the right speaker and the instrumental is on the left one. Unique...and this was done in 1967.
Nicole Mellin from Lindstrom, MnI can hear the high pitched noise. How odd...
Eric from Woonsocket, RiMal (Malcome) Evans, 40, was shot at with 6 shots of which 4 hit an killed him. He held a unloaded
30.30 rifle and refused to put it down. He was killed at 8122 West 4th Street. The two, police
officers of the 4 that arrived on the scene, that shot and killed him were David D. Krempa, 30, and
Robert E. Brannon, 27. Also Mal Evans was the Beatles road manager and go-fer.Evans's body was
cremated in Los Angeles January 7th, with Harry Nilsson and other friends attending. The ashes
were flown to England for final services. Oddly the ashes were lost and later the same day found in the "dead letter" office.
Tim from West Bend, WiRINGO IS COUNTING.... This is as close to perfect as music gets. I especially love the AHHH part after the McCartney sings "and i went into a dream"... BUT i don't know who is singing there. John or Paul? I'd like to think John.... but if anybody knows.... PLEASE help me out.
Stephen T. from Alta Loma, CaAt the end of "A Day In The Life", and played backwards, it kind of sounds like "we will f*** you like you're superman". I know, it dosen't make sence...can't I have oppinions too?!
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaAlan, It's also on the cd.
Stevie from Damascus, MdFantastic song. I love the Beatles and this is one of their best songs, it's so creative, and back then most people weren't willing to run the risk of making something as bizzare and different as this. It's so awesome, its sad, chaotic,has a suprising mood swing, and happy. My favorite.
David from Lansing, MiAlso near the end (during the piano fade-out) you can hear someone squeak a chair, and someone else say "shhh" to whoever squeaked the chair.
And I had one CD player where you could hear the dog whistle clearly, though I haven't heard it when I've played it on anything else.
Natalia from Sydney, AustraliaI can hear the tone, which doesn't suprise me because I can hear a lot of high-pitched noises that nobody else can. This is a great song, but I don't the Paul McCartney part in the middle.
Martin Bonica from Sterling, VaThe tone was included in all releases of the CD, as well as the repeating garbled noise at the end of the UK record.
Alan from New Baltimore, MiI've heard that the last note (the high pitched one that only dogs hear) was only on the vinyl version, not on CD. Anybody else know about this?
Austin from Charlotte, NcI think so many people love the beatles because they were so mysterious. i can tell you that is a big reason why i like the beatles so much. does anyone agree with me?
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaHmmm the tone did drive my cat crazy. its very unusual but i was in my room listening to SGT. PEPPER and my cat wandered upstairs and the silence after the Piano chord and (mabye the silence is for Tara Browne!dunno,Just my Opinian) and the tone came on and my cat started running around and then the flub came on and i dunno,it made me jump!
Harry from Seaville, NjI heard also the first verse another clue in the paul is dead story
Mark from Ridgeland, Ms"After the final note, Lennon had producer George Martin dub in a high pitched tone, which most humans can't hear, but drives dogs crazy." i tested this on my laptop and played this for my dogs and nothing happened. this could be because of my crappy speakers, does anybody know if there is a particular cd or record that this is true about? or is this fake?
Carly from San Diego, CaHey, I'm 15 as well. The Beatles are my life and I am so passionate about them. Ya, not too many kids appriciate the amazing beaty of such good music now-a-days... when I listen to the Beatles, everything fades out and becomes something less because they are so amazing. I'd love to keep in touch with anyone who feels the same way... rbhs_spur@yahoo.com
Nancy from London, Englandi've got the original vinyl of sgt pepper (from my beatles-mad mother) and the end blurb sounds like 'never could be any other'. when wound backwards it sounds like 'i will f*** you like a superman'.
Marisa from Birdsboro, PaNo definetly McCartney and Lennon.
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaNo, it sounds like harrison is singing, "Never could be any other way" and McCartney is singing "ba ba ba ba ba"
Marisa from Birdsboro, PaI'm 15 and completly obsessed with the Beatles and A Day in the Life is mt fav song. I thing at the end when theris all the random noise it sounds like McCartney is saying,"Never could be any other way." and Lennon is just singing "ba ba ba ba" listen to song and see if you think so.
