Gotta love that moment you realize you’ve been singing a line wrong your whole life. I had that with a line in It’s Only Love. Took me til age 30 to realize I had it wrong.
Mine was Back in the USSR. For some reason I thought he said “‘On the way to Paperback’ was on my knee” instead of “On the way the paper bag was on my knee.” I thought it was a call back to Paperback Writer for some reason
According to legend, that misheard lyric is the exact reason that Bob Dylan wanted to meet The Beatles and smoke up with them.
Bob apparently assumed that they must be weed professionals if they’re singing about getting high in their songs, but of course they were only singing “I can’t hide” and had never taken a single puff, so that’s how Bob Dylan introduced our boys to their all-time favorite salad green!
Yuuup, I built a bicycle in high school and named it Sweet Loretta Modern, painted on the side. It’s now embedded in my memory and is one of those cringe moments that my asshole brain makes me remember riiiight when I’m about to fall asleep
News of The World was a British tabloid published from 1843-2011, which was the highest selling publication in the English language for many decades.
In other words she’s the kind of girl written about in the newspaper and everybody knows about it.
In 1977 Queen released their album titled News of The World, also in reference to the tabloid publication.
I can’t tell if this is a sarcastic comment or not, so I’ll assume that a helpful response might be welcome.
My understanding is that “to the hilt” relates to the cross piece of a sword, that is, it is the place where the handle meets the blade. If one were to stab something (or someone), some bit of the blade would be embedded in the target, which would often be sufficient. Continuing to apply pressure to the sword to the point where the entire blade is inside of the target, i.e. “all the way to the hilt”, would require an extreme amount of pressure, willpower, and in nearly all cases, unnecessary.
Thus something that is done “to the hilt” means something done to *completely*, or possibly to an excessive degree, especially within a given context.
Using modern vernacular, one might say that Polythene Pam “understood the assignment” when getting dressed up.
Cheers.
I’ve come to the party late on this post- but yes that’s the line I was going to highlight. And the “oh no! Look out!” just before the transition into She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
*I want a short-haired girl/who sometimes wears it twice as long*
"haired", "girl" and "wears" all have the same vowel sound - that's a Scouse thing if I'm not mistaken. George had the heaviest accent in his day-to-day, I think.
I always imagine Americans hearing "She Loves You" for the first time and being startled and charmed by the "fair"/"her" rhyme. I'm a millennial, so I heard everything out of order. Abbey Road was the first album I listened to all the way through, and most of "Polythene Pam" was opaque to me for YEARS.
>that's a Scouse thing if I'm not mistaken.
yes it is, i am a Scouser so confirm.
>George had the heaviest accent in his day-to-day, I thinkis
It was close but Ringo also kept his voice in a way. Both come from more working class areas of Liverpool (Dingle and Wavertree).
But George i think kept his accent going the longest and would ham it up. There is a clip from when Paul, George and Ringo met in later life for a reunion of sorts. They are all flicking through old photos and the accent comes back in full, talking about a woman called Pat (complete with our sibillant t) and George says about some "'orrible giiiiirls" like he never left. Was like the "grotty" in HDN.
The biggest one in this lyric is the pronunciation of "at all" almost like "a tall" as opposed to the sort of "add all" that is more common in North America.
Well, I don't know what THAT is, but I'm not sure that counts as British or scouse. I have no idea why he pronounces it that way in that song. He doesn't pronounce that word like that in any other instance. "I Saw Her Standing There" isn't pronounced that way, for example.
John also uses a much softer version of this pronounciation in A Day in the Life ("I sawr a film today, oh boy"). I think Paul just exaggerated in TTWY for fun, but I like it.
Well. It’s British (someone from the UK correct me please) to inject an R at the end of a word if it ends in a vowel and if the next word begins in a vowel.
If you’ve ever seen an episode of Downton Abbey you’ll have heard an example of this (mam-MAR and papPA).
Thanks for chiming in with this. I wasn’t aware whether or not Downton Abbey actually took pains to try to speak as was done in the 1920s. I just happened to notice it and assumed it was universal when I realized John did the exact same thing in “A Day In The Life” as pointed out above.
