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Rating: This must be the hundredth review of this masterpiece, but it's impossible to remain indifferent and silent about this stellar work of rock.
With "Revolver," "Rubber Soul," and even the beautiful "Sgt. Peppers'", the four Beatles followed a logical order, i.e., various experiments with psychedelia with various hints towards rock, pop, and even Indian music. This time, however, they decide to break the rules. Just take a look at the cover, simple yet mysterious: the first time I noticed it, it sparked my interest; I was curious to listen to it all in one go and let myself be carried away by the music of these four brilliant musicians; as someone has already written: "the most underrated and overrated band at the same time."
This album, fascinating yet unsettling, is a mix of emotions, of experiments, and sounds that seem to come from another galaxy (here I quote "Tomorrow Never Knows" from the "Revolver" album): they have no logical thread, no connection between them. The meaning of the album, in my opinion, is that each of the Beatles wanted to play the last card by giving their own part for this work, starting with that mad genius John Lennon, who in this album reaches the peak of his psychedelic experimentation, up to Paul, George, and finally Ringo Starr, who, whereas in previous albums, was perhaps the most detached, in this album participates much more frequently, showing the world that he too is a good "composer," even if slightly less so compared to the others (if we were to compare him to John and Paul...). This great double album is thus the result of what the four Beatles brought out unbeknownst to each other, and the fascinating thing is that it impresses: with almost obsessive care, some songs became real gems. This time I avoid the tracklist because there are too many tracks and they are difficult to describe in a few words, also because there is a serious risk of saying some nonsense, not to mention worse. Therefore, I've decided to give my own take on each member's work:
1) John Lennon: what is there to say about this music prodigy? For many, a cursed poet; for others, a great mind of international music. Without him, probably this album, but also all the others, would not have had the same impact and the same poetry that they indeed enjoyed. He enjoys manipulating sounds and reversing them to create an experimental nine-minute-long track: I'm talking about the unsettling "Revolution 9" created together with his wife Yoko Ono (well, she too eventually became part of this group), an experiment that if today is considered "abnormal," imagine back then... he experimented in his own way with the country of "The Continuing Story Of Bungalo Bill" sung with Ono, the R&B of "Yer Blues," although far from the sacred monsters like Robert Johnson and Eric Clapton (who participated often in this album) it is very elegant, up to the sweet lullaby "Good Night" dedicated to his son. But his simple yet effective melodic touch is not missing, present in songs like "Happiness Is A Warm Gun" and "I'm So Tired," a two-minute song with a delightfully pleasant relaxing rhythm.
2) Paul McCartney: certainly in this album, there is much more of him than the others, even if his impact was much less "brilliant" than Lennon's. Dear Paul, as in the old albums, enjoyed pretending to be dead again by dropping numerous clues about his fake death, which has become an urban legend (but I won't waste words on this because I imagine you are all more or less aware of it). This time, however, the bassist and pop voice of the band transforms like a chameleon and changes the tone of the voice, the lyrics, and even the melodies. His is the pop tune "Obladi Obladà," with lyrics that seem taken from a soap opera and a damn catchy rhythm that almost seems like a nursery rhyme to be sung in elementary schools, the sweet ballad "Blackbird" with beautiful sound effects of birds in the background up to "Helter Skelter." And here it is the apotheosis: the Beatles seem to have taken the pick of destiny (quoting the "Tenacious D") creating a stunning piece, noisy hard rock where good old Paul shouts and gets angry for the first time to seem like Roger Daltrey, the vocalist of The Who: the guitar hits hard, the bass uses a heavy very dirty distortion for the first time in the Beatles' career, and even the drums pound hard. The result is an incredible masterpiece, considered by many together with "Revolution 9" and "I'm So Tired" as "the cursed song of the White Album" due to the news events that followed the murders by the killer Charles Manson and his sect.
3) George Harrison: always fascinated by Indian music, he is the author of the best track of the album, namely the poignant and stunning "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," with the participation of Eric Clapton, as great as always. A suffering, sad and melancholic blues, with a truly beautiful and catchy refrain. George also notes "Piggies," one of the most daring lyrics of the album, together with "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" by McCartney up to the Bob Dylan-like ballad "Long Long Long."
4) Ringo Starr: and finally, we conclude with the unjustly less appreciated Beatle, but his imprint on the album is very good: for the first time, he creates a piece all his own, namely the fun country song "Don't Pass Me By," nothing exceptional but that gives the drummer a chance to redeem himself.