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaYou are not alone.I can hear the tone too.
Simon from Sydney, Australiai am the only one in my house that can hear the high pitched sound at the end - can any one else?
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, Canada1.Uhh Corey u were high when you wrote this.C'mon ppl!yet another refrance to drugs! waht is it with all u ppl? 2. When i first heard the chatter,it sounded like "na boucho che' ta leet off da wat'over and over.
Annabelle from Eugene, OrWhen I first heard the chatter, I thought they said, "abba Cooshy donnie hoffa one." The other part sounds like, "dada lot dot da."
Reuven from Tel Aviv, Israel john's mother died in a car accident and that's
the source for the beginning of this song ...apart from tara browne.
Jesse from Enfield, Ctseriously, all you squares who keep saying, "ugh stop saying its about drugs they are more talented than to write a song about drugs" shut up. know what you're talking about before you open your mouth. of course certain drugs played a part in the music and lyrics of many later beatles songs, (thanks to bob dylan for turning them on to grass) and eventually they became heads (people who use lsd commonly). the part with the notes getting higher and higher is an effect they used to enhance a trip. open your minds and stop looking at drugs as a bad thing. sure some drugs are bad, but lay off the hallucenigens theres nothing wrong with them.
Kristine from Hamilton, ChinaI Love the Beatles so much there my favourite band in the whole world. What's not tp like!
Liliana from Huntley, Ili am 15 but the beatles are my fav band!!
they always will be, anybody around my age who also likes the fab four? i'd love to talk to you... not many teenagers today share my taste in music.
Andy from Wakefield, England4000 holes in Blackburn,Lancashire...Whats that about then?
Beverly from Westerville, OhThis is a really cool song, especially when you know all that strange "background" information about it. I wish that we had a contemporary group as good as the Beatles, but I suppose they are one of a kind.
Tom from Boise, IdLennon and McCartney's song writing ideas were so different at that point of their career it was amazing how beautiful this song blended together. It's no wonder I see kids today wearing Beatle t-shirts.
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, CanadaActually,the chatter *FORWARD* sounds like "I never could be more happy..."all over and over again.
Scott from Ww, CaThe "chatter" at the end is somewhat subliminal
it says and I CAN HEAR IT CLEARLY
"NEVER YOU SEE ANY OTHER WAY"
R.I.P. John Lennon and George Harrison
the most talented Beatles
"All we are saying is give PEACE a chance"--
words we should always remember
and try to live by.
Eva from Dallas, Txi can't hear it very well, but the chatter at the end sounds like they're saying, "I never could be happy..." over and over. Anyone have any information on this?
Cat from London, EnglandGreat song but u cant have actually got a whole orchestra to glissando up to that high note evenly and at the same time...it wouldn't have worked....what I think they did was recorded it and slowly let the tape speed up so what happened was the orchestra were actually playing the same set of notes up until that high chord...double check but I think it is right (i have to study the song for music)....this phrase is also meant to represent something which often goes with drugs and rock 'n' roll if u get my drift.......
Caitlin from Canton, Gathis is one of the beatles best and most original songs lennons voice is so beatuiful and powerful it really pulls you in .
Si from London, EnglandThe "woke up, fell out of bed...." part is not drugs related either. McCartney has said that this was written about his youth in Liverpool when he used to wake up and catch the bus to college. The "found my way upstairs and had a smoke" referred to having a cigarette on the top deck of the bus - in the UK the top deck of a double decker bus used to be reserved for smokers. The "someone spoke and I went into a dream" was simply a reference to him day dreaming on the way to college while everyone on the bus chattered away.
Anna from Nyc, Nythis song for me is like 9/11 a frend broke the news that day and i went into a daze. "...somebody spoke and i went into a dream..."
Scott Baldwin from Edmonton, Canadayeh,but arent there 3 parts?
Mike from Jackson, NjGreat song - one of their best. Honestly, both parts are great. They were all geniuses, no doubt about it.
Shirley from Ocean, NjThis song along with the whole album will be a classic forever. Long live the original four lads from Liverpool; there will never be another Beatles.
