Friday, April 30, 2010

Paperback Writer's November 10th. Clues

Most people think clues about Paul began on the Sgt. Pepper album , but Paperback Writer was the song that clued the world that there was an important date in 1966 coming up for Paul.

A photo of Paul's handwritten lyrics to the song was printed in The Beatles Monthly Book, an English fan magazine, that originally ran from August, 1963 to December, 1969.  The song is written as a letter and if you compare it to the words The Beatles actually sang, the only differences are:
1.)  It's is left out on the "based on a novel by a man named Lear" line;
2.)  And is left out on the "It could make a million for you overnight" line.

What's significant about the letter printed as lyric lines is that every line has 10 or 11 syllablesHere is the song:

Paperback Writer

Dear Sir or Madam, will you read my book.
It took me years to write, will you take a look.
Based on a novel by a man named Lear,
And I need a job, so I want to be a
Paperback writer, paperback writer.

It's a dirty story of a dirty man,
And his clinging wife doesn't understand.
His son is working for the Daily Mail
It's a steady job, but he wants to be a
Paperback writer, paperback writer.

It's a thousand pages, give or take a few,
I'll be writing more in a week or two.
I could make it longer, if you like the style,
I can change it round, and I want to be a
Paperback writer, paperback writer.

If you really like it you can have the rights,
It could make a million for you overnight.
If you must return it you can send it here,
But I need a break, and I want to be a
Paperback writer, paperback writer.

Paperback writer

Paperback writer, paperback writer
Paperback writer, paperback writer.

Count them out for yourself:  the song runs:
                              1st. stanza-10, 11, 10, 11, 10
                              2nd.         -  11, 10, 10, 11, 10
                              3rd.         -  11, 10, 11, 11, 10
                              4th.          -  11, 11, 11, 11, 10
                                 ---Paperback Writer---
                                              -  10, 10.

In the "letter" that Paul originally wrote, the word "we" was written over by "he" in the line, "He wants to be a Paperback Writer."  He "signs" the letter "Ian Iachimoe" which was Paul's interpretation of what "I'm McCartney" would sound like backwards.
And, of course, there's more.  The line, "It could make a million (that's 1,000,000) . . . ."
And, John and George sang "Frere Jacques" as harmony on the song.  Listen to the song and notice that the first time they sing "Frere Jacques" is at 1:01-1:11.
 Frere Jacques translates to Brother James or John.  The whole song translated to:  "Are you sleeping, brother James (or John.)  Sleeping is another theme that runs through songs and comments by The Beatles in 1966.  More on that later.
In The Paul McCartney Encyclopedia by Bill Harry (Virgin Books, 2002), in the chronology for 1966, it says:
"9 November.  When the "Paul is Dead" rumours begin in 1967, they state that this is the date when Paul was killed in a fatal road accident.
10 November.  In the 1967 'Paul is Dead' affair, this is the date that Paul was officially pronounced dead.'"

Paperback Writer was recorded April 13, 1966, so obviously something was planned 8 months out.  For people investigating Paul's life, the crucial period is from the beginning of 1966 to NOVEMBER 10, 1966.

                                                    ---More next week---