In conclusion, the "four horsemen of the apocalypse," as the psychopathic Manson described them, create their most spectacular work, which hides everything and more, and despite the changes over the years and the arrival of new bands, the Beatles always manage to stay on their pedestal without ever losing balance and falling into the void. With this album, they have proven to be ahead, turning music into simple and pure art, even simply playing with experimentation and the simplest rock. The true essence of the Beatles, more than a double album...a gemstone of rock that has become a "music encyclopedia."
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Dear Prudence (00:00)
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence open up your eyes
Dear Prudence see the sunny skies
The wind is low the birds will sing
That you are part of everything
Dear Prudence won't you open up your eyes
Look around, round
Look around, round, round
Look around
Dear Prudence let me see you smile
Dear Prudence like a little child
The clouds will be a daisy chain
So let me see you smile again
Dear Prudence won't you let me see you smile
Dear Prudence, won't you come out to play
Dear Prudence, greet the brand new day
The sun is up, the sky is blue
It's beautiful and so are you
Dear Prudence won't you come out to play
03 Glass Onion (00:00)
I told you about strawberry fields
You know the place where nothing is real
Well here's another place you can go
Where everything flows
Looking through the bent backed tulips
To see how the other half live
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the walrus and me, man
You know that we're as close as can be, man
Well here's another clue for you all
The walrus was Paul
Standing on the cast iron shore, yeah
Lady Madonna trying to make ends meet, yeah
Looking through a glass onion
Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
Looking through a glass onion
I told you about the fool on the hill
I tell you man he's living there still
Well here's another place you can be
Listen to me
Fixing a hole in the ocean
Tryin' to make a dovetail joint
Looking through a glass onion
04 Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (00:00)
Desmond has a barrow in the marketplace
Molly is the singer in a band
Desmond say to Molly, girl I like you face
And Molly says this as she takes him by the hand
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da,
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Desmond take a trolley to the jewelers store
Buys a twenty carat golden ring, (rin-ring)
Takes it back to Molly waiting at the door
And as he gives it to her she begins to sing (sin-sing)
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Yeah, In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Desmond lets the children lend a hand
Molly stays at home and does her pretty face
And in the evening she's still singing with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
In a couple of years they
have built a home sweet home
With a couple of kids running in the yard
of Desmond and Molly Jones
Happy ever after in the market place
Molly lets the children lend a hand
Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face
And in the evening she's a singer with the band
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da
Life goes on, bra
La la how the life goes on
And if you want some fun
take Ob-la-di-bla-da
06 The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (00:00)
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
He went out tiger hunting with his elephant and gun
In case of accidents he always took his mom
He's the all American bullet-headed Saxon mother's son
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Deep in the jungle where the mighty tiger lies
Bill and his elephants were taken by surprise
So Captain Marval zapped him right between the eyes
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
The children asked him if to kill was not a sin
Not when he looked so fierce his mommy butted in
If looks could kill it would have been us instead of him
All the children sing
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey, Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
Hey Bungalow Bill
What did you kill, Bungalow Bill
07 While My Guitar Gently Weeps (00:00)
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all...
Still my guitar gently weeps
08 Happiness Is A Warm Gun (00:00)
She's not a girl who misses much
Do do do do do do do, oh yeah
She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane
The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors
On his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy
Working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the National Trust
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Down to the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know nobody can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun
Happines is a warm gun
Yes it is
Happiness is a warm yes it is gun
10 I'm So Tired (00:00)
I'm so tired
I haven't slept a wink
I'm so tired
My mind is on the blink
I wonder should I get up and fix myself a drink
No, no, no
I'm so tired
I don't know what to do
I'm so tired
My mind is set on you
I wonder should I call you
But I know what you would do
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'm so tired
I'm feeling so upset
Although I'm so tired
I'll have another cigarette
And curse Sir Walther Raleigh
He was such a stupid git
You'd say I'm putting you on
But it's no joke
It's doing me harm
You know I can't sleep
I can't stop my brain
You know it's three weeks
I'm going insane
You know, I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
I'd give you everything I've got for a little peace of mind
(Monsieur, monsieur, monsieur, how about another one?)
