What is the meaning of the Beatles song Strawberry Fields?
What is Strawberry Fields in the Beatles song? The song is more about Lennon's insecurities and his tough childhood. The title of the song refers to the Salvation Army-ran girl's orphanage – dreamily called “Strawberry Field” – that Lennon lived near growing up in Liverpool. Here's the real story behind the song “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
What was the song 'Strawberry Fields' about?
Written by John Lennon, it’s a true masterpiece, but what it isn’t is a song about fields full of strawberries. Reading the lyrics, it’s clear that the song isn’t as happy-go-lucky as the melody might suggest. The song is more about Lennon’s insecurities and his tough childhood.
What is the Beatles song Strawberry Fields Forever about?
Strawberry Fields Forever. This is such a beautiful song and truly written about a place that was special and dear to Lennon's heart. This was a fun go to for him here and he wrote this song reflecting that. When you hear the words you think of running in the fields of strawberries forever. I think now that after he died and willed money to the
What song best represents the Beatles?
Put them in if you want to, but here’s a short list to start with:
- We Love You Beatles (Probably the very first song about the Beatles)
- Don’t Call Us. We’ll Call You (“You sound like Paul, John, and George”)
- American Pie (“Sargents played a marching tune”)
What did Strawberry Fields mean to John Lennon?
The song is more about Lennon's insecurities and his tough childhood. The title of the song refers to the Salvation Army-ran girl's orphanage – dreamily called “Strawberry Field” – that Lennon lived near growing up in Liverpool.
Why is it called Strawberry Fields?
Strawberry Fields in New York City was named for the popular Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever.” The song was inspired by the childhood memories of John Lennon, who used to play in the garden of a Salvation Army children's home called Strawberry Field.
What was Strawberry Fields written about?
The Beatles wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever” in 1967, inspired by a garden of a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool, where John Lennon used to play growing up. Until now, Beatles fans would look through red metal gates at the garden, without being able to access the location.
Is the song Strawberry Fields about drugs?
In a period renowned for the famous four's experimentation with hallucinogenic drugs, the track perfectly captures their psychedelic sound. The song, which actually began life very simply with John Lennon singing and playing acoustic guitar, soon took another turn.
Where are the Beatles Strawberry Fields?
Music icon John Lennon "found sanctuary" in the gardens of the Strawberry Field home in Woolton, Liverpool as a young boy. The grounds became a landmark for Beatles' fans after it was immortalised by the band in 1967.
What is said at the end of Strawberry Fields Forever?
Beatles Myths - Internet Beatles Album. A common belief is that John says "I Buried Paul" at the end of Strawberry Fields Forever on the Magical Mystery Tour album. In fact, he actually says "Cranberry Sauce", not once, but twice.
Why did the Beatles write Strawberry Fields?
Lennon based the song on his childhood memories of playing in the garden of Strawberry Field, a Salvation Army children's home in Liverpool. Starting in November 1966, the band spent 45 hours in the studio, spread over five weeks, creating three versions of the track.
What does nothing to get hung about meaning?
There is nothing to get hung about = there is nothing about which to get hung = there is no reason to take any drastic action that might result in you getting hanged!
Is Strawberry Fields about war?
However, thousands of young, especially teenage men, enlisted to fight in Vietnam against the spread of communism. In 1967, around the turning point to the Vietnam War, the Beatles released a new song named Strawberry Fields Forever which metaphorically represents strawberry fields as Vietnam.
Is the Beatles stoner music?
Did the Beatles write while stoned? Yes, absolutely. They did nearly everything stoned as they were "smoking marijuana for breakfast" once they'd tried it.
What drugs did the Beatles use?
As early as 1961, the Beatles' drug odyssey was underway with habitual use of Preludin, a stimulant, during performances at clubs in Hamburg, Germany. There they used marijuana, too, but it was only after trying it with Bob Dylan in New York City in 1964 that they got particularly high.
What Beatles songs were written on drugs?
