Once again, I’m using this week’s art prompt, LEGENDS, for inspiration in my daily song feature. There are songs penned about actual gruesome crimes but I didn’t want to stroll down that avenue and decided to go with urban legends surrounding popular songs.
It was years later I heard the accusations that some believed Paul McCartney was dead. Conspiracy theorists believe Paul was killed in an auto accident in 1967 and the Beatles put in a look-like. What fueled the saga was radio stations and publishers exploiting the story and fans pointing to supposed in the Beatles mewsic. None of which I can attest to. Revolution #9 it’s said you can hear “turn me on, dead man” if you play the record backwards. Really? Listen at 3:44 mark [link —> here!
The song I chose to feature, Strawberry Fields Forever, fans say you at the end of the track they hear, “I buried Paul”, but in actually the phrase is “cranberry sauce”
I didn’t understand the connection but fans think the Abbey Road Album cover reveals their suspicions. John in white (heavenly body), Ringo in black (the mourner), George in denim (grave digger) and Paul barefoot walking out of step. I dunno, what do you think this all means?
Well, the truth is Paul is very much alive and we’ve enjoyed much of his mewsic over the years which is a good thing for fans everywhere! 🙂
While on vacation, I’m not putting up a WildWednesday linky party but I’ll know who to visit if you leave a comment. 😉 That’s a wrap for now. I invite to visit JingleJangleJungle to join the party. It’s never too late to get in on the action. I’ll be back for more mewsic and perhaps some Thursday art. Rock on, ghouls and guys! X💋X💋, Cathy
*Internet resource: 10 Pop Music Urban Legends
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I love the Beatles and thanks for sharing those interesting facts about the song. Sir Paul is an amazing talent. I hope you and DH are having a fab vacay! 😘
Love the Beatles, and I’m so glad Paul is alive to enchant us.
I did hear of the conspiracy theory, but thanks for filling in the minute details.
See you at my alley:
https://natashamusing.com/2020/10/on-a-silent-trail-wordlesswednesday-wednesdaywisdom/
The Strawberry shortcake look lip-smacking delicious, you made?
Love and cheer!
The story goes that the look alike was also able to sing and play exactly like Paul — rather far fetched if you ask me.
Interesting facts about the song. XO
And if Paul is dead, Elvis might be alive… Gosh, I hope he doesn’t read my Time Machine posts….
I remember listening to the radio (KIWI in Topeka, Kansas) and hearing that Paul was dead. I called a friend and we talked about it. I think we were in the third grade. Within a day or two Paul was found on vacation with his family. He assured everyone that he was alive and I thought, Well, that’s that. I never thought that some people would come up with all these conspiracy theories.
Love,
Janie
The “Sgt. Pepper” album allegedly had a number of signs indicating Paul’s demise: On the front of the album jacket, someone is holding their hand over his head, which they said was a Hindu symbol of death. Toward the bottom, there was a guitar made out of yellow flowers that was positioned for a left-handed player (the neck was pointed to the user’s left). On the back picture, he’s facing backward, away from the camera, and on the inside, he’s wearing a patch that said OPD, which many interpreted as “Officially Pronounced Dead” (he had gotten the patch from the Ontario Police Department, now called the Ontario Provincial Police). The first verse of “A Day In The Life” speaks of a man who “blew his mind out in a car,” and he was supposed to have died in a car accident. (If you look at the picture from the front of the “Abbey Road” album, you see a Volkswagen that looks like it’s run off the road; there was something about the license plate that ties it in with the whole conspiracy.) There are actually people that believe that the Paul we’ve been looking at for the last 50+ years is an impostor and that he really did die…
We think he’s alive, we saw him in concert in Atlanta several years ago!
Yeah, the “Paul is dead” conspiracy. I remember hearing about it. The irony is that he has outlived two of the other Beatles. What if he outlives Ringo?
I never heard all this conspiracy stuff. Not until this morning. Very interesting. I do love that track though.
I’ve not had strawberry shortcake in years. Mom would make it every summer. A delightful dessert.
Have a fabulous day, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥
Hi, Cathy!
Happy Wild and Almost Wordless Wednesday, dear friend!
In my mass media course at college, we studied the mewsic of The Beatles, and I remember those rumors about Paul’s death and its coverup. I even tried to play their records backward to hear secret messages but didn’t have the right equipment and my attempts failed. I followed your link and listened to that specific part of “Rev #9.” At the very end of the designated segment I can make out the words “turn me on, dead man.” At the end of “Strawberry Fields” it sounds much more like “I buried Paul” than ” “cranberry sauce.” At least that is what my ears hear, but maybe it is because I was already programmed to listen for those words. The mind often plays tricks. If Paul McCartney did indeed die way back in the 60s, his singing doppelganger has done very well for himself in the years since then. 🙂 If you like Beatles songs and haven’t yet watched the movie Yesterday I urge you to do so.
That strawberry shortcake looks “scrummy” as the British like to say. My mom used to make it regularly during the summer. Today is my father’s 107th birthday (in heaven). That number boggles my mind. I’ll be calling my big brother to reminisce.
I hope you and DH are well and having a relaxing staycation. Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Cathy!