The Beatles

Any of you who know me personally know that I am CRAZY about the Beatles. And this little entry here is not meant to go into every little detail of that. Maybe one day I’ll write a book about it. It’s certainly not going to fit here. But I doubt you’ll ever see me go as crazy over any other song as you will a Beatles song. I don’t think that sentence was written properly—I apologize. But first of all, I just wanted you to read a few lines from a few songs that I happen to adore, for one reason or another. Maybe they’ll inspire you to check out the songs.


Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup. They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe. (Across the Universe)

Now the darkness only stays at nighttime, in the morning it will fade away. Daylight is good at arriving at the right time. It's not always going to be this grey. (All Things Must Pass)

I'm in love for the first time. Don't you know it's going to last? It's a love that lasts forever, it's a love that has no past. (Don’t Let Me Down. Greatest words ever written? Hardly. But I can’t hear this part without ripping my own hair out in awe of the amazing things John Lennon can do with his voice.)

And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make. (The End)

From this moment on I know exactly where my life will go. Seems that all I really was doing was waiting for love. (Real Love—released AFTER John’s death, but with him still singing lead vocals. Pretty cool. Pretty great song too.)

Your day breaks, your mind aches. There will be times when all the things she said will fill your head. You won't forget her. (For No One)

Once there was a way to get back homeward. Once there was a way to get back home. Sleep pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby. Golden slumbers fill your eyes. Smiles awake you when you rise. Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry, and I will sing a lullaby. (Golden Slumbers, the entirety of the song actually)

Is there anybody going to listen to my story, all about the girl who came to stay? She's the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry. Still you don't regret a single day. (Girl…I LOVE the 3rd line. It's appealing. It makes sense.)

I want to tell you, my head is filled with things to say, When you're here, all those words they seem to slip away. (I Want to Tell You…yet another that just makes sense.)

Who knows how long I've loved you? You know I love you still. Will I wait a lonely lifetime? If you want me to, I will. (I Will)

Imagine I'm in love with you. It's easy, cause I know I've imagined I'm in love with you many, many, many times before. It's not like me to pretend, but I'll get you, I’ll get you in the end. Yes I will, I'll get you in the end. (I’ll Get You)

I have never known the like of this. I've been alone and I have missed things and kept out of sight, but other girls were never quite like this. (I’ve Just Seen a Face)

I look at the world and I notice it's turning while my guitar gently weeps. With every mistake we must surely be learning. Still my guitar gently weeps. (While My Guitar Gently Weeps)

But oh, that magic feeling, nowhere to go. One sweet dream, pick up the bags and get in the limousine. Soon we'll be away from here. Step on the gas and wipe that tear away. (You Never Give Me Your Money—one of my favourite of the more random Beatles songs)

But of all these friends and lovers, there is no one compares with you. And these memories lose their meaning when I think of love as something new. (In My Life. My favourite song.)

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be. For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see. There will be an answer, let it be. (Let It Be)



So there you go. Those are just a few.
And, okay. When you read some of them, you may not think that they are just the most amazing lyrics you’ve ever read. I will grant you that. Perhaps you have to be madly in love with the music to fully grasp why I chose them. I can pretty much guarantee you that there will be a huge difference between the Beatles fans and the non-Beatles fans who read them. The fans will likely clutch their hearts or swoon (or if you’re a guy and don’t react in quite so emotional ways, you might just nod your head in approval and understanding).

Anyway, I decided to post this in an effort to a) perhaps make you wonder about some of their music if you’re not a fan. Perhaps you’ll want to listen to some of their stuff and you’ll really like it. I dare to dream; b) bring a bit of joy to the hearts of the fans; or c) encourage you to listen to the November 29th episode of the Gratie McClock Radio Hour on winrfm.com, from 4-6 PM, because it is Beatles Day (chosen on this particular date because it is the 6-year anniversary of the day George Harrison—my personal favourite Beatle—died).

And here is an open offer to you non-fans (at least those of you who know me personally…if you don’t, then kindly leave me alone): any time you want, you may come find me and listen to Beatles music with me. I say with me rather than alone, because a) I don’t want to lend you my CD’s, and I’m still a little hesitant on the Beatles-burning thing, and b) you’ll be made to listen to it instead of just SAYING you want to listen to it and then never following through. And also, I can tell you some really cool stuff about some of the music and point out when really amazing things are happening in it. So, seriously. Whenever you want to, I will make time to listen to Beatles music with you. It says in my very first entry of this blog that I want to expose you to the music and movies and literature that have affected my life, because I want you to know the same characters and feel the same emotions that I do. So this is an obvious way to do that.

And don’t forget: Thursday, November 29th, from 4-6 PM on winrfm.com. It’s Beatles Day. And if you can’t listen to it then, you can check our podcasting site (http://www.gratiemcclock.podomatic.com/) about a day later, and it will be up. And then you can sign up for the podcast and listen every week!
Yes. That WAS a shameless plug.