Day Tripping: The 10 Druggiest Beatles SongsParlophone/Capitol. 'Day Tripper' ... Capitol/Parlophone. 'Magical Mystery Tour' ... Capitol/Parlophone. 'With a Little Help From My Friends' ... Capitol/Parlophone. 'Got to Get You Into My Life' ... Parlophone/Capitol. 'I Am the Walrus' ... Apple. ... Capitol/Parlophone. ... Capitol/Parlophone.More items...•
What instrument did Paul McCartney use to play the intro to Strawberry Fields Forever?
Paul McCartney played the intro to the song on a Mellotron, which is a keyboard that triggers loops of recorded taped instruments at different pitches. It is not a synthesized sound at all, but recordings of actual instruments - on "Strawberry Fields Forever," recordings of flutes were used as the tape loops.
Where is the Strawberry Fields memorial?
There is a memorial to Lennon in Central Park called "Strawberry Fields." It is located across from The Dakota, the building in New York City where Lennon lived.
What song did Strawberry Alarm Clock use?
Later in 1967, another famous musical strawberry emerged when a group called the Strawberry Alarm Clock had a #1 US hit with " Incense And Peppermints ." A common rumor was that the band based their name on this song, but they were actually told by their record company to use "strawberry," as Donovan's " Mellow Yellow ," with the "electrical banana," brought psychedelic imagery to fruit. The group, who were from California, faked a British look and sound at first, and were originally called Thee Sixpence.
What is the flip side of Penny Lane?
One of its buildings is named "Lennon Hall.". This was released as the flip side of " Penny Lane .". The Beatles often released singles that contained a song written by Lennon on one side, and a song written by McCartney on the other. Which single was considered the A-side was sometimes a point of contention.
Why did John's aunt not like going to Strawberry Fields?
John's aunt Mimi did not like John going to Strawberry Fields, as it was basically an orphanage and she thought they would lead John astray. John liked going there because having lost his father and later his mother he felt a kinship to the lads. When John and his aunt would argue about his going he would often reply, "What are they going to do, ...
Where was the Beatles music video filmed?
It was filmed in and around Knole Park, an estate owned by the National Trust, near Sevenoaks in Kent.
When was the Strawberry Fields orphanage torn down?
The Victorian house at the Strawberry Fields orphanage in Liverpool was torn down in 1977, and was replaced with a rectangular house named Lennon Hall.
What makes Strawberry Fields Forever impossible to perform live?
What makes “Strawberry Fields Forever” impossible to perform live is that the song itself is the fusion of two different recordings. It was originally recorded in A major at 92 beats per minute. After listening to this recording, Lennon decided to make it livelier and recorded it again in B-flat major at 102 beats per minute and added trumpets and cellos. The cellos were also reverse taped. Lennon liked the first half of the A major version and the second half of the B-flat version, so he had them spliced together at measure 24. After adjusting the pitch, the fused version happened to be at 92 beats per minute. This new fused version developed a dream-like timbre, which is especially prominent in the second half of the song because it is slowed down more than the A major version.
What song did the Beatles record in 1966?
In 1966, The Beatles finished touring and started recording with the intention of making songs that were impossible to perform live. “Strawberry Fields Forever” was the first song in this series of recordings and was their first recording in six months. John Lennon thought it was his greatest accomplishment during his time with The Beatles. When it was released as part of a single with “Penny Lane,” however, it broke their streak of number one hits in the United Kingdom.
Where did John Lennon get his inspiration for the song "It Was a Secret Garden"?
1. John Lennon drew inspiration from his childhood for the lyrics. As a child, he played at a Salvation Army children’s home in Liverpool called Strawberry Field. According to Paul McCartney, “It was a secret garden. John’s memory of it wasn’t to do with the fact that it was a Salvation Army home; that was up at the house. There was a wall you could bunk over and it was a rather wild garden, it wasn’t manicured at all, so it was easy to hide in.”
What technology did the Beatles use to record?
5. The Beatles upped the ante and pushed the boundaries sonically by bringing in the Mellotron. Engineer Jerry Boys recalled, “I remember when The Beatles first brought in the Mellotron.
Why is Central Park named after John Lennon?
John Lennon once said that it was his finest work during his time with The Beatles and so after his death, a part of New York’s Central Park was named after it. Here are ten interesting facts about this timeless classic. 1. John Lennon drew inspiration from his childhood for the lyrics. As a child, he played at a Salvation Army children’s home in ...
