I was very spoilt this Fathers Day and one of my many lovely presents was a copy of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band an album I’ve always loved but for some reason never bought.
I grew up with Sgt Pepper’s, my Dad had an amazing French import copy on fluorescent orange vinyl – appropriately psychedelic I think. I’ll always remember my Nana Hughes dancing to ‘When I’m 64″ when she was probably already at least 80.
It’s nice to be able to share this fantastic album with my children now and also to revisit with a different appreciation. One thing that has struck me is the technical genius of Sgt. Pepper’s; remember The Beatles made this incredible multi layered sound on a four track tape recorder; amazing.
Another thing that has struck me is just how clever the lyrics to “She’s Leaving Home” are; truly brilliant. I present the lyrics below, but urge you to rush out and buy a copy of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band if you don’t have one… if you do play it now.
Wednesday morning at five o’clock as the day begins
Silently closing her bedroom door
Leaving the note that she hoped would say more
She goes downstairs to the kitchen clutching her hankerchief
Quietly turning the backdoor key
Stepping outside she is freeShe (We gave her most of our lives)
Is leaving (Sacraficed most of our lives)
Home (We gave her everything money could buy)
She’s leaving home after living alone
For so many years (Bye bye)Father snores as his wife gets into her dressing gown
Picks up the letter that’s lying there
Standing alone at the top of the stairs
She breaks down and cries to her husband “Daddy our baby’s gone
Why would she treat us so thoughtlessly?
How could she do this to me?”She (We never thought of ourselves)
Is leaving (Never a thought for ourselves)
Home (We struggled hard all our lives to get by)
She’s leaving home after living alone
For so many years (Bye bye)Friday morning at nine o’clock she is far away
Waiting to keep the appointment she made
Meeting a man from the motor tradeShe (What did we do that was wrong)
Is having (We didn’t know it was wrong)
Fun (Fun is the one thing that money can’t buy)
Something inside that was always denied
For so many years (Bye bye)She’s leaving home
Bye bye