“Girl” by The Beatles from Rubber Soul
Two full years before Sergeant Pepper, with Rubber Soul the Beatles were beginning to write much more complex songs than the pop songs for which they first had become popular, and because of which Sergeant Pepper was so iconic. “Girl” was one of those songs. Many were focused on women, many on love in general, but they were a universe apart from the early songs. The narratives, the instrumentation, the lyrics, the interest in experimenting with different types of music all went to a new level.
“Girl” was one of the watershed songs from Rubber Soul, the last song recorded for the album. The subject matter, again, was about an idealized girl, “the kind of girl you want so much it makes you sorry,” who makes your very intake of breath accentuated. But the harmonies were impeccable as always, the staccato background vocals in the bridge were a naughty schoolboy joke that were sneaked in past the producer George Martin, the guitar solo at the end could have been for a Greek folk song, and the lyrics were…poetry:
Was she told when she was young
That pain would lead to pleasure?…
That a man must break his back
To earn his day of leisure?
“Love love me do, You know I love you” this was not.
The Beatles grew, and continued to grow. We can, too, including during challenging times. And in troubled times for an entire society, it is imperative that we grow beyond where we have been. If only the growth of our civic and humane sensibilities could be anywhere as rapid as the growth of the Beatles’ creative powers.
But. We. Cannot. Let. This. Pivotal. Moment. Go. By.
Get a copy of Tim’s inspirational book on Beatles lyrics
When We Find Ourselves in Times of Trouble: The Beatles: All Their Songs with Encouraging Words for Challenging Times
KINDLE (OR DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP TO READ ON YOUR LAPTOP)
This book addresses all the songs of the Beatles, from their earliest demos to Abbey Road, in a conversational, accessible format. Special attention is devoted to the band’s creative process and its influence on and synergistic relationship with the culture at large. The book’s genesis was the author’s hope that a daily Beatles song could provide a brief respite from the significant stress and uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and beyond that, from the challenges of any personally difficult time – our times of trouble.