How long did George Martin spend recording the Beatles?
The Beatles used it in a way nobody had ever thought of.”. 6. It’s one of their most complex recordings. Producer George Martin spent 55 hours completing it. Lennon told Martin he wanted to combine two versions – the “original, lighter” take and “the intense, scored version”. Martin revealed, “He [John] said, ‘Why don’t you join the beginning ...
Where was the movie "Penny Lane" filmed?
Directed by Peter Goldmann and produced by Tony Bramwell, it was filmed on January 30 and 31, 1967 at Knole Park in Sevenoaks, Kent . They also shot “Penny Lane” in the same location a few days later. 8.
When was the first version of How I Won the War filmed?
2. The first version was heard as early as September 1966 while John Lennon was filming “How I Won the War” in Spain.
Why did the Beatles put Strawberry Fields on their first album?
In fact “Strawberry Fields” was the first song the Beatles were able to put together after finishing their 1966 album “Revolver”, and it was originally intended for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. But the company was eager to get the songs out fast, as due to the recent trajectory of the band as a unit as well as individually, people were under the impression that they were breaking apart. Moreover overall the pop scene wasn’t treating the Fab Four favorably at the time.
What is Strawberry Fields Forever about?
Also the track itself may possess a childlike feel to some listeners. But at the end of the day, it also centers on reflections and allegories more mature than what the average child would come up with.
Why did Paul McCartney write Penny Lane?
And for the record, Paul McCartney penned “Penny Lane” as a response, i.e. being directly inspired by, what Lennon put together with Strawberry Fields. That is why the two tracks share a similar, nostalgic theme. Analysts of this song have concluded that it has “psychedelic overtones” due to a number of factors.
Why didn't Strawberry Fields ever reach number 1?
And the only reason it didn’t reach number one in the Beatles’ homeland, the UK, was that being released as a double A-side they counted record sales for “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane” separately as opposed to in unison. However, Strawberry Fields still managed to hit number two in Britain.
What was the first Beatles song?
In fact “Strawberry Fields” was the first song the Beatles were able to put together after finishing their 1966 album “Revolver”, and it was originally intended for “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
What record label did the Beatles use for the mellotron?
This track was published by Parlophone Records in the UK and Capitol Records in the US.
What instrument did Strawberry Fields use?
For example, the band utilized an instrument known as a Mellotron. And even in the decades after its release, “Strawberry Fields Forever” is deemed as the most-effective use of this tool ever in a pop song.
When was Strawberry Fields Forever released?
Written by John Lennon but credited under Lennon-McCartney, “Strawberry Fields Forever” was released in 1967 as a double A-side single with “Penny Lane”. It was unlike anything The Beatles had churned out at the time which somewhat alienated some of their fans. But it became influential in the then-emerging psychedelic genre. And their promotional film became integral in the evolution of music videos.
Who said "I've seen Strawberry Field described as a dull, grimy place next door to him"?
Paul McCartney knew the place too saying, “I’ve seen Strawberry Field described as a dull, grimy place next door to him that John imagined to be a beautiful place, but in the summer it wasn’t dull and grimy at all: it was a secret garden.
How many dates did the Beatles record?
It was a complicated recording and The Beatles had to record it over eight dates. Lennon admitted he considered this as his finest work with the group and in fact, after his tragic death, a part of New York’s Central Park was named after “Strawberry Fields Forever” and widow Yoko Ono donated $375,000 to the home.
What was the first song that the Beatles recorded?
It’s the first song they recorded after completing the masterpiece “Revolver” and they initially planned on including it on “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” but it was their record company who pressured them into releasing it as a single. John Lennon once described this track as a “psychoanalysis set to music.”.
Where was the song "How I Won the War" written?
John Lennon once described this track as a “psychoanalysis set to music.”. He wrote it in the autumn of 1966 in Almería, Spain while he was filming for the 1967 British black comedy movie “How I Won The War” and playing the role of Musketeer Gripweed.
When did the Moody Blues use a mellotron?
It was The Moody Blues’ Mike Pinder who introduced it to them back in 1965 . Engineer Jerry Boys recalled that The Fab Four “used it in a way nobody had ever thought of.”.