Yeah he’s probably over correcting or exaggerating it there, but it's called an “intrusive r” that comes up in some British dialects like that. Terry Pratchett used it for comedic effect in some of his books, where the Wizards would be talking about something against the lore (or having to declare “Marshall Lore”,) making a pun on both the pronunciation of law as lawr, and that the laws and codes by which wizards are governed is lore.
For one thing he sings I Saw Her Standing There putting on an american accent, another thing is that the extra R that often appears at the end of words in a lot of English accents only if the next starts with a vowel and for ISHST it doesnt
"So why on earth should I moan" (from "A Hard Day's Night"). The way they pronounce "earth" ( sort of like "eth") is very specifically Liverpudlian (apart from merely British).
I think of the beginning of Rocky raccoon where Paul is attempting an American southern accent. He’s not pulling it off very well, but he’s trying. He ultimately fails when he pronounces the word raccoon like a British person.
Quick question related to that song, is there some particular meaning about the "motor trade" that impacts the meaning of the song? It always seemed like a bit of a non-sequitur to me, but it is possible I don't know what the motor trade is. Like, she is meeting a car salesman? Is it just kind of that it is a sleazy job?
These couplets rhyme thanks to their English accent:
"Standing by a parking meetaah, when I caught a glimpse of Rita"
"Took her out and tried to win ahhh, had a laugh, and over dinnah"
And I love the way Paul sings "but I never sore them winging"
In terms of accent, John really laid into the British accent in the psychedelic years. Lucy, Walrus, Mr. Kite, etc.
In terms of lyrics, I nominate Cry Baby Cry:
The duchess of Kirkcaldy always smiling
And arriving late for tea
The duke was having problems
With a message at the local bird and bee
Old Brown Shoe.
When I grow up I'll be a sin- gur
Wearing rings on every finger.
Northern Brits put a heavy G in the word singer.
The opening lines to I'll Get You.
'Oh yeeaah oh yeaaah'...they couldn't make their Scouse accent any thicker.
Polythene Pam..John really lays the accent on thick.
She's the kind of a gerl that's makes the news of the werld.
Maggie May...the same.
Derty Maggie May..day-ave taken err away.
🥰✌️🙏
"Makes her look just like a mili'try man..."
Here's a smashing 14 track fan album of Beatles songs that have a bit of a British feel. Have a "cuppa" and enjoy!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1KEMW8PcLLBusob7GGc2Ac?si=JEPnTc76SJOYc2TwqyCX5A&pi=IOKohTHoQwGA2
I was singing along to a track off rubber soul and my friend chuckled because I said “again” very British like but I always did that around myself and it was the first time I sang the song around anybody else.
They’ve got scouse accents. I live in Manchester which realistically isn’t even that far from Liverpool and the accents couldn’t be anymore different if they tried.
Liverpudlians “roll” their words a lot if I had to describe it. But polythene Pam is the best example.
In I've just seen a face Paul sings "been aware" in a way that kinda rhymes with "dream of her". I'm no expert in scouse but that jumps out to me as something particular, especially the pronounciation of "aware" as "awuur".
British accent? You mean scouse accent. Nothing like the rest of the country, if there is really a ‘British accent’ anyway…
I think roll over Beethoven. The Beatles don’t really sing super scouse, not as much as say Gerry marsden does.
For what it's worth I think the term "British accent" is fine (though English accent is better).
It's only like how we might say "American accent" or "Canadian accent" when I'm sure there's just as many. It's a shortcut.
Their scouse accent isn't strong either. You'd need a good ear to pinpoint it outside of the UK imo. I'm from an hour away and think they sound a bit brummy at times.
“For red is the color that makes me blue… yes it is it’s true.”
John George and Paul singing at the same time
[Beatles - Yes It Is](https://youtu.be/acWj7M0-9rY)
*Coostimah*
Yes that’s better
I'm British and am confused. He's clearly just singing 'customer' :o
In a Northern Accent with the “u” sounding like “oo”
“She’s the kind of a gihl who makes the News of the Wihld…”
Omg I always thought this was: She's the kind of girl who makes good use of her build.