Kyle from Santa Maria, CaPaul McCartney has said the line "I'd love to turn you on" was a sexual reference, not a drug reference
Jacob from Portsmouth, OhThis is one of the Best songs the beatles ever did....I love it.....I think it should have been a #1 hit....But the BBC baned it because of the so call drug refrence.....To me I think it is a great song....and will be for man years to come.
BEATLES FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!
Kelly from Los Angeles, CaI used to not like this song, but Paul's part intrigued me and I gave the song more listens because of it. Now it is one of my favorites.
Catherine from Glasgow, EnglandThe Paul is dead rumours are so stupid!!! anyone who believes them is a total lemon.
However, it is very funny talking to someone who believes them anyone who thinks they can convince me can email Glasgowchick992@hotmail.com
Scott Baddwin from Edmonton, EnglandIf you play the chatter backwards,It will say "Well,Paulina Is A Nobody".It's creepy.Each time i play it to my friend Kelsey,She dances.I showed it to my sister and she said" Now THAT's pretty scary".It's true!Just record it to your computer and reverse it.
Niko from Davis, CaI listen to this song over and over. This is one of the best songs ever recorded.
Ophelie from Montreal, CanadaI think Paul's part is what makes this song so special, the contrast between this and other parts.
Conrad from Los Angeles, CaMcCartney's part is maybe my favorite part.
Dan from London, EnglandIn this song i think they should have left out Mcartney's section. This was defintily more of a john lennon song.
Emery from San Jose, Ca"A Day in the Life" will forever be a classic...
this song goes great with some GREEN, enjoy!!!
Randy from Beaumont, TxOk, everyone's read on " A Day in the Life" is pretty accurate, but let's get some things correct if you don't mind. Growing up with the Beatles and doing a Classic Rock radio show based on music knowledge is my credibility... plus I've read all of the Lewison books and highly recommend them, especially the "Abbey Road Studio Sessions". Yah, the symphony did come to the evening session (most of them were) dressed formally and were given clown stuff. But the real genius, Sir George Martin, "directed" and created the idea of playing from low to high on the instruments in 24 bars in order to intimate chaos. Tara Browne was, in fact, a friend of McCartney's and Lennon's. He was in a "scooter" wreck with Paul.. which left a scar on Paul's face (around the lips if I remember correctly) and THAT became one of the famous "Paul is Dead" clues! Martin has been quoted by Lewison as saying that he didn't know if Lennon could get through that part of the song because of his sadness over Browne's death. AND, in closing, I'm sure that all of you know that you can hear the complete 24 bar Evans count-in on the anthology CD.. along with a GREAT acoustic version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (which includes a verse left off of the album cut). The Beatles were not only the original "Super Group", their many stories are so interesting and important. I think 200 years from now, people will be studying them and Dylan like we do Shakespere now. thanks for putting up with me. Randyo2@Hotmail.com
Tim from Hartford, CtThe same chatter can be found if you let the CD play- but I prefer my vinyl over all anyways
Pete from Derby Uk, EnglandEvans was shot by US police!
Kay from Wakefield, MaThis is my favourite song ever! I love it!
Ben Russell from Durham, Nccan't get any better than this song.
Patrick from Durham, NcVery cool song. A song for generations to come. Will never die out......
Eddie from Hampton, VaI'm a great Beatles fan, but I always thought this song was over-rated. People nod sagely and whisper "The work of genious" and all that. But the message is non-sensical and the melody is perhaps a bit haunting, but it's not a show stopper by any means. The Beatles were best when they were singing rock n roll. They were a great rhythm and blues band!
John from San Diego, Caoh, and the beatles never payed Evans anything
maybe his relatives.
He died in the seventies
John from San Diego, Cathe guy that counts during the orchestral part is
Mal Evans, the beatles«personal assistant and bodyguard
John from London, EnglandTara Browne was a friend of the Beatles.
The film "How I Won The War" was not a great box office success...thus Lennons comments about "I just had to look having read the book" after "A crowd of people turned away"
Amara from Brookline, MaI love this song too. one of my favorites! Does anyone know the person counting during the orchestral part? let me know! thanks
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl