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The Beatles — Baby You're a Rich Man
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a_hevel
Posted: Apr 24, 2013 - 12:57
 
This is one of my favorites intros of all time.

philbertr
(Roch New York)
Posted: Sep 16, 2012 - 16:10
 
If not this cut, or even this album (and I'm conceding both points just for the sake of this point) then, at the very least, this band—is the definition of RP's designation "Godlike"!

And some of the lyrics are SO good:

"What did you see?"
"Nothing that couldn't be seen"

"And now that you've got the key,
"what are you going to play?"

On_The_Beach
(The Blue Planet)
Posted: Jul 15, 2012 - 18:03
 
 Tom_Mo wrote:
. . .  Strangely, it was not a dig at Brian, but a tribute. . . .
 
I was with you up to this point. Kind of hard to see a racist slur as a "tribute". Perhaps "tongue in cheek" would be more accurate?
Nonetheless, it was interesting to read your post; I was unaware of any of this until now.

Tom_Mo
Posted: Jun 03, 2012 - 13:02
 
 takuma wrote:
 ICHawk wrote:
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?

"BABY YOU'RE A RICH MAN" 
The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour

RUMOR: On one of the tracks the line "Baby you're a rich man too" is sung as "Baby you're a rich fag Jew," a dig at Brian Epstein. Or some think it's "rich fat Jew" and claim it as evidence of Beatle anti-Semitism.

FINDINGS: Negative. The two stereo tracks are nearly identical. It's always possible to hear words as similiar-sounding words, but basically, the lyrics jibe with the published version.

QUOTED EXERPT FROM William Poundstone's Big Secrets, (c) 1983. 
 
I have to add my two cents to this thread. First, John DID have an anti-Semitic streak to him. I say this as a fan of Lennon's, not a Lennon hater. Suggest you read Larry Kane's book about the Beatle's 64 and 65 tours. Kane is Jewish and a huge Lennon fan, but he discusses the anti-Jewish sentiment in the group. I also suggest you read an early edition of "Lennon Remembers" where John made a very nasty anti-Semitic statement about the Eastman family, claiming that the Eastman's changed their name from "Epstein". But you won't find it in later editions of the book. I wonder why. As for "rich fag Jew" at the end of BYARM, one needs the original mono single to clearly hear it. Later pressings of the single won't help you much. You must have the original single. My theory as to why this line was at first masked (on the MMT vinyl album) and virtually eliminated on the remastered CD is that what was considered a semi-private, inside joke in May of '67 (when it was recorded), was deemed tasteless by August of '67, the month Brian died. Personally, I don't believe John was being unnecessarily mean. True, John was both anti-Semitic and a homophobe at that point in his life, but John's friendship with Brian was complicated, to say the least. For other reasons, I could make the case that the entire song, from start to finish, was about Brian. I think John added the "offending" phrase as a way of telling Brian, "Yes, Brian. This song is about you. Love, John" Strangely, it was not a dig at Brian, but a tribute. In the words of Dr. Winston O' Boogie: "You should have been there."

linzie
Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 14:35
 
Is it so wrong to like just about everything these guys did???

.....wasn't a big 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' era guy, but the rest of it post that was great!!!!

Is that a bad thing, I ask u??

(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: Apr 11, 2012 - 14:32
 



It still feels good...  love this song...

 

midigitguy
(Massachusetts)
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 07:13
 
Apparently the "you keep all your money in a big brown bag inside a zoo" refers to the belief Lennon had that Epstein kept a stash of cash in a club call The Zoo...

Kokoloco53
(Safford, AZ)
Posted: Jan 07, 2012 - 10:41
 
Dedicated to all the 1% er's out there.

takuma
(Naha, Okinawa, Japan)
Posted: Nov 05, 2011 - 00:31
 
 ICHawk wrote:
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?

"BABY YOU'RE A RICH MAN" 
The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour

RUMOR: On one of the tracks the line "Baby you're a rich man too" is sung as "Baby you're a rich fag Jew," a dig at Brian Epstein. Or some think it's "rich fat Jew" and claim it as evidence of Beatle anti-Semitism.

FINDINGS: Negative. The two stereo tracks are nearly identical. It's always possible to hear words as similiar-sounding words, but basically, the lyrics jibe with the published version.