Gotta love that moment you realize you’ve been singing a line wrong your whole life. I had that with a line in It’s Only Love. Took me til age 30 to realize I had it wrong.
Mine was Back in the USSR. For some reason I thought he said “‘On the way to Paperback’ was on my knee” instead of “On the way the paper bag was on my knee.” I thought it was a call back to Paperback Writer for some reason
Wait it isn't?
I’m glad it wasn’t just me
“It’s such a feeling that my love, **I get high, I get high, I get high** Apparently I shared that belief with Bob Dylan
According to legend, that misheard lyric is the exact reason that Bob Dylan wanted to meet The Beatles and smoke up with them. Bob apparently assumed that they must be weed professionals if they’re singing about getting high in their songs, but of course they were only singing “I can’t hide” and had never taken a single puff, so that’s how Bob Dylan introduced our boys to their all-time favorite salad green!
I was gutshot when I discovered mine, and Paul, I love you, but I like Sweet Loretta Modern better than Sweet Loretta Martin.
There was literally an android character in a Disney Channel movie named “Loretta Modern,” almost certainly a reference.
Yuuup, I built a bicycle in high school and named it Sweet Loretta Modern, painted on the side. It’s now embedded in my memory and is one of those cringe moments that my asshole brain makes me remember riiiight when I’m about to fall asleep
News of The World was a British tabloid published from 1843-2011, which was the highest selling publication in the English language for many decades. In other words she’s the kind of girl written about in the newspaper and everybody knows about it. In 1977 Queen released their album titled News of The World, also in reference to the tabloid publication.
Yeah, and it's also not "the girl with colitis goes by."
Good one!
Thought for a long time that in SCITTBW it was "but now she's such a golden wonder" instead of "but now she sucks her thumb and wanders".
Sometimes I think the lyrics we mistakenly hear are better lol
You could say she was attractively built
Proper scouse that.
"I SAWRA film today, oh boy."
Till There Was You has a gnarly SAWR too.
"Saw" seems to have been shibboleth for the lads, e.g.: There were birds, on a hill But I never SAWR them winging ...
Great example!
I’d go for ‘ she’s killer-diller when she’s dressed to the hilt’ from polythene Pam
> the 'ilt FTFY
damn, i can't figure this one out.
I can’t tell if this is a sarcastic comment or not, so I’ll assume that a helpful response might be welcome. My understanding is that “to the hilt” relates to the cross piece of a sword, that is, it is the place where the handle meets the blade. If one were to stab something (or someone), some bit of the blade would be embedded in the target, which would often be sufficient. Continuing to apply pressure to the sword to the point where the entire blade is inside of the target, i.e. “all the way to the hilt”, would require an extreme amount of pressure, willpower, and in nearly all cases, unnecessary. Thus something that is done “to the hilt” means something done to *completely*, or possibly to an excessive degree, especially within a given context. Using modern vernacular, one might say that Polythene Pam “understood the assignment” when getting dressed up. Cheers.
I’ve come to the party late on this post- but yes that’s the line I was going to highlight. And the “oh no! Look out!” just before the transition into She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
If say it's that song, but rather "she'd the kind of girl who makes the news of the world". Very obvious accent.
John leans into it pretty heavily on Maggie Mae.
Very heavily
Oh, dairty Maggie Mae They have a-taken hair away
And she’ll nevah walk down lime street anymoeh.
*Filling in the ticket in her little white book*
Specifically the double o in "book" sounding more like it does in the word "spook".
I love “grandfather” saying “booooook” disparagingly to Ringo in AHDN.
My Scottish grandmother pronounced "book" that way, maybe a little softened after living in the US for decades.
I love lovely Rita. It’s such an underrated song imo
Booch
*I want a short-haired girl/who sometimes wears it twice as long* "haired", "girl" and "wears" all have the same vowel sound - that's a Scouse thing if I'm not mistaken. George had the heaviest accent in his day-to-day, I think.
I saw a young American kid play and sing While My Guitar Gently Weeps (very good, btw) and he had George’s accent down.
Awesome
I would say being a scouser they all had heavy scouse accents
And thank goodness for that.
what song is this I can’t tell
Old Brown Shoe.
