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Deciphering The Beatles ........Fifteen...........Old Brown Shoe
#1
Deciphering The Beatles..........Old Brown Shoe....................Fifteen



Lyrics


I want a love that’s right but right is only half of what’s wrong.
I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.
Now I’m stepping out this old brown shoe, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now, I’m telling you.

You know you pick me up from where some try to drag me down
And when I see your smile replace every thoughtless frown.
Got me escaping from this zoo, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.

If I grow up I’ll be a singer wearing rings on every finger.
Not worrying what they or you say I’ll live and love and maybe someday
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.
I may appear to be imperfect, my love is something you can’t reject.
I’m changing faster than the weather if you and me should get together
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.

That love of your, to miss that love is something I’d hate.
I’ll make an early start, I’m making sure that I’m not late.
For you sweet top lip I’m in the queue, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.



This is one of the Beatles hidden gems, initially it was hidden on the B side of The Ballad Of John and Yoko. It appears to have been some kind of contender for The Get Back sessions but is not really a feature of the final product. There are two commercially available versions, one, on Anthology Three and The single B side on Past Masters. There appears to be some controversy about various contributions to this track. It is assumed that the Bass part was played by Paul but in an interview with George it was said that the bass parts was his and hat it is actually a mixture of bass and lead guitar. IT is also said that John added a guitar part which is on the multi-track master that was mixed out of the final mix. There appear to be scant few other takes available in the bootleg world o show us much more about the track or its genesis.

The Meaning of this song :


This is a song which shows quite a few of George’s song writing techniques

It is written in the first person and appears to convey a message from its writer .

The early parts document he kind of girl that George is looking for and in its ambiguity suggest that inside is more important that outside appearance.


I want a love that’s right but right is only half of what’s wrong.
I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.
Now I’m stepping out this old brown shoe, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now, I’m telling you.



As I have pointed out before in George’s writing there ae many opposites references in his lyrics:


I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long


I want a love that’s right but right is only half of what’s wrong


There is also reference to stepping out of This old Brown Shoe and again this is an opposite :

Word play suggests that shoes have a sole which of course is a soul. Now turn this around a bit and use the opposites idea and George is stepping out of everyday life and wants to go to a more spiritual or soulful place..............................


With this in mind verse two suggests that the two ideas of escape and he girl he wants can be running side by side .

The zoo reference is interesting ............Personal speculation suggest that George was well aware of what was happening with other writers of he time..............Paul Simon had used a zoo in Bookends as a way of looking at life and he people in it , so maybe George could to ? This escape ? To spiritualism!


You know you pick me up from where some try to drag me down
And when I see your smile replace every thoughtless frown.
Got me escaping from this zoo, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.



The next section seems to follow an idea used by John in Come together

George turns to his friend Ringo for a section.


If I grow up I’ll be a singer wearing rings on every finger.
Not worrying what they or you say I’ll live and love and maybe someday
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.
I may appear to be imperfect, my love is something you can’t reject.
I’m changing faster than the weather if you and me should get together
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.


Ringo was the Beatles “Elder statesman” and as aresult this might explain the “if” part which in the demo is “When “ Rings on every finger is about Ringo.

We go back to the spiritualism /ideal woman section in the last part.

The Final verses develops the main themes again


That love of your, to miss that love is something I’d hate.
I’ll make an early start, I’m making sure that I’m not late.
For you sweet top lip I’m in the queue, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you



It seems that the indirect approach of using a person to represent a idea is deep in this one and has been used by Paul on several occasions before...........The Ideal girl or The Spiritual goal ?

The Ideal woman ........Should be Patti Boyd or Harrison .............rumour says could have been an affair

I want a love that’s right but right is only half of what’s wrong.
I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.


This is vague could be Patti or someone else ...........at times Patti had long hair ........However in the end , she did become Patti Clapton ( Layla !!!) and George and Eric were good friends at this time!!

This is a great George song and maybe one of the Beatles beat rockers.

Cool
Nice to be able to go back to trust and friendship!!!!!!!!!

It's a mixed up sensation this being alive
Oh! it wears a man down into the ground
It's the strangest elation
I can't describe it
Oh it leaves a man weary
It makes a man frown.
.............................Chris Simpson ( "Mixed Up Sensations" 1975 Martin's Cafe )
#2
you're right G-man, this is one of those Beatle "gems" that is often overlooked, before i got the "past masters 1+2" cd's i used to play this one in preference to the "A" side of the single!!!
"BTO....Bachman,Turner,Overweight
They were big in the 70s....for five minutes,on a Saturday,after lunch..."  -  Me 2014.