QUOTED EXERPT FROM William Poundstone's Big Secrets, (c) 1983. 

johnjconn
(chicago land)
Posted: Aug 02, 2011 - 15:03
 
 ICHawk wrote:
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?
 

yeah , I know this one.  Lennon whispered that Epstein son,  Austin Powers (Powers is his mothers maiden name) has terrible teeth. Brian got very peved at this.  Listen carefully, you'll hear it.

Is that it?.

lemmoth
(NYC)
Posted: May 31, 2011 - 14:46
 
 ICHawk wrote:
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?
  I know what you are talking about and I don't think its audible.  Supposedly John did substitute some word play reflecting on Brian's religious and sexual orientations when a bit drunk at parties - not his finest hour.


(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: Jan 25, 2011 - 16:36
 


Yessss...  love it...

 

unclehud
(300 feet above the planet)
Posted: Nov 23, 2010 - 14:59
 
Hey, Bill ...  How does it feel to be one of the beautiful people?  {chuckle.}



nagsheadlocal
(North Carolina, the new New Jersey)
Posted: Sep 21, 2010 - 05:53
 
This has always been my favorite Beatles album, even over Sgt Pepper's. 

lmic
(Harmless Little Bunny)
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 - 10:28
 
 toterola wrote:
This was my first rock album. No wonder I'm such a freakin' mess! {#Daisy}
 
Yeah, thinking about the "spaghetti scene" photos in the album insert still freaks me out to this day! {#Eek}

shawshank
(Maryland)
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 - 05:12
 
 ICHawk wrote:
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?
 
Oh... I do know...you naughty boy you!!! {#Beat}

martinc
(Ottawa Canada)
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 - 05:11
 
The albums released this year were outstanding. The Beatles also release Sgt Peppers this year and Jimi his first

shawshank
(Maryland)
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 - 05:10
 
Even Lennon's ho-hum songs are great!!!{#Dancingbanana_2}

shutter
(You can't get here from there)
Posted: Jul 19, 2010 - 06:41
 
I love how the rhythm guitar is tuned and mixed in this song.

ICHawk
Posted: Jun 17, 2010 - 10:02
 
Lennon takes a playful but barely audible swipe at Brian Epstien in the fade out. Any guesses?

willmcnaught
(Eugene Oregon)
Posted: Jun 17, 2010 - 10:00
 
Awesome! {#Dancingbanana}{#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Dancingbanana_2}fab 4!!!

miahfost
(Gothenburg, Sweden)
Posted: Jun 17, 2010 - 09:58
 
 That_SOB wrote:


Musta been between the 300th and 1000th hit of Ozley's. {#Cheers}
 
Hmm, perhaps you mean Owsley?



That_SOB
(The Dark Side of the Tune)
Posted: May 16, 2010 - 15:54
 
 toterola wrote:
This was my first rock album. No wonder I'm such a freakin' mess! {#Daisy}
 

Musta been between the 300th and 1000th hit of Ozley's. {#Cheers}

(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: May 16, 2010 - 15:14
 
 helgigermany wrote:
Love this!
 


Yes, what a great classic...

 

sirdroseph
(Tokyo)
Posted: Apr 14, 2010 - 20:45
 
Wonder why this one has only been rated 70 times?? Strange. Anyway, great song, never understood it, but have always loved it!

jagdriver
(Just a nod and a wink south of Paradise)
Posted: Feb 10, 2010 - 16:40
 
{#Bananajumprope}

(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: Feb 10, 2010 - 16:40
 


It feels good...  love it...



Jamunca
(Asheville, NC)
Posted: Dec 09, 2009 - 21:09
 
I'm almost embarrased to say it, but I've never heard this before now.

/hangs head in shame

toterola
(Further)
Posted: Sep 06, 2009 - 10:36
 
This was my first rock album. No wonder I'm such a freakin' mess! {#Daisy}

helgigermany
(Germany)
Posted: Sep 06, 2009 - 10:36
 
Love this!

HazzeSwede
(Vinyl Land)
Posted: Jun 03, 2009 - 10:46
 
I hope and think that we will be served more from this  magic album! #9

(former member)
(hotel in Las Vegas)
Posted: Jun 03, 2009 - 10:40
 


Love it!!!!  This song is soooo good for the ears...



Cachatons
(Califas)
Posted: Jun 03, 2009 - 10:38
 
I'm walking through a headshop and this music is playing in the background.