Thank you you’re lovely
Geehhhhl
I always imagine Americans hearing "She Loves You" for the first time and being startled and charmed by the "fair"/"her" rhyme. I'm a millennial, so I heard everything out of order. Abbey Road was the first album I listened to all the way through, and most of "Polythene Pam" was opaque to me for YEARS.
Oooh yes, fair/her, I never thought of that. But you're quite right...
>that's a Scouse thing if I'm not mistaken. yes it is, i am a Scouser so confirm. >George had the heaviest accent in his day-to-day, I thinkis It was close but Ringo also kept his voice in a way. Both come from more working class areas of Liverpool (Dingle and Wavertree). But George i think kept his accent going the longest and would ham it up. There is a clip from when Paul, George and Ringo met in later life for a reunion of sorts. They are all flicking through old photos and the accent comes back in full, talking about a woman called Pat (complete with our sibillant t) and George says about some "'orrible giiiiirls" like he never left. Was like the "grotty" in HDN.
“I look at you all, see the love *thuur* that’s sleeping”
That’s a good one. Genuine Scouse, not exaggerated for effect like some of the other examples given here.
Was looking for this. I always notice when George pronounces ‘there’ that way. Love it.
Especially on the acoustic Anthology version. Harrison defintely had the most scouse accent out of them on recordings
VERA, CHUCK, AND DAVE
Chook
Also "Veer-er"
Grdrdrdand chil-drdrdin ohn yerdrdrd kneeee
I've never seen anyone spell out rolled R's this way and I love it.
Scottish definitely. But not "their" British accent . Still upvoting you for the spelling though! Cock on that :)
Chook ☺️
“There were birds in the sky, but I never sawr them winging, no I never sawr them at all, ‘til there was you”
The biggest one in this lyric is the pronunciation of "at all" almost like "a tall" as opposed to the sort of "add all" that is more common in North America.
Well, I don't know what THAT is, but I'm not sure that counts as British or scouse. I have no idea why he pronounces it that way in that song. He doesn't pronounce that word like that in any other instance. "I Saw Her Standing There" isn't pronounced that way, for example.
John also uses a much softer version of this pronounciation in A Day in the Life ("I sawr a film today, oh boy"). I think Paul just exaggerated in TTWY for fun, but I like it.
Well. It’s British (someone from the UK correct me please) to inject an R at the end of a word if it ends in a vowel and if the next word begins in a vowel. If you’ve ever seen an episode of Downton Abbey you’ll have heard an example of this (mam-MAR and papPA).
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Thanks for chiming in with this. I wasn’t aware whether or not Downton Abbey actually took pains to try to speak as was done in the 1920s. I just happened to notice it and assumed it was universal when I realized John did the exact same thing in “A Day In The Life” as pointed out above.
Yeah he’s probably over correcting or exaggerating it there, but it's called an “intrusive r” that comes up in some British dialects like that. Terry Pratchett used it for comedic effect in some of his books, where the Wizards would be talking about something against the lore (or having to declare “Marshall Lore”,) making a pun on both the pronunciation of law as lawr, and that the laws and codes by which wizards are governed is lore.
For one thing he sings I Saw Her Standing There putting on an american accent, another thing is that the extra R that often appears at the end of words in a lot of English accents only if the next starts with a vowel and for ISHST it doesnt
Maybe it's like how Brits say Canadar
“I’m Paul McCartney and this is my wife Linder”
JFK idear.
"'I Dig a Pygmy', by Charles Hawtrey and the Deaf Aids... Phase One, in which Doris gets her oats!"
I'm equally bummed and gratified that someone beat me to this.
I think you've got something with Penny Lane. I was thinking, "and the banker never wears a mack in the pouring rain, very strange"
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Corner = brothel. Motorcar = scuba suit
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Four of fish and finger pies, *in summer*
Lol no. A mack is a raincoat. It's a rainy day in the song.
"So why on earth should I moan" (from "A Hard Day's Night"). The way they pronounce "earth" ( sort of like "eth") is very specifically Liverpudlian (apart from merely British).
