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Rating: Recorded between 1966 and 1967, "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" are two of the most significant, influential, particular, and beautiful Beatles songs. Originally, the two songs were supposed to be part of the "Sgt. Pepper" album, but since they had already been released as a single, it was decided not to include them in the record. "Strawberry Fields Forever" is inspired by the Strawberry Fields orphanage, behind which there's a garden where Lennon (the author of the song) used to play as a child. "Penny Lane," on the other hand, takes its name from the eponymous street in Liverpool. Both places were mentioned in the first version of the "In My Life" lyrics. Comparing the two songs, one can notice the various differences between John's and Paul's way of writing and composing.
"Strawberry Fields Forever" is the perfect example of a typical Lennon lyric—philosophical, cryptic, and nostalgic, and musically it blends tradition (thanks to the orchestra) and psychedelia.
"Penny Lane," on the other hand, represents a typical McCartney lyric—calm and optimistic, although equally nostalgic and evocative of the past. Musically, it also combines tradition (brass) and innovation.
The single, released as a "double A-side" (a format invented by the Beatles themselves with the single "Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out"), achieved great commercial success and was considered by George Martin as the best single ever released by the group.
The two songs are the perfect union between past, present, and future, between tranquility and nostalgia, between the love for places of the past and looking toward the future wondering what will happen.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Strawberry Fields Forever (04:11)
Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone, but it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me
Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
No one, I think, is in my tree
I mean, it must be high or low
That is, you can't, you know, tune in, but it's alright
That is, I think it's not too bad
Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Always, no, sometimes think it's me
But you know I know when it's a dream
I think I know, I mean, er yes, but it's all wrong
That is, I think I disagree
Let me take you down
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
And nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Strawberry fields forever
Strawberry fields forever
02 Penny Lane (02:58)
In Penny Lane there is a barber showing photographs
Of every head he's had the pleasure to have known.
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello.
On the corner is a banker with a motorcar,
And little children laugh at him behind his back.
And the banker never wears a mac
In the pouring rain, very strange.
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back
In penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen.
He likes to keep his fire engine clean,
It's a clean machine.
Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.
Full of fish and finger pies
In summer, meanwhile back
Behind the shelter in the middle of the roundabout
The pretty nurse is selling poppies from a tray
And though she feels as if she's in a play
She is anyway.
In Penny Lane the barber shaves another customer,
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim.
And then the fireman rushes in
From the pouring rain, very strange.
Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes.
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back.
Penny lane is in my ears and in my eyes.
There beneath the blue suburban skies,
Penny Lane.
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By psychrockblues
Strawberry Fields Forever is objectively a masterpiece.
The Beatles’ music is "universal" like no other: it makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you dream.