11 Blackbird (00:00)
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
12 Piggies (00:00)
Have you seen the little piggies
crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt
to play around in
Have you see the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts
to play around in
In their sties with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking
Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives
to eat their bacon
One more time
13 Rocky Raccoon (00:00)
Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota,
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon(na)
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye
Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
so one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon
Rock Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
to shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe-down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a show down
Daniel was hot he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner
Da, da, da, da, da
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better
I'll be better doc as soon as I am able
And now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival
Ah, oh yeah, yeah
Da, da, da, da
14 Don't Pass Me By (00:00)
I listen for your footsteps
Coming up the drive
Listen for your footsteps
But they don't arrive
Waiting for your knock dear
On my old front door
I don't hear it
Does it mean you don't love me any more
I hear the clock a'ticking
On the mantel shelf
See the hands a'moving
But I'm by myself
I wonder where you are tonight
And why I'm by myself
I don't see you
Does it mean you don't love me any more
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
I'm sorry that I doubted you
I was so unfair
You were in a car crash
And you lost your hair
You said you would be late
About an hour or two
I said that's alright I'm waiting here
Just waiting to hear from you
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry
Don't make me blue
'Cause you know darling, I love only you
You'll never know it hurt me so
How I hate to see you go
Don't pass me by
Don't make me cry..
17 Julia (00:00)
Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you
Julia
Julia, Julia
Ocean child calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Julia
Seashell eyes, windy smile calls me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Her hair of floating sky is shimmering
Glimmering in the sun
Julia, Julia
Morning moon touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind
Julia
Julia
Sleeping sand, silent cloud touch me
So I sing a song of love
Julia
Hum, calls me
So I sing a song of love for
Julia, Julia, Julia
18 Birthday (00:00)
They say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
Yes we're going to a party, party
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take cha cha cha chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Oh, yeah
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
Take cha cha cha chance (Birthday)
I would like you to dance (Birthday)
They say it's your birthday
It's my birthday too, yeah
They say it's your birthday
We're gonna have a good time
I'm glad it's your birthday
Happy birthday to you
20 Mother Nature's Son (00:00)
Born a poor young country boy
Mother Nature's Son
All day long I'm sitting
Singing songs for everyone
Sit beside a mountain stream
See her waters rise
Listen to the pretty
Sound of music as she flies
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Find me in my field of grass
Mother Nature's Son
Swaying daisies sing
A lazy song beneath the sun
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Tu, tu, tu, tu, du, tu
Tu, tu, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, Mother Nature's Son
22 Sexy Sadie (00:00)
Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie, ooh, what have you done
Sexy Sadie you broke the rules
You laid it down for all to see
You laid it down for all to see
Sexy Sadie, ooh, you broke the rules
One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover
She came along to turn on everyone
Sexy Sadie the greatest of them all
Sexy Sadie how did you know
The world was waiting just for you
The world was waiting just for you
Sexy Sadie, ooh, how did you know
Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet
However big you think you are
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie, ooh, you'll get yours yet
We gave her everything we owned
Just to sit at her table
Just a smile would lighten everything
Sexy Sadie she's the latest
And the greatest of them all
Ha, she made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie
Ha, however big you think you are
Sexy Sadie
23 Helter Skelter (00:00)
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me, tell me, tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Look out
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out, 'cause here she comes
When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer
Look out helter skelter
Helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is
25 Revolution (00:00)
You say you want a revolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well, you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know that you can count me out... in
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Ah
You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money
For people with minds that hate
All I can tell is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Ah
You say you'll change the constitution
Well, you know
We all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well, you know
You better free you mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Don't you know it's gonna be all right
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right
All right, all right, all right
Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
All right, all right
27 Savoy Truffle (00:00)
Creme tangerine and montelimar
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart
A coffee dessert yes you know it's good news
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
Cool cherry cream and a nice apple tart
I feel your taste all the time we're apart
Coconut fudge really blows down those blues
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
You might not feel it now
But when the pain cuts through
You're gonna know and how
The sweat is gonna fill you head
When it becomes too much, you'll shout aloud
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
You know that what you eat you are
But what is sweet now turns so sour
We all know ob-bla-di-bla-da
But can you show me where you are
Creme tangerine and montelimar
A ginger sling with a pineapple heart
A coffee dessert yes you know it's good news
But you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
Yes, you'll have to have them all pull out
After the Savoy truffle
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Other reviews
By enbar77
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"... really seems as if the guitar is weeping through a metallic and desperate wail.
The "White Album" is undoubtedly a magnificent work, of excellent artistic value, certainly confused, acidic, ferrous, overshadowed by some low blows almost fortunately concealed by other finely crafted tracks.
By Rax
This is the best description one can give of this (controversial) album. Because it is indeed a masterpiece; but it is a masterpiece in potential.
George Martin said: 'I didn’t want them to release a double. I told them to make a single album with 12 great songs.'
By zaireeka
For those who are already well acquainted with this album, white album, white review.
For all others, there’s the first version.
