Song Lyric Sunday

Helen Espinosa’s theme for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday is a song or band you’ve changed your mind about, first poo-pooing, and later loving.

I am not completely embarrassed to admit this. I swear.

Baltimore concert
These are not my people.

I was 12 and in 8th grade when the British Invasion exploded on Ed Sullivan’s television stage. I watched because we were all curious about the band with the new sound that sparked Beatlemania across the Atlantic.

I was not impressed.

And I wasn’t alone. Edith Reznick, known to be one of the most academically gifted students at Lewis Jr. High, gave her critique the next day at school:

“Sure they can carry a tune — all four notes of it.” Brainy 8th grader, Edith Reznick, not a Beatles fan

Yet somehow, despite Edith’s perceptive assessment, the Beatles became the undisputed Highest Earning Rock Band of All Time, and arguably, the Greatest Rock Band of All Time. (There is a list that puts Led Zeppelin in the No. 1 slot and the Beatles in No. 2, but so what?)

Time passed.

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band came out two weeks before the end of my 11th grade year. I was 16. I had given myself to the Hippie movement (well, as far as my parents would allow me to, that is, lol), and that album spoke to me. So I went back and reconsidered their earlier music, and I’ll be darned if I didn’t find it energetic, positive, and fun. Not particularly sophisticated, deep, or meaningful, but I didn’t hate it.

So here’s the tune I changed my mind about first. The First One they performed in America. (The link to the video is in the song title.)

I Want to Hold Your Hand

by John Lennon and Paul McCartney

Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something
I think you’ll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your handOh please, say to me
You’ll let me be your man
And please, say to me
You’ll let me hold your hand
You let me hold your hand
I wanna hold your handAnd when I touch you I feel happy
Inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you’ve got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

And when I touch you I feel happy
Inside
It’s such a feeling that my love
I can’t hide
I can’t hide
I can’t hide

Yeah, you’ve got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I feel that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand

Song Lyric Sunday

Author: Sue Ranscht

Having survived valve repair surgery and an experimental cardiac bypass at age 5, three years before it was an accepted medical procedure, Susan grew into the size of her overworked and enlarged heart. Maybe she thought she had enough to give it away -- twice. Both times, she had to retrieve the shattered pieces and puzzle them back together. She thanks her Dad for the only advice of his she ever followed to the letter: "Never get married. Learn to take care of yourself." So of course she is a writer. Susan has co-written a YA SciFi novel, and has three more novels in various stages of evolution. She's had several short stories published in other people's anthologies, some of which were contest-related. Let her tell you a story...

20 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday”

  1. I have to agree, I wasn’t that thrilled about them either, but as a 10 year old it was sure easy to memorize the lyrics. Then, as their music progressed, we heard Blackbird and Sgt. Pepper, Michelle and so many others.

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    1. Yeah, I think it’s their evolution that set them apart from the crowd. One of Brylan’s friends once said, “Yeah, do drugs! You’ll go from ‘I love you, yeah, yeah, yeah,’ to Abbey Road!” lol. But if it were only the drugs, the Rolling Stones would be making different music today. Lol!

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  2. I’m sort of with you on this one. I think they are fun, but not particularly deep, and I tend to be drawn to deeper lyrics and music. But there’s just something so catchy about their songs! Thanks for sharing this with us, even if it meant admitting you weren’t a Beatles fan at first. 😉

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    1. If they’d stayed in one place musically, like so many do, I never would have given them a second listen. I think their later stuff, especially Abbey Road, has real substance. On the other hand, look at the Rolling Stones. I’ve never been a big fan, but I have to admire their longevity even though it completely mystifies me. smh

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  3. Fun post, Sue. I remember having a crush on the Beatles at around age 10 and feeling so forlorn. My mom comforted me, telling me that there would be other rock stars in the years to come. Ha ha. Some of my favorite songs are still Beatles songs.

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  4. Despite them playing at our local cinema and my mum swearing that Paul McCartney was just waving at her, she wasn’t a huge fan and neither was I until a couple of years ago. I think I like their later stuff better. Funny you posted this particular song. I loved it as a child, but never realised it was the Beatles – some dodgy 80s band (Dollar) covered it!

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  6. Like you, I was glued to our b&w tv, watching Ed Sullivan. Yet I loved every note (even if there were 4). I still listen to Sargent Pepper and more, singing along as if I were still a teenager. I even brought my record player and Meet the Beatles album into my preschool class. They loved it!

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    1. Their early stuff was so innocent and lively — perfect for preschoolers and bubble-gummers. I guess I was just naturally resistant to getting swept up in the next big thing. 😉 I think their musical growth and evolution is what made them great, but that makes it hard to understand why the Stones are still around. Lol

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  7. I was born well after the British Invasion (1987) but I’ve always enjoyed all of those bands, including The Beatles. Glad you found something you liked by them.

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I'd love to hear what you think.

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