The Curious Meaning of ‘Yesterday’ by The Beatles

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Here’s a question for you. Which classic song began as Scrambled Eggs, was a song that the songwriter couldn’t convince any other singer to record, and yet went on to become the most-covered song every written?

The answer is ‘Yesterday’, now one of the most popular and best-known Beatles songs. But this song, whose meaning is worth exploring further, had a fascinating genesis, and the story of ‘Yesterday’ is well worth telling.

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‘Taxman’ by the Beatles: Meaning and Analysis

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘Taxman’ is the opening track on the Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver, and sets the high lyrical standard of one of the band’s best albums, with even its title containing a double meaning (it’s a pun, with ‘revolver’ referring to both the gun and the LP, or record, spinning or ‘revolving’ on the turntable). But ‘Taxman’ wasn’t a Lennon/McCartney creation: George Harrison wrote it.

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