#3
I have a confession to make. I've never really 'gotten' the Beatles. You all make me want to start from the beginning and give it a try. I'm young for the Beatles and my parents weren't Beatles fans so they've never really had the chance to sink in with me. What to do, what to do...... I have one Beatles greatest hits album. Oh the shame! So where do I begin? Who wants to tell me what to listen to first?
#4
I'm no expert, but for peerless melodic song-writing, check out Rubber Soul, and for experimentalism gone wild, have a listen to the White Album.

All the others are rubbish...
"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture"

Unknown
#5
I had to sit and think about this for quite a while........................There are just so many ways into The Beatles both together and solo........

Many people I have come across have used The Red and Blue albums to summarise the Beatles and in some ways that is OK for many people but it is only ever an over view and it is rather like a patchwork quilt ...............its nice ...............its good but it is made of pieces stitched together ........................


For me I was there .........only just and I did not really see much, more than four years or so but that was my entry ......

However , so many young people manage to get into the Beatles and they were never there..............How do they do it ?
So I guess that the best way is to try one album ....................For me I think it is Rubber Soul.....................Take it and listen to it on headphones in Stereo and without disturbance..................

Try to hear this things

Drive My Car ..............Hear the hook and feel how quick they get into an excellent groove, ponder the lyrics and try to pick out the guitar work............Paul on Bass, George on Lead and especially Ringo on drums .

Norwegian Wood.............Listen to the whole effect, note the sitar ad feel John telling clever lyrical lies ..............feel India on the horizon and just ponder the whole thing .

You Won't See Me..........It;s George , its harmonies and you will end up singing the refrain all day.

Nowhere Man.....They did not get much better at harmonies than this............Full three part and taking on the Beach Boys.............Clever lyrics ........leads you on to the film Yellow Submarine and shows how John could show you his thoughts in a song.

Think For Yourself Absolute mastery of he three minute pop song from George

The Word.........The forerunner of the more complex things ................This was the beginning of several tracks which really made the recording industry look up and take note.

Michelle Romantic acoustic guitar from Paul.

What Goes On John Paul ad Ringo show the country side of The Beatles

Girl John shows his romanatic side , his fickle nature and what do the backing vocals sing ? The Beatles pushing the envelope!

I m Looking ThroI'ugh You, Nice romantic song from Paul to Jane Asher or is it and example of how the Beatles could twist a message

In My Life.....Selected as the best song that John wrote , a reflection by a young man on his life so far seen through the eyes of an older man.

Wait good song which characterises the Beatle sound .

If I Needed Someone Beatles play the Byrds on great Richenbacher 12 strings

Run For You Life A Good rocker to finish.It's only one way in and there are more but it gives the feel of the band at their creative best .Originally made in Mono the mono cuts are different and have more power and focus .........but the Stereo reissue should do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to be able to go back to trust and friendship!!!!!!!!!

It's a mixed up sensation this being alive
Oh! it wears a man down into the ground
It's the strangest elation
I can't describe it
Oh it leaves a man weary
It makes a man frown.
.............................Chris Simpson ( "Mixed Up Sensations" 1975 Martin's Cafe )
#6
Tiggi Wrote:I'm no expert, but for peerless melodic song-writing, check out Rubber Soul, and for experimentalism gone wild, have a listen to the White Album.

All the others are rubbish...

Can't agree there TiggI !!!!!
Nice to be able to go back to trust and friendship!!!!!!!!!

It's a mixed up sensation this being alive
Oh! it wears a man down into the ground
It's the strangest elation
I can't describe it
Oh it leaves a man weary
It makes a man frown.
.............................Chris Simpson ( "Mixed Up Sensations" 1975 Martin's Cafe )
#7
Only jesting, Griff...

You must know that by now ?!
"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture"

Unknown
#8
I've seen those two big boxes in your collection The Stereo remasters and The Mono!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:
Nice to be able to go back to trust and friendship!!!!!!!!!

It's a mixed up sensation this being alive
Oh! it wears a man down into the ground
It's the strangest elation
I can't describe it
Oh it leaves a man weary
It makes a man frown.
.............................Chris Simpson ( "Mixed Up Sensations" 1975 Martin's Cafe )
#9
You've rumbled me...
"Writing about music is like dancing about architecture"

Unknown
#10
OK so Rubber Soul, I have a direction now, thanks.


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