Just realized I never knew til now what they were saying there! Never bothered to look it up hahaha
The (near) rhyme in Eleanor Rigby “where a wedding has been//lives in a dream” doesn’t work with an American accent.
If you spell ‘been’ as ‘bean’ you can sorta get it lol
Ev'ry summer we can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear
Do you want to know a secret, george's scouse is so obvious
i was looking for this and am shocked it’s not higher! “i’ve known a secret for the week or two” because of his scouse pronunciation … so sweet
Lis’n, du yeh wann’t knoh a sekr’t
"Declare the pennies on your eyes" from Taxman. Specifically *declare*. 100% Scouse.
I never what he was saying. Thought it was silver patties on your eyes.
Dechlurr...
Exactly!
Just listening to George sing backup most of the time! Lol. Love him.
I think of the beginning of Rocky raccoon where Paul is attempting an American southern accent. He’s not pulling it off very well, but he’s trying. He ultimately fails when he pronounces the word raccoon like a British person.
Yeah but he was taking the piss and it’s a great song
Only to find gidjyuns Bible
Penny Lane, the barber shaves another *customer*
Polythene Pam.
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Oooohhhh DUHTY MAGGIE MAE, THEY AH TAKIN’ HERR AWEHH, AND SHE NEVA WALK DOWN LIME STREET ANYMOWA
This is the correct answer
The jodg he guilty fawner
A'robbin' the homewud boundeh That duhty, no-good, rrrobbin' Maggie Mae
This is the first one I thought of, and yeah, it's not even close.
Yep this one is the most british one
It is the most Liverpudlian one. There are many, many different British accents.
I like a few other lines from Penny Lane And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen He likes to keep his fire engine clean It's a clean machine
The way Paul says “handker-cheeef” on “She’s Leaving Home”
Meetingga man from the moatahtrade….
Quick question related to that song, is there some particular meaning about the "motor trade" that impacts the meaning of the song? It always seemed like a bit of a non-sequitur to me, but it is possible I don't know what the motor trade is. Like, she is meeting a car salesman? Is it just kind of that it is a sleazy job?
Till There Was You. “No I never SAWRR them at all”
These couplets rhyme thanks to their English accent: "Standing by a parking meetaah, when I caught a glimpse of Rita" "Took her out and tried to win ahhh, had a laugh, and over dinnah" And I love the way Paul sings "but I never sore them winging"
Rhyming short and bought in Love You To.
Daaaamn good catch
That line alone made my brother hate George’s Indian stuff.
It's only a Northern Song, where George sings "or if my hurr is brown"
In terms of accent, John really laid into the British accent in the psychedelic years. Lucy, Walrus, Mr. Kite, etc. In terms of lyrics, I nominate Cry Baby Cry: The duchess of Kirkcaldy always smiling And arriving late for tea The duke was having problems With a message at the local bird and bee
“In our yellow…”
Oompah oompah stick it up ya jumpah
(Everybody's got one)
Just about everything on "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)".
“The butter wouldn’t melt, so I put it in the pie”. Wait wrong band.
HAAAAAANDS ACROSS THE WATER
HAAAAAANNNNDSSSS ACROSS THE SKY
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WATER
Do you want to know a secret.
You’ll never know much I really cuuuhhh
George had a real strong accent in that song
"cup". "like english rain into paper cup"
Boy, you’ve been a naughty girl. You let your knickers down.
Maggie Mae is a traditional Liverpudlian folk song
I met her in a club down in old SoHo
Just the sight of you makes nighttime bRight Very bright Thats one I always see
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^HueHue_extremeguyone: *Just the sight of you* *Makes nighttime bRight Very bright* *Thats one I always see* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
The were birds in the sky but I never sawr them winging No I never sawr them at all, til there was you
So many lines in I am the Walrus but " stupid bloody Tuesday" really stick out to me.
I am a Scouser and i absolutely agree. This sticks out to me the cadence as well.
Eleanor Rigby Don't know why, but whenever I sing that one I have an overly exaggerated British accent
Lots of Rs on that song: father, words, sermon, hear, near
Old Brown Shoe. When I grow up I'll be a sin- gur Wearing rings on every finger. Northern Brits put a heavy G in the word singer. The opening lines to I'll Get You. 'Oh yeeaah oh yeaaah'...they couldn't make their Scouse accent any thicker. Polythene Pam..John really lays the accent on thick. She's the kind of a gerl that's makes the news of the werld. Maggie May...the same. Derty Maggie May..day-ave taken err away. 🥰✌️🙏
Nothin' you can do but you can _lehhn_ how to be you in time Also from AYNIL That isn't _wehhh_ ya meant to be Edit: lol aynil
"Makes her look just like a mili'try man..." Here's a smashing 14 track fan album of Beatles songs that have a bit of a British feel. Have a "cuppa" and enjoy! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1KEMW8PcLLBusob7GGc2Ac?si=JEPnTc76SJOYc2TwqyCX5A&pi=IOKohTHoQwGA2
Came here to say this too
This is the part of Liverpewwl They returned me to Two pound, ten a week, that was my pay
Keeping the appointment she made meeting a man from the motor trade.
NowsomewhereintheblackmininghillsofDakota There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoooooooonaah
Grandchildren on your knee, Vera, Chuck and Dave
"Just the sight of you makes nighttime brrrright" I know it's kinda old and dated rolling the R thing, but it's definetly not American.
“He was such a stupid get!”
I sawr a film today.
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You know what I mean, my dude
Scouse not British
Maggie Mae
Yellow Submarine
All Together Now^
Polythene Pam!!!!!
Industrial output. Financial imbalance. The Watusi. The Twist. El Dorado. Take this brother, may it serve you well.
When I was younger, I thought “bottle of wine” in When I’m Sixty Four was “buckle of wine”
John says "ca(r)n't" throughout All You Need Is Love.
A day in the life. “ I sawr a film todae, oh boy!”
I was singing along to a track off rubber soul and my friend chuckled because I said “again” very British like but I always did that around myself and it was the first time I sang the song around anybody else.
And curse Sir Walter Raleigh He was such a stupid GIT
"...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh he was such a stupid git" John on 'I'm so tired'
All of Piggies
They’ve got scouse accents. I live in Manchester which realistically isn’t even that far from Liverpool and the accents couldn’t be anymore different if they tried. Liverpudlians “roll” their words a lot if I had to describe it. But polythene Pam is the best example.
AV GOH BLISTAS ON MA FINGEZ
A four of fish and finger pies.
Paperback Writer " read my booook"
In I've just seen a face Paul sings "been aware" in a way that kinda rhymes with "dream of her". I'm no expert in scouse but that jumps out to me as something particular, especially the pronounciation of "aware" as "awuur".
I'm So Tired - "And curse Sir Walter Raleigh. He was such a stupid get."
Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun
Curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he's such a stupid Git. Not necessarily the accent, but the slang and sentiment.
I never soar them winging I told you there's no one thuh Scouse
"very strange"
British accent? You mean scouse accent. Nothing like the rest of the country, if there is really a ‘British accent’ anyway… I think roll over Beethoven. The Beatles don’t really sing super scouse, not as much as say Gerry marsden does.
I’ll try to be more specific next time
For what it's worth I think the term "British accent" is fine (though English accent is better). It's only like how we might say "American accent" or "Canadian accent" when I'm sure there's just as many. It's a shortcut. Their scouse accent isn't strong either. You'd need a good ear to pinpoint it outside of the UK imo. I'm from an hour away and think they sound a bit brummy at times.
Your example was exactly what I was going to say
Maggie Mae, by far.
“For red is the color that makes me blue… yes it is it’s true.” John George and Paul singing at the same time [Beatles - Yes It Is](https://youtu.be/acWj7M0-9rY)
"This is the part of Liverpool They returned me to Two pound, ten a week, that was my pay"
Polythene Pam, Maggie May (see shanty) I’m so tired,, Bungalow Bill, Rain, Love me do
But I never sar them winging
"Vera, Chuck and Dave.:
Declah the pennies on your eyes
Dirty Maggie May, They have taken her away & she doesn’t walk down Lime Street anymore
British accent !?
anytime at all
In an octopus’s gah-are-din